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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    2

    Default Guest Left a Suitcase Behind, I Gave it Away, Now He Wants it Back

    My question involves personal property located in the State of: Oregon

    I had a person stay with me for 2 days in September 2011. I told him that it would not work out between us, and we parted ways as friends. He left a locked suitcase at my house. Over the next several months, I made 14 attempts to give him his property back, all attempts are documented through YIM. Every time he said he either did not want it back, or did not want to meet me to retrieve it. The few times he did say he would meet me to retrieve it, he was never around when I was in town. I should say that he lives 3 hours from me - driving to return his property is difficult. The last time I heard from him was 18 February 2012. I have not received an email, YIM, text message, or phone call regarding this property in 9 months. In the last conversation we had, he said that he did not want it and could always replace it. Two months ago, I gave the suitcase away and I have no way to retrieve it now. This morning, he emailed me saying he wants his stuff back. I sent a return email stating I kept it for over a year and the law says I can do what I wish with it and that I had given it away. His return email states that he had a heart attack 6 months ago and that he would divulge personal and private information about me "to all I know in eastern Oregon and sooner or later it will get to your teacher job, church and ever where else you hang around at. liberal or not, your mormon chuch wont like it as much as your emperior Obama would." The information I have read about the abandoned property law is that personal property such as clothing does not fall under the jurisdiction of the abandoned property laws (ie. the 3 year wait) and after diligent efforts to return the property I can do what I wish with it. What can I do about this?


    Thank you.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Guest Left a Suitcase Behind, I Gave it Away, Now He Wants it Back

    If the suitcase was locked, how do you know what was in it?

    The suitcase wasn't abandoned, but if you had permission to give away the suitcase and its contents that issue is moot.

    If you had permission to give away the suitcase and its contents and he sues you, you can argue to the court that he gave you permission to give away the suitcase and its contents, and submit whatever evidence you have that he in fact instructed you that you could give it away. The judge will then decide whether your version of events is more credible than his.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Guest Left a Suitcase Behind, I Gave it Away, Now He Wants it Back

    I know what was in it because I saw it open when he was here.

    He says that he was being facetious when he said he didn't care about it - the bigger issue for me is that he will not sue me in court, but that he will divulge this personal information. I live in a small town, this could affect my standing in the community as well as negatively affect my high school age daughter. The suitcase is not as much an issue as the information he is threatening to give out. It is not slander - the information is true, just very very private and no one's business but those I have to tell.

    Thank you, again.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    3,666

    Default Re: Guest Left a Suitcase Behind, I Gave it Away, Now He Wants it Back

    Then I suggest paying him the amount of the suitcase and its contents. This sounds like blackmail to me, but If I didn't want something particular spread around everyplace I associate in, I would offer the value to him to make him go away.

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