Classmate Spilled Coffee On My Laptop - Broken

[waterdrifter]

My classmate and I were studying this morning for our final in nursing theory. She accidentally spilled her coffee on my laptop and now it is broken (fried, won't start). Is she responsible? I tried to talk to her and she feels like she doesn't owe me anything.

I get that it was an accident but at the same time, I am out a 650 dollar laptop because of her clumsiness. She removed the lid of the coffee and then accidentally bumped it which caused it to spill all over my laptop. I lost my files and assignments which were saved on the laptop and it will not turn on now.

I was trying to not make a big deal of it because we both had to take a final exam. To be honest, I wasn't mad at the time as I realize stuff happens. She at first offered to pay for the laptop but after the final stated that she cannot pay for it and mentioned that she had a child and lived in a one-income household. I am not sure how to proceed. I have texted her and have not received a response back. Do I take her to small claims court or what?

I cannot personally afford to purchase another laptop at this time. Advice?

[NeoNatMom]

My classmate and I were studying this morning for our final in nursing theory. She accidentally spilled her coffee on my laptop and now it is broken (fried, won't start). Is she responsible? I tried to talk to her and she feels like she doesn't owe me anything.

I get that it was an accident but at the same time, I am out a 650 dollar laptop because of her clumsiness. She removed the lid of the coffee and then accidentally bumped it which caused it to spill all over my laptop. I lost my files and assignments which were saved on the laptop and it will not turn on now.

I was trying to not make a big deal of it because we both had to take a final exam. To be honest, I wasn't mad at the time as I realize stuff happens. She at first offered to pay for the laptop but after the final stated that she cannot pay for it and mentioned that she had a child and lived in a one-income household. I am not sure how to proceed. I have texted her and have not received a response back. Do I take her to small claims court or what?

I cannot personally afford to purchase another laptop at this time. Advice?

Definitely might need to address this with your instructor, since even though it was not intentional, damage done to another persons possessions, such as a car, don't by the other person still makes them responsible for the cost. If anything, you can take it up with administration. I definitely would hold her liable.

NNM

[NeoNatMom]

I do feel really bad for her sake. At the same time however, I feel horrible on my end. All of my nursing theory papers were saved on this laptop as well as two quarters of lecture notes for theory and patho-pharm - all of them gone now if I cannot recover them.

I will take it to a reliable repair shop soon in hopes that they can clean and recover my files. In the event that I am not able to do so, do you think that I should pursue other options? I realize that this was certainly an accident but at the same time, I can't help but blame her. What is your advice beyond trying to recover my files?

In my educational experience, even if you save your files on a computer, you are always advised to please back up your files by sending them to a cloud or email. I know this doesn't undo whats occurred, but this is a perfect exam of why we should back up our docs.

NNM