Personal Property- Finders Flashcards
Finders
Finders
this refers to the principle that a person who finds lost personal property can claim ownership against all except to the true owners or those with a superior right to it.
Four categories of “found” chattels:
- Lost property
- Mislaid property
- Abandoned property
- Treasure trove
Lost property
owner unintentionally and involuntarily parts with it.
- finder gets property unless true owner shows up.
Mislaid property
2 prong test: property is mislaid when owner (1) voluntarily and knowingly places it somewhere and (2) unintentionally forgets it.
- the finder gets property
Abandoned property
Property is abandoned when owner knowingly relinquishes all right, title, and interest to it.
- finger gets property
treasure trove
property is treasure trove when the owner concealed it in a hidden location long ago.
- most courts reject this doctrine and give property to landowner (locus in quo)
-treasure trove is limited to gold, silver, coins or currency.
Statutory approaches to found property
The typical statute requires the finder to (1) notify the police or other gov officials (2) deposit the found article with then and (3) publish native of the find
Who is the Bailor?
Person who delivers the chattel
Who is the Bailee?
Person who receives the chattel
3 Types of Bailment- Finder is a Bailee
- benefit of the bailor
- benefit for both the bailor and bailee
- benefit of the bailee
Benefit of the Bailor
Bailee is liable only if the property is damaged because of gross negligence or bad faith
Mutual benefit of both the bailer and bailee
reasonable care is required
Benefit of the bailee
extraordinary care is required