McAvoy v. Medina
Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
93 Mass. (11 Allen) 548 (1866)
Relevant factsFree
While getting a haircut at Medina's (defendant) barber shop, McAvoy (plaintiff) found a pocketbook that a customer had voluntarily set on a table and forgotten. McAvoy left it with Medina to see if the owner would claim it, and when no owner came forward, McAvoy demanded the money as its finder; Medina refused, and McAvoy sued to recover it. The trial court entered judgment for Medina.
IssueFree
Whether mislaid property is subject to the rule that a finder of lost property has a valid claim to the property against everyone except the true owner.
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