A broken road reflector ripped a hole in one of the tires on Paul Holden's car, so he filed a claim with the state of Ohio and paid the $25 filing fee.

A broken road reflector ripped a hole in one of the tires on Paul Holden's car, so he filed a claim with the state of Ohio and paid the $25 filing fee. The state denied Holden's claim. He figured he was out $25 and the cost of a new tire. Wrong. The state billed him an additional $22 for the investigation and $6 for the postage for the letters it sent him. And just in case he didn't get the point, it sent him a letter saying it would garnish his wages and bank account, seize his personal property, and foreclose on any real estate he might own in order to recoup the money if he didn't pay.

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