Bobby Pruett "Possible Law Suit"

I recently traded 10 top of the line brazilian and bolivian amaralis to BOBBY PRUETT for an adult male snow boa,I'm sure you all saw it on the classifieds.He told me that the only problem with the animal was that it was skinny from breeding this year.Well,when I got it,being skinny was it's best characteristic! The snake is blind,it has no muscle tone,when you pick him up he flops his head all over the place,he hardly ever tongue flicks and when he does he barely sticks it out,he also appears to have some sort of fungus on a couple of his belly scales.His skin is dehydrated and he just lays there.I contacted Bobby Pruett and told him I was very unhappy with this snake and I wanted my animals back.He agreed and everything was fine.Well,since I knew I was getting my animals back I contacted Bill Cagle and offered to sell him some of the animals I was going to be getting back.I told him I was getting the animals back because of the above reasons with the snow.Well,unknown to me Bill and Bobby were in the middle of a trade and Bill Cagle backed out because of the animal I recieved from him.Well then,Bobby Pruett contacted me and stated I was running business off from him and that I was plotting against him and that he would not give my animals back.I traded 10 "healthy,beautiful" animals for this one flop head blind snake! I dont think he will live much longer.This is supposed to be a 10 thousand dollar animal.I would not have given $100 for him if I knew how he was.I am considering getting a lawyer to sue Bobby Pruett because this is no small deal.The animals I traded him are prize animals and what do I have a flop head blind snake!! Any help would be appreciated. Randy Bush (205)477-7503

Randy,

I'm really sorry to hear this. I have been following your ads and contacted you before about your amaralis. You have beautiful stock.

I would most certainly not let issue end just like that. Thinking about the animal though, have you considered taking the him/her to the vet. After all it might not be too late to do something. Don't forget to take pictures right away and write down all and every veterinary expenses you incurr in.

Hope you the best and keep us posted!

Heh. Bobby threatened to sue me for "spamming" when I had never once been in contact with him before. I thought it was a bit funny.

However your story is the first "bad" story I have heard about him.

Thanks a lot for your concern.Those were beautiful snakes I traded and I would be embarrased to sell something like what I got from him! I did take pics last night and I plan on taking him to a vet.Bobby admits the condition of the snake and said he has always been that way.I appreciate the support though.I figured I will get bashed before it's over with by all the Bobby Pruett fans out there.But I promise I did nothing wrong!

Randy Bush

I've known Bobby for years and have never even heard of anyone who had a bad deal with him. I don't think he would intentionally send you a bad animal. If it is ill he probably didn't know anything about it. There are allot of good products on the market like nutri-bac that might help the snake. How do you know its blind? I would take it to a vet for sure. Bobby is a stand up guy. I'm sure he'll work something out. I hate to see good people get trashed because of one bad deal.

Bobby Pruett

Joe:
I begged Bobby Pruett to resolve this like a man.This is my last resort.He admitted to me over the phone that the snake is as screwed up as I said it was.He stated to me that he read over ever one of my complaints and agreed with all.I know Bobby Pruett is supposed to be a good guy.Why do you think I did such a LARGE deal with him.I did an inquiry on the BOI and got good comments.But the bottom line is I've got a mutant snake that is an embarassment and he has 10 of my "healthy" beautiful snakes! Even if it lives,why would I want to produce this garbage and carry on the bad gene?

Randy Bush

Offer Proof

Try posting the pictures you took on the forums and emails that you have saved. Remember phone conversations are not legally binding, but in some states deals transmitted by email are a legal contract. Check into that.
Let everyone see pictures of what you received and pictures of what you sent. Remember pictures speak a thousand words!

Candy King

I am considering getting a lawyer to sue Bobby Pruett because this is no small deal.The animals I traded him are prize animals and what do I have a flop head blind snake!! Any help would be appreciated.

Click to expand...

Well, the first thing you need to do is have a qualified veterinarian document the problems. None of this will hold up in court otherwise. Is the snake really blind? Does it really have scale rot? Is something really wrong with it's neck? Does it have a neurological reason for not tongue flicking often? These are all questions that will need more comprehensive answers. There's a tremendous amount of inbreeding that goes into creating a snowboa. Despite the pretty colors we all see as a result of this inbreeding, there's surely some bad things happening on the inside that we can't see. Have you ever heard of inbreeding depression? It doesn't surprise me that the snowboa appears less vigorous with less muscle tone than your other snakes. This is just a classic example of inbreeding depression. Doesn't necessarily mean he has anything wrong with him either. He may just have a "dumb" personality. Which is sometimes the hard price to pay for such pretty colors. Good luck with it.

