Party venue damage- who is responsible?

amandamilner

I had a party at a club on Saturday, due to the inept people who ran it, I never paid any deposit, and never got any terms or conditions, just paid the full amount of money for hire upfront.
Unfortunately someone damaged some of the property there, and I have 2 witnesses saying the same person and CCTV footage. The club are threatening I pay up or they will sue me etc and go to the police. I have no issue with them going to the police with the details of the person who did it, and no issues telling them who did it. The person that did it is a prat and so will not pay up. Am I responsible legally?? Who is responsible if we have witnesses and no contract?

TonyMMM

You did have a contract ..... you paid them for a service which they provided. The fact no piece of paper was signed doesn't alter that.

They would be within their rights to ask you to pay for the damage - just as you can refuse. In that event they could start court proceedings against you for the cost, whether they would win is another matter.

If the damage was deliberate enough to be "Criminal Damage" then you would not be responsible for that, assuming you took no part in it - if they report it to Police you can just give the name of the person you believe to be responsible.