Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

A friend of mine has held onto a washer and dryer for 3.5 years that was left in her apartment that she shared with another person. The roommate, had gotten the washer and dryer from a friend of hers that let them use them. The roommate up and left over night running away with her boyfriend. My friend was able to clear out the apartment given the roommates possesions to her family. My friend did not know the person that owned the washer and dryer and had no way of contacting her. The owner of the washer and dryer has now, after 3.5 years, called my friend wanting her washer and dryer back. My friend has no problem with that except that she feels that the owner should pay a portion of the storage fees that my friend has incurred over the years while storing the property, $500.00 is what she is asking for. She assumed that the property was abandoned since she has heard nothing from anyone for over 3 years and had just started using the washer and dryer. The question is - what are her rights? What is the time frame for abandonment of personal property? She really does not want the washer and dryer but does feel she has a legal right to be compensated and feels she is being more than fair.

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