Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Georgia

destruction of property on someone elses property

My husband and I built a building on my husbands relatives land. It stored over $100,000.00 worth of windows, doors, plywood, siding, trim, ect. My husband was incarcerated then and is currently incarcerated now. When my husband was arrested, my in-laws put a gate up with a padlock and a no tresspassing sign and I was instructed not to be back on the property. I took pictures of EVERYTHING on the inside and outside of the building a couple of days before it was posted. After that time I was not able to check on any of our belongings or their safety. 3 nights ago the building burned to the ground. Along with everything in it and around it. I have numerous witnessess that will say that was our building and that I was told to stay away from it. The law was called at one point when I tried to move a tow truck off the property that is in one of our friends name. My question is, shouldnt they be responsible for our property being damaged? I feel like that if I had been able to check up on things periodically that just someones presence on the property might have deterred whomever set the fire in the first place. I feel like we were kept from our belongings wrongfully anyway and now they are gone. Should my inlaws have some liability


Asked on 12/04/05, 7:32 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Gregory Douds Flint & Connolly, LLP

Re: destruction of property on someone elses property

You may very well be able to recover for your loss. It will depend on the quality of your evidence, insurance coverage, and other factors, but it's worth exploring.

Since we're in the same town, why don't you call my office to make an appointment to see me? No charge for the initial consultation.

Good Luck,

Greg Douds

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Answered on 12/04/05, 10:41 pm
Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Re: destruction of property on someone elses property

I am sure there are many other facts we would need to know, so your best bet is to see a lawyer to go over everything. The first place to look is insurance coverage, either yours or the property owners. Otherwise, you may have several obstacles. If you built a building on their land, without other agreements, it may be deemed their building. You do not say how long you were denied access, but that was something best resolved with the property owner when the issue arose. Moreover, the facts stated do not necessarily mean they are responsible for your fire loss. What started the fire? Did the owner cause it, or were they negligent? You would need to show more than just you being denied access. A lawyer will be able to go over all these issues. Good luck.

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Answered on 12/05/05, 6:09 am


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