Legal Question in Criminal Law in Utah

unknowingly purchased a stolen vehicle

2 months ago I purchased an off road vehicle from a seller in Arizona ( no tittle or registration required in the state) I paid 12,900.00 for the vehicle and two months after I had purchased the vehicle I attempted to register and title the vehicle in my state of Utah. The officer doing the inspection discovered it had been reported stolen 3 years previously

and seized and impounded the vehicle. The previous owner had purchased the vehicle from an individual 20 months earlier for 15K.

The state of Utah will sell the vehicle at auction if the insurance company that paid the claim on the loss does not claim the vehicle.

I do not want to loose my investment as I purchased the vehicle in good faith but if I do what grounds do I have to sue the seller from arizona and recover my $12,900? He unknowingly possesed the vehicle and sold it to me- What is my recourse?

thanks


Asked on 5/03/09, 12:12 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Randy B. Birch Attorney at Law

Re: unknowingly purchased a stolen vehicle

I am not sure. I would check with the police because if the insurance co abandons it, you should be entitled to retrieve it from impound, redeem it. Depending upon what they say you may want to call the insurance co and buy it from them - it may cost you a little, but at least you would not be with out the $ and the ATV. Another possible solution would be to check with the police and see if there is a "victims fund" so some such thing. You may be able to recoup some of your $ that way.

You may have a civil action against the seller of the ATV, but I do not know.

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Answered on 5/03/09, 8:21 pm


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