Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Public Drop Box on Private property

I just purchased a commercial building. On the outside of my building, yet still on my property, is a public drop box for overnight parcels. I doesn't bother me other than the fact that many people come onto my property to drop off their parcels (which has nothing to do with my business). My concern is that such increase in foot traffic might eventually cause someone to fall and file a claim against me and/or my business. I'm not sure if the prior owner of my building had an agreement with this parcel service company to leave the drop box on the property. Just in case they did, do I, as the new owner have a right to remove parcel box off my property, or does such agreement with prior owner and parcel company run with my property? Or, rather than just remove the box, is there anyway that maybe I can be indemnified by parcel company if I can prove that someone came on my property for the sole purpose of dropping of their mail? Thanks in advance!


Asked on 7/09/08, 1:03 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
David Gibbs The Gibbs Law Firm, APC

Re: Public Drop Box on Private property

Contact the parcel company and ask that they provide a copy of the agreement with the prior owner allowing them to maintain a drop box on your property. If they cannot provide a copy, demand that they remove it. Once you have the agreement, review it and it probably has a specific term and or procedure for cancellation. It may also contain some form of indemnity, but its pretty unlikely. Finally, the agreement must be binding on "successors in interest" in order to be binding upon you, or recorded against the property - but that should have come up on a title report.

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Answered on 7/09/08, 12:41 pm


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