Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Pennsylvania

Re: retreaval of propertty

Judge Judy would tell her to give the stuff back.

Ann Landers might say she probably is trying to keep some hold over you.

But if you want a legal remedy, you can file suit in small claims, at your local District Justice, for the value of the stuff.

Technically, a claim for recovery of tangible stuff is called "replevin" and what she's doing in keeping the stuff is called "conversion."

A small claims court technically only has power to order money damages and not the specific performance or "equity" relief. But practically, the D.J.'s see this kind of case all the time, and it's not worth hiring a lawyer and preparing a Complaint in Common Pleas Court.

Assuming she doesn't have any actual defense or valid counterclaim (her paying for dinner sure ain't, unless she can prove it was a loan which is not likely) the judge can tell her to return the stuff or else he will order her to pay the value, which usually does the trick.