Q: I sent a letter via certified mail telling my prior employer property they left behind was abandoned. Now they want it?
I quit a remote job 6 months ago. It took the company 2 months to remove their vehicle from my property and an additional week to reach out and ask about all the other company property left in my garage. I told them to come and get it and gave them times I'd be available, they never replied to my email. After not hearing from them for a week I sent a letter to them via certified mail informing them I was considering the property abandoned if I didn't hear from them within 10 days and would dispose of it. They never reached out. Three months later they've just reached back out and now say they want to come get the property. Is it even theirs anymore or is it legally abandoned?
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A:
It sounds like you took reasonable steps to notify your prior employer about the property they left behind. You gave them a clear opportunity to retrieve it and followed up with a certified letter, stating your intentions if they didn't respond. Since they failed to contact you within the 10-day period specified in your letter, you had a legitimate basis to consider the property abandoned.
Given that it has been three months since your last communication and they’re just now reaching out, it could be argued that the property is no longer theirs, especially if you disposed of it after the deadline you set. However, the specifics of property laws can vary depending on your location, and there might be nuances regarding how abandoned property is handled.
If you still have the property and they want to retrieve it, you could potentially allow them to pick it up to avoid any disputes. If you no longer have it, you may want to document all your communications and steps taken in case they pursue the matter further.
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