Legal Question in Business Law in California

Six years ago, I gave a jeweler (that I worked with before) a few pieces of old gold to melt down in order to use for a new piece that he was to custom make for me. I didn't get a receipt. Despite several attempts to contact the jeweler over the years, I haven't seen or heard from him. Recently he re-appeared and returned the jewelry I had given him (in the same condition I had given it). A friend mentioned to me that it was a possibility that he could have pawned the jewelry and then returned it to me. Is there anyway to prove this? And if so, can I file a police report even though he has returned the jewelry back to me. His reason for the disappearance was a family issue that kept him out of town.


Asked on 2/24/12, 8:07 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Jeannette Darrow Jeannette C.C. Darrow, Attorney at Law

There would be no point in filing a police report, because you have the items back in your possession now. A civil lawsuit would be equally pointless.

Count your blessings that you got your jewelry back and can have someone more reputable (and available) make it into the custom piece you probably thought you'd never see. (And get a receipt this time.)

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Answered on 2/24/12, 9:02 pm
Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

I too believe there are no sufficient grounds to pursue this incident in either criminal or civil court. The police and the D.A. would be uninterested, and the cost of suit (even if you won) would lilkely exceed your recoverable damages.

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Answered on 2/25/12, 9:18 am


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