Thread: Bailment Laws

Does anyone have experience or some knowledge on the subject?

We ran into an issue with a customers vehicle while it was in our possession, and bailment law came up. I had never heard the term before, and really have no legal experience.

This is a copy-paste of a definition I found:
Bailment - Lawyers.com

A bailor is entitled to recover damages for lost or damaged property if he can show that the bailee failed to exercise the required degree of care and proximately caused damage or loss of the property. If the bailee exercised the required degree of care required, then the bailor won't be entitled to damages.

I can go more into detail if needed. Any pointers, advice, etc. would be great.

anyone know where I can find the laws pertaining to bailment (not just a summary of it)? Specifically in Pennsylvania.

I've only heard of bail enforcement and bail laws (yes I used to be a bounty hunter). Bailment is a new term for me. I would go to your state legislature site and search for keywords there. My state (MI) has the laws online. Check there.

Yea, I had never heard the term either. But it apparently referrs to when a business or individual takes posession and control over someone else's property, and assumes complete responsibility for the safety of that property, etc.

I have not been able to find a website that I can read the actual law in my state... Just some basic synopsis. Do you know of a website that allows you to look up the laws in your state?

Are you, by chance, storing the vehicle for a customer. If so, this would be considered bailment. It is when you have possession of property but no ownership rights of the property. Let's say you are storing the car and you did everything you needed to do to take care of the car and the car gets damage and the owner of the vehicle cannot prove that you provided sufficient care you may not owe for damages. Relatively new term for me, however, I am not an attorney, just adding my two cents.

Different things regarding bailment in PA...
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...layDocInfo=yes

Yes. A customer dropped his vehicle off for us to repair. While it was in our possession, we had flood warnings, and had to evacuate it. At some point during the flood evacuation, the car had some items stolen from it.

The customer understands that we are not responsible, and were trying to keep it out of harms way. He filed with his insurance company, and now his insurance company is suing us for the loss. It's not a large amount of $$ so we can't justify spending the money on a lawyer to handle this in court, so, I'm trying to find the exact laws so I can handle this in court myself.

Sorry to hear that, any cameras in the facility to help pin point who did it?

Unfortunately no.

whats the aprox. amount to replace the stolen items?

Under $1500.