Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

My canoe on neighbor's property

Hi--I had a canoe that I had been storing in the alley behind my apartment, chained to a fence. I went to grab it one day for a canoe ride and it was gone! Turns out it was on my neighbor's land and he removed it without first trying to notify me by doing something as simple as leaving a note on it. I've been trying to contact him for a week to figure out what he did with it and if it was truly disposed of or if it's being stored somewhere, but he hasn't called me back and I get the feeling he's avoiding my calls. Are there any laws, state, federal or local (Boston, MA) which give guidelines for disposal of another person's property on your land? It is my understanding that he should have offered the canoe into the hands of the state, and if it wasn't claimed in a short amount of time, they would dispose of it. This man took that process into his own hands! I loved my canoe and can't afford a new one. Please help!


Asked on 7/05/07, 12:07 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Vaughn-Martel Charles River Law Partners, LLC

Re: My canoe on neighbor's property

Perhaps this is one that is best left alone. It sounds like you have a nasty neighbor. It is possible that you have an action in conversion in small claims court for the value of the old canoe, but it probably just not be worth it.

Try sending him a certified letter requesting money for the value of the canoe, or a return of the canoe. If he doesn't respond or insists that he didn't do it - leave it alone and steer clear of this guy.

It is also possible that someone else entirely actually stole your canoe. You could file a police report for the stolen property and provide any evidence you might have that it was your neighbor.

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Answered on 7/05/07, 9:40 pm


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