Over the past year, hundreds of you have asked Whistleblower for help. While we can't investigate each tip, we want to share more of what you tell us. In 2009, we started publishing a few tips each week to stimulate online discussion and create ways for our readers to help each other. Unlike our news stories, we have not verified this information. If you have a tip, send it to whistleblower@startribune.com.
Two snowbirds returned to their Apple Valley twin-home this spring, but they didn't completely miss out on the hassles of winter. The guy they and a neighbor had hired to plow their shared driveway had given the job to someone else.
"That person damaged the two lower panels of our garage door with the blade of his plow," they wrote to Whistleblower.
The subcontractor said he would fix the garage door, but the couple hasn't been able to reach him since. They considered small claims court, but thought their chances of collecting were unlikely. They ask:
"Who is liable for the damage — the first person who was [contracted] to do the work or the second person who actually did the work and damage?"
Do you have any advice for this couple?
