what LEGAL actions can i take?

Maybe I missed it (I am pretty old, after all), but I read through the thread and never saw where the door handle actually broke. Any chance, it just froze up? I came off home time once when it was 0 degrees (pretty darn cold for Arkansas) and my door lock was frozen. Fortunately, I parked beside a convenience store when home so I went inside, bought a 50 cent cigarette lighter and commenced to heating up my key and then inserting it into the keyhole. It took a few times, but on about the 4th or 5th try it opened the door.

Just food for thought...

 

Keep one of these in your battery box
https://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-22-5...ywords=door+lock+deicer&qid=1738694523&sr=8-2