A guy and his dad collected some Lego it took many years. Lots of this was unique and expensive, more importantly the collection held models no longer available.

The dad and sob dies decides to sell the collection (worth estimated above 100k) but wants decent money.

Enter the Franchise store for bricks and mini figs.(B&M) The son and the store owner enter into a contract. Life is good the collection is selling in the store the Franchise owner is happy.

Some time later the franchise owner wishes to move on, Florida or a beach is calling.

The franchiser contacts B&M and tells them, situation ensues where B&M and franchisee disagree over key points on leaving the franchise (like paying off the contract for the franchise).

At some point B&M take control of the store the now former franchisee gets escorted out by police and is on camera telling B&M the stock on the shelf isn't theirs and belongs to the son.

The son loses all access to the collection, B&M deny access and says it's theirs.

Key point the new franchise owner is friends with the CEO of B&M so something is fishy.

Key point the contract was with the franchise not B&M so there's legal issues there.

[–] TheDoozer@lemmy.world 26 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I also think you missed the biggest thing (to me), which was the absolute, unmitigated corruption of the American Fork (Utah) police department, who acted like hired goons for the B&M guy and harassed a guy trying to collect for the Lego owner.

To me, it was a civil dispute that should have been handled by lawyers long before (or small claims court) right up until those Utah police were involved.

[–] DomeGuy@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago (2 children)

$100k is generally not "small claims"....

In utah the limit looks like $20,000

https://www.utcourts.gov/en/self-help/case-categories/consumer/small-claims.html

[–] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

You are generally allowed to split up claims to fit the small claims limit.

[–] Pieisawesome@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

100-200k is the estimated value of the entire collection before items were given to the franchise owner to consign.

Many sets have been sold and there is disagreement on the amount remaining, but it’s far less than 100k

[–] TheDoozer@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

Additionally, small claims for individual sets or groups of sets totalling less than $20k. It would also mean dragging them into court repeatedly. And with the documents they have it should be a slam-dunk each time.

[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Not that it affects the story at all, but I think Dad is still alive.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Thank you I'll edit that but I understood he had died

[–] cheers_queers@lemmy.zip 7 points 2 days ago

he is actively dying and has no knowledge of what is going on. the son is selling the collection to pay medical bills and has to keep everything from the dad because the added stress could kill him.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

This is the best summary I've seen with legal implications

https://youtu.be/HH09tltEw1U?is=gcLC2URxGwm6Col2

[–] Nollij@sopuli.xyz 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

It's certainly a good place to start, but there is a fuckton of very important details not included in that video.

For starters, Legal Eagle (but not Devin) released a second video about the actions of the American Fork Police Department.

Coffeezilla got interviews with many key players not seen elsewhere. This covers numerous possibilities of theft, embezzlement, lies and cover-ups.

The Civil Rights Lawyer goes into much greater detail of the situation with the American Fork PD, and the criminal charges pending. He also discusses a number of possible civil suits against the PD.

[–] MrQuallzin@pie.eyeofthestorm.place 1 points 1 day ago

Leonard French (a copyright lawyer) has also made several good videos as well. His newest goes over Coffeezilla's video

Coffeezilla Audit Reveals the Truth about the $200,000 LEGO