NEWS photo Paul McGrath

‘PALMS Guest House owner Heldi Schmidt is back in busi-
ness, at least for now, while West Van studies B&B policies.

B&B businesses
favor WV respite

By Catherine Barr
Contributing Writer
WEST Vancouver B&Bs can remain in business, for now.

District council called for more information Monday before deciding

what to do with more than 30 bed-and-breakfast businesses currently
operating in West Vancouver.

Until then, it is business as usual.

“J think it's wonderful,” said Heidi Schmidt, owner and operator of
The Palms. Her elegant 464-square-metre (5,000-square-foot) home

See WV page &

Wadnasday, July 30, 1997 - North Shore News ~ 3

"hd eg a, y

atae

i es
rf f
a

ey A
eRe

4

- iheAR

& eat ney
aos tot

sia

JASMINE (left), Vanessa (centre), and
Alexis were all smiles at the ?

Caribbean Festival Sunday at

Waterfront Park, where the happy
crowd enjoyed musie, food and dance.

Claims court ordeal

NV court order
unfair, charges
businessman

By tan Noble

News Reporter
fan@nsnews.com

MOHAMMAD Paydar-
Roodsari has tangled in
small claims court twice.

Once he won, and once he lost.

When he lost, he fost 12 times
more than the amount initially dis-
puted and was tossed in the clink.

Yet, he hasn't collected the
amount he won, -

What's fair, asked the disillu-
sioned 54-year-old Monday,

“It’s a double standard. This man
here, a white Canadian older man ...
he cheated me and look at what hap:
pened. J haven't got any money.

And on the second claim: *Out
of nowhere he can sue me for a $25
deposit. This is just not right.”

Maybe it was a misunderstand-
ing.
Maybe events just spun out of
control,

Maybe some people Paydar-
Roodsari has dealt with were racist,
as he says they were.

And, perhaps, the justice system
treated him properly,

Whatever the case, Paydar-
Roodsan is out at least $1,200 in his
small-claims care

Paydar-Roodsari’s first case — his
“victory” —- involves signs a man
was supposed to make for Paydar—
Roodsari’s srnall Vancouver busi-
ness, but didn’t. The incident took
place in 1992, Paydar-Roodsari now

has an $850 judgment against the__was the end of
three months later O'Grady sued in

man.

More — recently,  Paydar—
Roodsari put an add in the Bay and
Sell to sell carpets. Gerald O’Grady
came to North Vancouver for the
carpets and paid what Paydar-
Roodsari called a $50 deposit. But
the potential buyer decided he
didn’t want the carpets the next day

MOHAMMAD

court process.

when he was to pay the other $50,
said Paydar-Roodsari.

O’Grady told the News he only
gave the money to Paydar-Roodsari
to hold the rugs so he could view
them.

O'Grady said he didn’t promise
to buy them.

After much haggling
Roodsari_ gave back :
deposit. He said he had ‘to close his
store downtown and lost other sales
opportunities so didn’t think he
should have to reimburse the full
$50.

Paydar-Roodsari: thought tha

dof the matter, But
small claims court for the other
$25.

Saying he’s not familiar with the
“Mickey Mouse” small — claims
process, Paydar-Roodsari did “not
know he had to respond to the claim

within two weeks. By the time that.

was pointed out to him, it was too

Paydar-Roodsari
claims he has not found justice in
North Vancouver's smail claims

late. ;

He paid $30 for responaing
to the claim two days late.

Paydar—Roodsari said the
judge in the North Vancouver
courtroom wouldn’t listen to
him because he responded late,

The judge ordered Paydar-
Roodsari to pay back the $25 -
and court costs — a total of
$160.

He was given four months to
P , but he didn't pay because
he didn’t think he should have
to.

Ata default hearing, which
came after the sheriffs had paid
Paydar-Roodsari a few visits, the
judge said he must pay.

Paydar-Roodsari said it was
against his principles. to pay and
wouldn't fork over the cash.

Eventually, the judge ordered
chim jailed for three days for con-
tempt of court.

The Franian immigrant was
handeuffed, had his money and
belongings taken, and was
thrown barefoot into a cell on
July 24,

Four hours later, his brother
paid $260 to. bail him out of jail.

The whole ordeal has Jef Paydar-
Roodsari shocked. “I feel very bad
about. iz,” he said.

“T never ignored the rules or reg-
ulations ... except 1 was late the first
time which F paid 30) bucks,” he

_ said,

Meanwhile, he says he has spent
hundreds trying to collect the debt
owed to him over the signs claim.
But success has eluded him.

“He never showed up for’court.
‘The court never sent the sheriff after
him, Without financial or any other
retribution, | finally just gave up,”
he said oe

So will Paydar-Roodsari apply for
a default order like O'Grady did
against him? si

No, he'said, it’s too much hassle
and willcost him more cash than lie
casi risk,

“They say it’s up to me to
enforce the order,” he said. “1 can’t
enforce the order.” ‘