About six months ago I was standing on the dock behind a nice house on Cudjoe Key that I had just closed a sale on. I noticed across the canal that there was a pontoon boat moored to a wooden dock behind someone's abandoned-looking house. The outboard motor was submerged, and could have been leaking fluids into the clean canal. Trying to be a good neighbor (our home is just around the corner), and to see if the abandoned-looking property might be a listing possibility, I checked Tax Records, got the owner's name, and attempted to phone them. No luck-no number could be found anywhere.
Not giving up, I took pictures of the sinking boat and sent them, along with a letter to the owner's listed address in the mid-section of the country. In the letter I offered to help them find someone to deal with the boat, and offered my services if they were interested in selling. Never heard anything.
Well, about an hour ago, my assistant tells me there's a "William" on the phone wishing to speak with me. Hoping that it was someone wanting to do business, I eagerly grabbed the phone. William (who, at that point, I had no idea who he was), proceeds to tell me that he had gotten a letter from me months ago, and that I am going to get a subpoena for Federal Court in Miami! What the h___ had I done wrong, I immediately thought; was it illegal to send the guy a letter offering my help??
He proceeded to unfold a long story about how a nice and expensive yacht he had anchored just off our island had been stolen and destroyed, and how this had affected his livlihood very adversely, and that Federal Court action is being taken against the offenders. Since I had taken a picture of the pontoon boat, which he alledged had also been involved, I would have to give evidence. The good thing for me, however, is that I may not have to actually go to Miami, so I'm crossing my fingers.
Sure wasn't the result I had thought I might get from my letter!
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