P.S. I also consider Bobby to be a friend. We've done several high dollar deals together during the past few years with no problems to speak of. With that being said, I don't intend on "bashing" anyone in this thread because of it. This is 10K we're talking about here! In my opinion, if this snake is indeed blind, you should be entitled to some sort of compensation. 10K is just WAY to much money to write off as a loss.

Good luck to both of you in sorting this out.

Tom Burns
Upper End Exotics

Randy

Nice to see you made it here with your story. Post all the emails to all these nice people. I have everyone of them saved along with your ads on kingsnake. There are pics of the snow boa in question on my website. Like I stated in one of my emails to you poor eye sight is a genetic fact when dealing with the albino,and snow morphs. Be sure to post everything you got Randy. Dont leave anything out.

"Remember phone conversations are not legally binding"

That's not exactly true. Verbal contracts are just as binding as are written ones, whether they be spoken face to face or over the phone. The problem with them is not their validity, but rather their proveability. If no one taped the phone conversations (which is indeed illegal to do in some states, not in others), or if there were no third parties witnesses to attest what was said in the conversation, oral contracts are extremely easy to disavow.

Emails can be considered contracts if the constituent parts of a contract can be shown to exist in the email exchange (an offer, consideration, and acceptance all done in good faith). However, emails are often sketchy enough and using enough non-legal terms (what is Black's definition of "LOL, IMHO, AFAIK, or TYIA?"), that they simply cannot be considered bindable contracts.

Even so, it seems to me that you have enough evidence to support your suit. I would try very hard to work things out with Bobby, now that this has come to the open. However, if he will not budge, you may have to sue him for the sake of principle if nothing else. I don't envy your position, though. It will not be easy, and both parties are likely to suffer unforseen consequences.

Randy,

You have left out many details? When was the trade ? How long has the snake been in your possesion? Was it Vet checked upon arrival? Was it put into breeding with any of your snakes or others? Was it quarantined. Certainly a 10,000.00 animal would have had a Vet exam and report? Since noticing it's problems, did you take it to the Vet immediately? I have purchased many animals from bobby, some very high end. I have had nothing but positive transactions. I also saw that snake and saw no problems at all. Albinos are light sensitive?

Mike Conley

Bobby Pruett

Bobby openly admitted to me on the phone that everything I said about the boa was true.He is a genetic mutant freak.Never the less he wanted him back because he would breed according to him.He mis-represented the snake to me and told me the only problem with him is that he was thin from breeding.I have had the snake app. A week and a half.As soon as I got the snake I contacted Bobby Pruett and told him my dis satisfaction.The snake will be going to the vet.

Randy Bush

Now Randy,

You contacted me with a feeding issue after you saw that one of my friends had one of the amarali forsale. You even emailed him saying how nice of a snake he had and that you use to own it. Seems to me I would have been telling that person Id been conned scammed or whatever you think happened.How much time had passed at that point? The snow ate the next day as you told me. If you have nothing to hide and you have enough to take me to court post the emails and file your claim. I stand behind my decision 100% and will not be changing my mind.

Albinos are light sensitive?

Click to expand...

Yes Mike, very much so. To the point where it can be debilitating. Albinism is a handicap for sure. That's why I believe a vet check is in order to prove that this snake is anything other than a normal inbred snowboa.

Tom Burns

Randy and Bobby.... I realize that I have never done business with either one of you, but BOTH of your very good reputations precede you!.... but,
Bobby.... Why don't you just do the right thing and return the snakes that you KNOW SHOULD BE RETURNED!!.... The fact of the matter is that Randy actually CALLED you, to tell you of his dissatisfaction immediately???.... You KNEW the Snow wasn't "A" material??.... That, in MY opinion, was very deceitful (whether intentional, or not).... You only get to REALLY know a person when something goes wrong.... KEEP your good reputation!!!.... Reverse the trade, like you KNOW you should....

....Neil

Here is a copy of the last email I sent Rany Bush.


