I sold some signs that belonged to someone else, can I get sued?

Question

For a short while, I was placing some Real Estate signs near properties that were for sale, but I quit that job because the large boards were scratching my car.

The realitor that owned the sign boards told me she would be picking them up back in July, but she never showed up nor called. Then, about a week ago I figured I could sell them or toss them in the garbage because they were taking up too much space on my apartment deck, so I ended up painting them and sold them, about 20 total.

Yesterday that lady who I worked for emailed me and said she wants her signs back and was going to come out to pick them up. I haven't heard from her in over 2 months. I told her I dont have them anymore.

Can she sue me?

They were large "A"-Board type signs that each measured 3ft X 2ft made of wood, with arrows directing traffic to homes and property available.

I never offered to "store" them for her. And she never bothered to pick them up. The signs were here for 2 months!

Answer 1

You can sue anyone for anything, The question is can she win a suit against you.

No she abandoned her property when se said that she would pick them up in july and never did. You are not expected to store the signs indefinatley.

If she does sue you for them, counter sue her for storage fee's I am sue once that happens she will drop her suit

Paul is wrong it is not a crime for you to have sold the signs, Unlike the U STORE HERE rental places, you recieved no money for storing here signs as the storage place did there was no contract formed for you to store said signs.

Answer 2

The simple answer... people can sue for anything.

However, you have to ask if it is worth thier time. I'm not sure what these are worth to her.

Your best arugument is that she did not appear at the time agreed, so you thought they were abandoned. I'm not sure what the definition of abandonment is in your jurisdiction, but 30 days is common.

I would tell her the truth, and offer her a settlement based on what profit you made from the sale. I'm sure that would make more sense to her than wasting time and money going to court.

You certainly don't have to worry about arrest, the police would consider this a civil case.

Answer 3

Of course she CAN sue you. The question is will she and will she prevail. Most likely, yes she will prevail and whether she will sue you depends on how important the signs are to her and how expensive they are to replace. You would have to make a cause for abandonment of her property. Depending on where you live, she will have had to not pick up the signs for a certain period of time to be termed abandonment. For most places, I don't think 2 months is enough to be considered abandoned. Especially when she has been in contact with you although sporadic. Check out the statutes in your area for how long it takes for property to be considered abandoned in your area to find out your answer for sure. You should be able to make a phone call or two to your city to find out.

Good Luck.

Edited to add that it doesn't matter if you offered to store them or not. You had possession of them and you did not give back work related possessions after you quit. If you had previously been hauling them around in your car, it stands to reason that if they were taking up too much room you could have made a date with her for you to drop them off. Beyond that, you also did not object when she said she would pick them up sometime in July, thus you are acknowledging that you have them and you will keep them for her to pick up.

Answer 4

Selling something that isn't yours is a *criminal* offense. You can go to prison.

When someone rents one of those "you store - you keep key" mini warehouses, and doesn't keep the rent paid up, they need to clear out the warehouse to rent it to someone else. They mail out certified letters, or if the certified letters get returned, they place legal notices. It's only after the owner has been notified and 30 days has passed that they can auction off the contents to pay the rent arrearage.

You should have returned those signs when you quit the job. Keeping them is illegal. Selling them is even more illegal.

She doesn't need to sue you. She can have you thrown in jail.

Answer 5

this variety of behaviour between family members is poor and much extra stunning while its a mom and daughter. You write approximately this occasion like its a ordinary subject in families, you for sure come from a dysfunctional family members. i wouldn't in any respect ask my little ones to pay me back for something no longer to point sue them. nonetheless there are a number of circumstances the place the person little ones are moochers and take benefit of their mothers and fathers however the base line is that no count what the area, your mothers and fathers could love you unconditionally and your mom is a shame.

Answer 6

yes, she may sue you. your former employer remains the owner of said sign boards. being the owner, the right to alienate (sell, donate) may only be exercised by her. the law on sales requires that upon deliverey, the seller must be able to transfer the ownership of the thing sold. since you are not the owner of the sign boards, you may not be able to validly transfer ownership to a buyer.

Answer 7

Yes she can. And count yourself lucky if that's all that happens. The person who bought them can also sue you. And selling property that doesn't belong to you is also a criminal offense--you can be prosecuted for that and be sent to jail.

Answer 8

Yes. Your defense is she abandoned her property.

Answer 9

tell them you left them outside the office

Answer 10

yes she can you sold goods that weren't yours and you knew it she is well with in her rights to prosecute you