Q: Landlord broke lock disposed of bicycle
Posted notice to claim bikes by a certain date/my roommate/ boyfriend ID d my bicycle/ let them know with our unit/ It was securely locked with nice bicycle lock/ one manager told the lady one since we had id'd it and it was correctly locked to let it be /she was angry/ I was not home/ My boyfriend left a while later /she was seen by other residents coming back with bolt cutters cutting the lock and throwing my bike in dumpster/ I got home that night the dumpster & bicycle gone. I depend on that bike /back injury/ have had to pay taxis now because I can't get about well on foot. Im low income. No way to replace it.
A: I am not clear whether the lady that cut your lock and dumped the bike is another resident or an employee of the landlord. Regardless, your claim would presumably be against her and, if she was working for the landlord, possibly against the landlord as well. You will have the burden of proof at any trial, both to establish her/their liability and for the amount of damages - e.g. the value of the bike. Small claims court would appear the most likely place for you to go but you may want to review everything with a local attorney before filing any suit. Good luck.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
