“Then the liability is for the value of the damage,” responded Rabbi Dayan. “The additional expenditures to make it look aesthetically pleasing beyond the original would, at most, be considered grama [Rama 386:3].
“Therefore, Mr. Fixler must pay only what the original tile was worth had it been available, factoring in also that it was not new. The remaining cost should be absorbed by the Alperts.”
“Thank you,” said Mr. Alpert. “We appreciate your guidance.”
Rabbi Meir Orlian is a faculty member of the Business Halacha Institute, headed by HaRav Chaim Kohn, a noted dayan. To receive BHI’s free newsletter, Business Weekly, send an e-mail to [email protected]. For questions regarding business halacha issues, or to bring a BHI lecturer to your business or shul, call the confidential hotline at 877-845-8455 or e-mail [email protected].