When is an item considered abandoned?

Question

My company in PA has many pieces of abandoned Lawn & Garden equipment. Originally brought in for service. Many customers have paid their estimates and signed waivers for us to dispose of. Unfortunately quite a few just ignore us.How long am I obligated to store their junk if they do not pay their estimate or respond to a certified letter of release?

Although most items are in the 3-6 month range. I have some items over 1 year.

Answer 1

I believe that depending on your state law, usually its 30 days after you send out notice. I know the most you can give is 90 days. Make sure to keep proof that you sent them out notices and they repeatly ignored all attempts to contact them. Or if you don't know what your state law is, I would store the items for awhile until you find out. Usually its 30 days but laws are different now so dont want to say it is 100%.

Answer 2

As a general legal principle, something is only abandoned if the person has the specific intent to abandon and acts in conformance with that intent.

Now, many states have established laws that create presumptions (basically, default assumptions that hold unless disproven) that intent to abandon will be presumed (found) where..... fill in the blank.

Whenever your specific legal rights and obligations are at issue, consult with a lawyer licensed to practice in your state. Don't take the word of some random person on the internet; we may just be right by accident.