I am an engineer by education and all I have to say is that to graduate engineering school only 1% of the classes are about ethics, while it seems that 90% of the law classes teach ethics (you do the math)...Good question, why do law students need to take so many ethics courses? he he

I think that this lawyer abused her power in this case, and also after a divorce, you could have been looking for trouble right there, but how to know?

Just one comment about the repair recommendation. Was a new timing belt recommended in addition to an explanation to the consequences? Obviously, if someone had 0 brake fluid, you just would not write "Recommend brake fluid" or is only 1 of 6 lug nuts were on, you would not just write "Recommend lug nuts" and let the customer drive off. There is that grey area when mechanics recommend, but I think, have a moral obligation to explain the serious ramifications of the repairs. It is tough, though, when the shop is busy. You always have to assume that the customer is NOT as sharp as you.

This timing belt thing happened to my wife's Honda when were dating. Cost around $3200 for a new valve stems among other things. In our case, Honda never even recommended that she change the belt, but despite that, my wife ate the cost, because it was HER responsibility.

In this case, the laywer abused her power, and lashed out for personal reasons, and for that Steve, I am sorry that you had to go through that (I know how much you have helped me and others on this board). I just wanted to add that, although not required, I think that it is a moral obiligation to clarify the consequences of the lack of some of these repairs (maybe signing that statement) would do the trick for customers.

I am just glad that my cars don't have belts, but a chain. By the way, what is the recommended mileage life of our timing chain?

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'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'84 300 SD (sold it)