Properties

Brief

Bridges v. Hawkesworth

Procedural History:

• Brought in front of Westminster County Court
• Plaintiff Appeals

Facts:

• P was leaving the shop owned by D.
• Found a parcel which was lying on the floor of D shop.
• The contents of the box were a stack of bank notes.
• P requests for D to hold on to the notes and return them to the proper owner.
• P is the finder.
• 3 years later no owner had come forward to claim the notes.
• P asked for notes back as he was the finder.
• D refused.

Issue:

• Who has the rights to the found parcel?
• Because the parcel was found in D’s shop, does that give him the rights?

Holding:

• P is entitled to the parcel as he is the finder.
• No. The finder is entitled to the property against all people except the true owner.

Reasoning:

• The bank notes were never in the custody of the D.
• The notes were not purposely left at the shop of D.