And while Tillett's attorney Arthur Saldivar sat in on the press conference, just minutes earlier he was sitting in the pan of his own pickup truck, defending it from the police - who had been retained to act on a commercial bank's behalf to re-possess the Toyota Tacoma.
When we got to the Everyday Restaurant - Police were outside waiting for the tow truck to come and haul away the pickup which the bank was re-possessing. But it's not Saldivar who owes the bank. The person he bought the truck from had apparently put it down as security and failed to honor his commitments - so the bank was coming for its truck.
But, Saldivar was a bonafied purchaser -while the bank still had the previous owner's papers for the truck. After a testy back and forth, Saldivar managed to fend them off - he told us why the vehicle is his, free and clear.
Jules Vasquez
"You bought something that has a lien on it."
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"Well, it had no lien. If it had a lien it would have been on the title."
Jules Vasquez
"It was encumbered."
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"It was not properly encumbered. The bank did not do what it was supposed to do in securing its own collateral. They are the bank - they have all the money in the world - all the resources in the world, Jules. I bought this thing innocently believing this man had every right to sell it. I am equity's darling, Jules. A bona fide purchaser of a legal estate for value without notice. You can't beat that; no law court of law will overturn that transaction."
Jules Vasquez
"Caveat emptor. The onus is on the buyer to make sure.....If I buy a piece of land for example, I have to do a title search to make sure."
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"And that was done; this is reason why you take the title in. The traffic department does the checks and as long as that title is properly in the name of the person who is selling - the transfer is done."
Jules Vasquez
"What is the status going forward? Your vehicle will continue to be in dispute? The bank needs its money."
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"The person who sold the vehicle and I don't want to disclose that name here I think you have it on camera. If there is anything that the bank wants to query it has to query with him. He is their client and their customer. I am not."
Jules Vasquez "The bank has the papers for your vehicle."
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"No they don't."
Jules Vasquez
"I saw Christine with the paper for your vehicle."
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"Christine has papers for Conrad Arzu's vehicle."
Jules Vasquez
"Which is your vehicle."
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"No it's not."
Jules Vasquez
"It has the VIN number. You are a transient figure. The VIN is permanent."
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"No, what you must understand, I am not a transient figure. I am the bona fide purchaser of a legal estate for value without notice. I am equity's darling, Jules."