Randy Bush

Since their has been a total break-down in communication since Mr.Cagle has gotten involved in this deal, my partner(in the ground boas) and I have both decided things are not adding up. Poor eye sight in a snow boa is no reason for you to be acting like this. That's just one of the genetic facts that goes along with the morphs. It was not clear to me that the Brazilian amarali came from Bill Cagle. I was under the impression that you got them from the Nevilles and that was the reason Mr.Cagle signed a contract with them to buy all their babies. If I would have known that the boas came from Mr.Cagle I can assure you there would have never been a trade in the first place. Dealing with such high-end animals I am now not willing to make a trade back. The snow is there,its healthy,and eating. I noticed you are trying to sell the boas I have and now own on Kingsnake.com and offering Mr.Cagle a group price deal. Now it is clear that your true motive behind getting the amarali back are not from deciding you just wanted them back, but an attempt at making a profit at my expense. You knew and waited till one of the brazilians was sold to try to get me for the remaining 9 amarali and an albino columbian boa. This is a done deal from this point on and their will be no change of mind. You have the snow boa and I got the amarali. You were happy up until the point you needed money, and now knowing I have 2 boas that came from Bill Cagle and the snow is in a collection that has and has had boas from Mr.Cagle I want no part of it.

Bobby Pruett
Arboreals Etc...
http://www.corallus.com/arborealsetc



----- Original Message -----
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 7:46 PM
Subject: Call Me !!!!


Bobby:
I keep trying to call you but there is no answer.We need to settle this like adults.Now you are accusing me of something I have had no part in.You seem like a genuine nice guy and I would really like to settle this.I'll say it again..."I,in no way have downed your name". I hate ever e-mailing Bill Cagle !!!! There is always DRAMA when dealing with him.I ran down to a relatives house to use the PC.So for the rest of the night I will not be around a computer.So call me.. (205)477-7503..If you don't call...don't worry,I'll keep trying to call you.

Randy Bush

Bobby Pruett

I contacted Bill Cagle AFTER confirming with Bobby Pruett that the animals would be returned.Pruett thinks I made the deal before hand and that's why I want the animals back.I would much rather have a "healthy" snow boa than 10 amaralis!!! The bottom line is that I am UNHAPPY with the snow boa and want my animals back!! What I do with my amaralis when I get them is my business.If my name means anything ,I promise that in no way did I WRONG Bobby Pruett! Even if his alligations held any water the fact remains I'm unhappy with the snow.I think he owes me a public apology and my animals back and I promise I will let everyone know that he did right by me. Thanks.. Randy Bush

NONSENSE !

What a bunch of nonsense. To say that because it is a snow boa, then you should expect a weak animal, with poor muscle tone, no tongue flicking, and half blind is complete NONSENSE. Bobby, this is the deal that sealed it for you. Either you return the animals to Randy right away or your reputation goes down the toilett where your attitude already is...

You Bobby are certainly one of the breeders I will stay away from in the future. No doubt. What Randy does with the animals is his deal. Bottom line is this: HE WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DEAL. YOU, AS A BREEDER/DEALER SHOULD HAVE RETURNED HIS ANIMALS BACK. PERIOD.

This is such a HUGE red flag for anybody looking to do any business with you.

Art Hidalgo

some very important questions still remain unanswered. First Neil, What makes you believe the snake wasn't grade A ? Also why wasn't the snake examined and quarantined on arrival to your facility? But if you were concerned about the health of the snake, you should have called the 24 hr. number of your Vet. You can't wait hours or even days. If it would have been my animal, the first thing I would have wanted to hear you say," I took the snake to my Vet" before you said I want to trade back. It just doesn't seem like you have put the health of the snake first? I may be missing something or have missed in a previous post. You don't want to ship a snake that is already ill. If it were mine i wouldn't let you ship it back either.

Mike Conley

Bobby Pruett

Mike C.
I promise I will satisfy your curiosity.I am at the fire dept for 24 hrs today but I will take the snake to the vet asap.I wish you could see him,it is really sad. And this is the way I recieved him.All I'm doing so far is giving my honest opinion on the snake from what I can see.Bobby Pruett said he has always been like this.I said he was mis-represented to me because he told me the only thing wrong was that he was thin from breeding.To me,that is mis-representation.I know you may feel loyal to Pruett but I am just trying to stand up for my rights and do what is right.I did take some pics but I have not downloaded them yet.I will do so tomorrow.I wish everyone could see this snakes locomotion and head movements which a still camera can't capture. I will not mud-sling with Bobby Pruett but I will tell my side and tell the truth.Thanks for your reply.. Randy Bush