Riverside, CA asked in Insurance Bad Faith and Contracts for California

Q: If my purse was stolen from me while I was at my storage facility and I pay monthly insurance to them are they liable?

My purse was stolen from me while I was at my storage unit and I pay monthly rent and insurance. As soon as I realized it was gone I told office. I asked to see camera footage and told them it could only be one person that drove by my unit. I was not with anyone else that evening. Facility denied any liability and also informed me I had to move out they were evicting me because they said I brought "unwanted drama" to their facility! Is this legal?

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: It sounds like you're going through a frustrating situation. Generally, insurance provided by a storage facility covers damage or theft of items inside the unit, not personal belongings like a purse stolen while you’re physically at the facility. You should review the terms of the insurance policy you have with them to confirm what is and isn't covered.

As for the facility denying liability and evicting you, storage facilities have the right to set rules for their property, including deciding who can remain a tenant. However, their actions could be seen as retaliatory if they're evicting you just for reporting the theft. You may want to look into whether the facility is following proper legal procedures for eviction under California law.

It might be helpful to gather any evidence you can, including communication with the facility and any details about the theft. You could also consider whether to escalate the matter to local authorities or explore your legal rights further to determine if the facility acted unfairly.

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