Legal Question in Consumer Law in Maryland

Moving and Storage Issue

I am hoping that you can help me with a problem. I used to live in Bowie, Maryland and have relocated to Bluefield, Virginia. However, my household belongings are being held ''hostage'' in Gaithersburg, Maryland and I haven't been able to find any person or agency that can help me. I cannot afford to hire an attorney. I just want our belongings back. But, as far as I am concerned, the moving company has ''stolen'' our household items and if I am able and find it necessary, I will report my belongings as stolen.

I have done my research, and know the state of Maryland Code/Business Regulation/Title 17. Miscellaneous State Business Licenses/Subtitle 12. Storage Warehouses/17-1202 License required. It states ''A person must have a license whenever the person keeps a storage warehouse where goods are stored for a fee in the state''. I doubt that All the company has a Storage Warehouse license. Also, Maryland Code/Commercial Law/Title 14. Miscellaneous Consumer Protection Provisions/Subtitle 31. Maryland Household Goods Movers Act/14-3102.1 Written receipt after completion of intrastate move. It states ''On completion of household goods moving services for an intrastate mo


Asked on 1/30/06, 4:40 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Moving and Storage Issue

If the moving company moved you to Virginia, then they may well have a license to do business in the Commonwealth or at least have sufficient commercial contacts allowing them to be sued here.

If so, all you need do is go to the clerk's office of the general district court that serves Bluefield and file what's called a Warrant in Detinue for the return of your wrongly distrained

property. (Use of the term "distrained" may gain you a point or two with the jurist presiding over your case.)

The clerk will not provide you with legal advice but should be able to instruct you generally on filling out the required forms. You should itemize your property on the warrant and in the alternative ask the court to award you the fair market value of any item which the movers cannot produce in condition similar to what it was when left in their possession.(That could be everything so be prepared to justify a total figure regarding the fair market value for all of the missing property.)

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Answered on 1/30/06, 8:25 pm


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