Legal Question in Business Law in Wisconsin

Ownership of newspaper tubes (boxes)

I am interested in having a question answered that pertains to WI case law. Briefly, here is my situation and question:

I own a delivery company that delivers advertising material ...community papers, flyers, etc...some of the areas we deliver to have tubes (small boxes) installed by the local newspaper companies for delivery of their newspaper. Once these boxes are installed, it is my understanding that they become the property of the homeowner and anyone is allowed to use them to deliver printed materials. We have run into several situations where the newspaper company removes our materials and either throws them on the ground or in the garbage. The tubes- boxes are big enough to house materials other the newspaper and never obstructed.

Several years ago there was a court case in WI between the Milwaukee Journal and ''This Week!'' Publications. I have tried to find the case at the Milwaukee Co Courthouse but had no luck.

As for my question: Once the tubes are installed WHO owns them, and are others allowed to put materials for the homeowner in the tubes, without fear of the materials being discarded?


Asked on 4/10/05, 12:43 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Mahoney Cassiani Law Office, Wise Shepherd Law Office

Re: Ownership of newspaper tubes (boxes)

Greetings,

I live out in the country and there are several such tubes out on the edge of the road at my house. I assumed that those were the property of the companies that put them there, but were there with my permission. But I have nothing to base that on. The question has not come up. If what I assumed was true, other people would not be able to use a certain companies box. I am not familiar with the case you refer to. If you hire a lawyer, he/she may be able to locate it or another case for you. It is what lawyers do -- research and advise. Until that research is done, I don't know one way or the other who owns the tubes.

Best wishes,

Mark J. Mahoney

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Answered on 4/10/05, 7:40 pm


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