Personal Property (Finders) Flashcards
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Lost Property
Property that the owner of the property parted with unintentionally and involuntarily
Lost Property
Finders Rule
The Finder has superior claim to all but the true Owner.
Armory v. Delamire (vindicating finders right to a lost jewel over the jeweler who sold it, and requiring jeweler to compensate the finder with a jewel of the finest water).
Mislaid Property
Property the owner of the property unintentionally forgot after intentionally and voluntarily plaing it somewhere.
Mislaid Property
Locus in Quo
Mislayed property stays with the owner of the Locus in Quo
Locus in Quo = place where item was mislaid
McAvoy v. Medina (holding mislaid wallet should stay with the owner of the shop where it was found, not with the finder).
Abandoned Property
Property that the owner of the property knowingly relinquished all right, title, and interest to.
left behind, gave up, etc.
Some states apply Finder Rule
Some states confer abandoned property to the State.
Treasure Trove
Property the owner of the property concealed in a hidden location a long time ago.
Majority approach apply constructive possession (policy concern of encouraging trespass)
Minority approach apply finders law
Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1987
Abandoned shipwrecks found within 3 miles of a state, belong to that State.
Salvage Law
Entitles the Finder to a reward when he finds a shipwreck, but not ownership.
Constructive Possession
The owner of the real property has constructive possession over all lost, mislaid, or abandoned property found on their real property.
Benjamin v. Lindner Aviation (giving cash concealed in a plane to the owner of the plane, not the owner of the hanger where it was stored, nor the inspector who found it) but see Hannah v. Peel (giving finder possession of a broach found in P’s home because P didn’t live or even visit the house and Finder acted honestly in reporting the broach to the authorities).
Bailment
The rightful possession of goods by one who is not the owner of the property.
Bailor
Is the owner of the property who gives possession of their property to another party
Bailee
The party who takes prossesion of the Bailor’s property
Mutal Benefit
Bailee has the duty to take reasonable care of the Bailor’s property
Benefit of the Bailee
The Bailee has a duty to take extraordinary care of the Bailor’s property.
Benefit of the Bailor
The Bailee is only liable if she damages the Bailor’s property with gross negligence or bad faith.