Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Texas

property given to me

My neighbor gave me some things before she moved that she couldn't take with her. These things included a couch, loveseat, kitchen table, and miscellaneous household items such as decorative shelves and picture frames. She just came over with these things and put them in my living room. I told her thanks but that I couldn't offer to pay her for these things. She said she was happy to give them to a needy family instead of throwing them away or leaving them for her husband to sell. Then she left, and now her husband has come over asking for the furniture or payment. We already threw out our old things. We don't want to give him our furniture, even if it used to belong to his wife. She gave it to us, and I can only assume she didn't discuss it with him first, however that is not my problem. What should I do?


Asked on 8/14/03, 12:44 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles White Charles G. White

Re: property given to me

What should I do?

ANSWER: Nothing. If the property given to you was the neighbor's property or was community property for which she had equal control, then, absent some type of fraud on your part, she had authority to dispose of these items. If she had stolen the property from someone else, the answer might be different, however, I doubt that is the situation. If you are sued for these items or the value of the items, do not ignore the citation/summons.

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Answered on 8/14/03, 1:37 pm


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