First of all, how is this even legal? I’m pretty sure kicking the guy off the premises and keeping the guy’s truck constitutes theft, but perhaps I’m wrong.
IANAL, but it sure sounds like theft to me. I wonder if this Crase asshole is in tight with the local cops, and this is why they didn’t intervene.
If I was Gary Schroeder, I’d tape a $1 bill to the damaged awning, and leave a note saying that if Crase wanted any more money, he’d have to come to New Jersey in person to collect it.
IANAL, but I am highly opinionated, and my take is that to deprive the guy the use and access to his property is an unlawful taking, i.e. theft, and holding that property hostage because you don’t like the offered insurance settlement is extortion.
I’d say the sheriff screwed up by allowing the hotel owner to hold the guy hostage, claiming that he couldn’t get involved in a ‘civil matter’. It was a motor vehicle accident, and he sure as hell has jurisdiction over those.
The hotel owner should have burned up a lot of camera film documenting the event, taken name and license info, and prepared a damage suit.
As it is, the old coot held hostage should make life very rough for the hotel owner.