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franky1 · Mar 11, 2007, 05:20 AM

I had an auto accident in 1975 that resulted in $900 damage to someone's car. They got a judgement against me & a local attorney (Erie,Pa) filed it at the Prothonotary in 1977. Pa Dept of Motor Vehicles (PENDOT) subsequently suspended my driver license until the judgement was satisfied. Having recently moved back to Pa, I was astonished to find this judgement STILL in PENDOT, preventing me from getting a license in Pa. The Prothonotary nor PENDOT seem to acknowledge any kind of Statute of Limitations concerning this judgement. My research indicates a SOL of 4 Years. It has not been renewed at the courthouse. The attorney is retired. I cannot locate the original plaintiff in the case. Am I missing something? How do I get this thing vacated short of hiring an attorney?

excon · Mar 11, 2007, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by franky1

How do I get this thing vacated short of hiring an attorney?

Hello franky:

I don't think you can.

excon

Fr_Chuck · Mar 11, 2007, 07:06 AM

IF the had a judgement, they last 10 years normally, and can be renewed.

But the difference here is they are not trying to collect the money merely restrict you from having a drivers license becase of failure to pay for an accident.

A SOL merely takes away their right to take you back to court to collect, it does not mean you don't owe them the money, and they have the right to ask you to pay for the life of the person you owe the money to.

So if the Dept of motor vechilces ruled you could not have a license until this was paid, this has no relations to a SOL on debt collection, but is a statutory issue, and you will have to have a hearing with them to request this be lifted. And honestly I am not sure you can, since it deals not with the attempt to collect, but statutory rules of the DMV. But you will need an attorney. * May be cheaper to pay the 900 dollars.

ScottGem · Mar 11, 2007, 07:33 AM

One thing you never mentioned was whether you paid the $900 or not. Sounds to me that you skipped out of PA to avoid paying the $900. Now you moved back figuring this would all have been forgotten, Surprise! It hasn't been.

You have to find out from PENDOT what you need to do to satisfy this.