Q: Stored friend's box of things in storage unit free as a favor, but now lost, never told what is inside. What is she owed
My daughter and 3 of her friends split a storage unit during the summer between their Junior and Senior year. Another friend of theirs, Clara, who also has a storage unit in the same place, dropped off a box with her things, and asked one of the girls (not my daughter) to bring it to the 4 girls storage unit because she was in a hurry. The other 3 girls did not know about this. Clara's box can not be found and she is asking for compensation.
The 4 girls looked everywhere and can not find the box, they also asked lost and found at the college and at the storage space. Clara was not asked to pay for a share of the storage cost, and it was done as a favor. And she didn't tell anyone in advance what was in the box. Do any of the girls have a financial responsibility to Clara?
A:
The fifth girl is unlikely to prevail on a claim for damages. She chose to "bail" her box to the 4th girl. This means to temporarily put it into her possession. However, the 4th girl wasn't compensated for the bailment nor is she a professional in the practice, such as a car mechanic to whom you bail your vehicle to make repairs. And even if she were to prevail on fault, which is all but impossible, I don't see how she can prove what was in the box to establish damages.
The only person at any risk at all is likely the 4th girl and that risk is tiny. Your daughter and the other two girls are at even less risk.
Regards,
Neil Flynn
Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer
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