Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Posts
    1

    Default Purchase of a Motorcycle that May Have Been Stolen

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

    Hi this is my first time posting here so please forgive me if this is in the wrong place.
    I have pretty unique situation that I need some help with.

    My friend bought a motorcycle a couple of months ago from someone off craigslist. It's a vintage bike that was mostly in pieces and was priced as such. My friend who is a custom bike builder bought it with the idea that he would restore it and either keep it or sell it for a profit.

    The bike had no title; which is a pretty common thing for a 40-50 year old bike. He did get a bill of sale from the DMV and had the bike inspected on 3 separate occasions by the police to ensure that he wasn't buying anything stolen.
    So he put it together and got it all the paperwork in order. He received the title in his name as well as registration. He also insured the bike. He then started doing additional work to it, both mechanical and cosmetic.
    And, after a while he decided that he wanted to sell it. He put the bike on Craigslist and cycle trade and got a lot of responses.

    HERE'S THE PROBLEM: One person that showed up to look at the bike claimed that the bike had been stollen from him months earlier. He brought the police with him. The police looked over my friend's paperwork and told the guy there was nothing they could do. The bike was titled and registered to my friend. He, until that point, had never reported it stollen. Apparently, the bike was titled in Florida and never transferred to California. Also this never put it in his name. It belonged to his grandfather who has since passed away.

    My friend still plans on selling the bike but is worried that this guy will make this a civil matter.

    Does this other guy have any legal recourse here? If so, how long does he have to take this to court?

    Sorry for rambling. ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!

    THANKS

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

    Default Re: Purchase of a Motorcycle that May Have Been Stolen

    Stollen can be yummy, but the word you're looking for is "stolen".
    Quote Quoting CALISOUL
    View Post
    One person that showed up to look at the bike claimed that the bike had been stolen from him months earlier. He brought the police with him. The police looked over my friend's paperwork and told the guy there was nothing they could do. The bike was titled and registered to my friend.
    Then your friend seems to be in the proverbial (and literal) driver's seat.
    Quote Quoting CALISOUL
    He, until that point, had never reported it stolen. Apparently, the bike was titled in Florida and never transferred to California. Also this never put it in his name. It belonged to his grandfather who has since passed away.
    If he's relying on documents that ostensibly show that his grandfather, at some point in the past half-century, owned the motorcycle, that's not of itself evidence as to whether his grandfather sold the motorcycle or gave it away as a gift. That also is not enough, of itself, to show that he was the sole or intended heir, entitled to receive the motorcycle from his grandfather's estate.
    Quote Quoting CALISOUL
    My friend still plans on selling the bike but is worried that this guy will make this a civil matter.
    That could happen. Generally speaking, we're talking about three years from when the person learned the location of the motorcycle.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Purchased a Motorcycle That May Be Stolen
    By chilam00900 in forum Vehicle Registration and Title
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-20-2010, 10:07 AM
  2. Purchased a Stolen Motorcycle
    By TonyTon in forum Cars and Dealerships
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-17-2010, 07:15 PM
  3. Stolen Motorcycle
    By StlnBike in forum Personal Property
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 04-01-2010, 08:48 PM
  4. Friend Borrowed Motorcycle, Motorcycle Was Stolen
    By csoracco in forum Personal Property
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 02-01-2010, 07:07 PM
  5. Stolen Property: Bought A Stolen Motorcycle
    By Billy texter in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05-14-2007, 04:23 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources