odometer problems

[mattyparsons]

i purchased a 98 ranger about a month ago from a guy one town over. the truck is in great shape.
anyway, i was out at sea for half of the past month, and last night i realized that sometimes the odometer doens't roll at all.

what do i do?
obviously i have to take it to ford to have a new odometer put in, which is going to cost $. and then theyr'e gonna put a sticker on the door which says "total mileage unknown" which is gonna bring down the resale value of the truck.

in order to sell me the vehicle the previous owner had to fill out a nys dmv form saying that the odometer reading was correct.

am i screwed or can should i be able to get some sort of compensation from the previous owner?