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Simple English definitions for legal terms
involuntary bailment
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A quick definition of involuntary bailment:
An involuntary bailment is when someone accidentally leaves their personal property in someone else's possession without any negligence. This creates a legal relationship where the person holding the property, called the bailee, is responsible for keeping it safe and returning it to the owner. If the bailee refuses to return the property, they can be held liable for conversion. This is different from a voluntary bailment, which is when someone intentionally gives their property to someone else for a specific purpose under a contract.
A more thorough explanation:
An involuntary bailment is a situation where a person accidentally leaves their personal property in someone else's possession without any negligence. The person who receives the property becomes the bailee and is responsible for keeping the property safe and returning it to the owner. If the bailee refuses to return the property, they can be liable for conversion.
For example, if someone leaves their phone on a table at a coffee shop and forgets to pick it up, the coffee shop becomes the bailee of the phone. They are responsible for keeping the phone safe and returning it to the owner if they come back to claim it.
Another example of an involuntary bailment is when a person accidentally drops their wallet on the street, and someone else picks it up. The person who picks up the wallet becomes the bailee and is responsible for returning it to the owner.
Involuntary bailment is different from other types of bailment, such as bailment for hire, where the bailee is compensated for holding the property, or gratuitous bailment, where the bailee receives no compensation.