Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California
Management didn't contact me before giving goods away
The manager posted a sign on the storage door that all goods be removed from the storage area. I contacted her and told her I could not move my goods for at least a month. She said this was fine, just mark the doors on the storage as mine. She assured me by saying nothing was going to happen for a few months, so don�t worry. I posted a sign on my storage doors that said �not abandoned, contact if a problem� with my telephone and apartment number. I was visiting a new friend I had just met in the complex and upon entering his apartment I found he had one of my pictures hanging on his wall. Imagine my surprise. I asked how he got it, he said the manager told him and a few other people they could go into the storage units and take what they wanted, it was all abandoned. He even told me she said she had first �dibs� and they were second to get the goods. The goods taken from my unit were at least $3000.00 in items of clothing and personal items. Should I contact the management company directly and let them know the circumstances? What alternatives do I have to either get my goods retrieved, or some kind of compensation? Thank you.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Management didn't contact me before giving goods away
I concur with Mr. Zacher, and would add that if you can prove it's your property, you also have a right to demand that the new friend turn it over, whether they paid for it or not, because they did not obtain good title to the property. One who buys from a thief obtains no rights.
Re: Management didn't contact me before giving goods away
This kind of case is entitled "conversion" which means civil theft. Also, you would have breach of oral contract and negligence causes of action against the manager. Since the amount is approximately $3000, you must file in small claims. You can go to the nearest courthouse to obtain small claims filing instructions and forms that can help you through the process. Good luck and thanks for inquiring.
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