Can my mother in law sue me for this and win?

by **shadrach** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:20 am

Apparently her dishwasher has been designated for dairy items and meat items are to be washed by hand. I made chicken soup for me and my nephew when I was baby sitting and I washed the pot and the bowls in the dishwasher. She found out about it and now she's screaming at me that I have to buy her a whole new dishwasher. If she took me to small claims court to buy her a dishwasher could she win the case? There is nothing wrong with the dishwasher other than it has had both milk and meat in it. She says it can't be kashered, it must be replaced. I am not used to this level of frum.

by **arne33** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:25 am

No She's crazy

by **giulio** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:26 am

No, and she sounds like a real nut job. you married a man that lives with his mother, and this is your big concern?

by **oded** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:40 am

Sure she can sue.

But odds are she would lose.

Unless she specifically told you not to mix dairy and meat dishes in the dishwasher or had a sign posted on it, she'd have a very difficult time.

Additionally, she's have to prove damages. That could be difficult if the people on the jury don't keep kosher.

by **bearchan** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:45 am

In a rabbinical court, she can perhaps win.

by **eoforwic** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:50 am

No, she cannot sue you for this. Yes, she can file for a lawsuit, but the odds of a judge being willing to hear the case is almost nil. Tell her to go pound sand, or tell her to take you onto "Judge Judy." She would put your mother-in-law in place.

by **josephus** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:54 am

Your mother-in-law's rabbi will be able to provide a cleaning process that will meet rabbinical standards.

This level of kosher observance is not worth the family discord (in my opinion).

by **chiram97** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:55 am

To keep the peace, you might consider replacing it - and keep that one for yourself. NEVER cook or clean in her house again.

by **drystan** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:57 am

You were in a kosher household and in the absence of two dishwashers (Yes, i know of Jewish households that have two.) one will be set aside strictly for meat or dairy. There will also be seperate cabinets for identical set of dishes, one for dairy and one for meat.

If you were aware of this before you made the soup and then cleaned up afterward you may be on the hook.

It would seem that a rabbi could kasher the dishwasher however i'm not entirely sure, but he should be consulted.

By rabbinical law that dishwasher is no longer kosher.

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