Household goods and personal property

Stvtrusty

New Member
Jurisdiction
Kentucky
A friend offered to let me to use their storage unit to place my household goods and personal property until I can move them into my new residence. I was giving full access and placed my own locks on the unit. During the process my friend and I had a falling out, at which time they removed my access from the storage unit and cut and replace my locks. They have refused to return my property and have since ignored all methods of contact . The approximate value of the goods are in between $8,000-$10,000. How do I protect my property and get it returned to me .
 
First you write them a polite letter demanding the return of your property within... Say 10 days. Failure to do so will result in you filing a small claims or civil lawsuit for the value of the property they have acquired from you.
You might visit a local attorney who could perpetuate the letter for you and handle the filings. Your costs could be included in any judgment you might be awarded.
Before you get too far, talk with the attorney about how to collect in the event you do win a judgment.
Hopefully your ex friend won't want the hassle and will just give it back or give you access to recover it.
 
What are the legalities, if any, if I was to cut the lock, take my property and replace the lock?

Depends on where the storage unit is. If it's on his property you could be arrested for trespassing.

If it's in a commercial storage unit and you still have authorized entry then there probably won't be much he can do about it after the deed is done. Although if he shows up while you are doing it you could end up with trouble.

First you write them a polite letter demanding the return of your property within... Say 10 days. Failure to do so will result in you filing a small claims or civil lawsuit for the value of the property they have acquired from you.

You can sue for money or for the return of property in KY small claims court but the limit is $2500.

https://courts.ky.gov/resources/publicationsresources/Publications/P6SmallClaimsHandbookweb.pdf

I imagine that your estimate of values is what you think the cost of replacing your property is. The truth of the matter is that you are only entitled to the used value which is typically yard sale prices.
 
Well if you only knew what is stuffed wall to wall, floor to ceiling in that 15x10 storage unit, i.e. a fully equipped private auto repair shop including tow-post hydraulic lift, air compressors and 6 rolling tool boxes filled.
Since small claims has a $2500.00 cap, what is the next step in the filing?
 
This is a public storage facility, Extra Space Storage. They are aware of the situation and are sympathetic to which they have been a witness to these escapades.
 
What escapades? With all that property at risk, you couldn't make nice with your friend?

If it doesn't qualify for small claims court, you'll have to go to regular court. You'll probably need a lawyer for that.
 
What are the legalities, if any, if I was to cut the lock, take my property and replace the lock?
Thank you for the reply.

You could be charged with burglary, or one of its lesser cousins.

Self help remedies should be avoided.

As Mr. Moose wisely suggested, fake it until you can take it.

Try being nice, offer your frenemy fifty bucks, one hundred bucks to allow you to get your stuff.

Barring that option, ask the local constabulary about a CIVIL STANDBY.

Last is a court remedy.

If I were you, I'd avoid that unless all other options are gone.
 
So, to be clear, this is a public storage facility where anyone can rent a booth and your friend has no ownership claim to said facility? Your friend essentially paid the rent for you to keep your stuff at this location and has no personal items of their own in the same storage bay?
 
That doesn't sound correct. You said your friend has the rental in your friend's name.
It does not matter who's property is inside the rental space- access is determined by who is renting the space.
If the property owner will not grant you access then you are best off to make nice with your friend before trying other options.

You can't steal your own property, but attempting to recover your property without authorized access can complicate things.

Try the simple solution first.
 
All peaceful resolutions have been attempted, otherwise I wouldn't have reached out to legal forums for advice. No sure what doesn't sound correct to you, but the questions that were asked by on the previous post, are fact. The answer I am seeking is to the question of what are my "legal" options on this legal forum. With respect to the readers and members of this "legal" forum, please only post "legal" statements and/or questions. If civil conflicts could all be resolved by "playing nice" then there wouldn't be any need for a civil judiciary system.
 
You have the same answer as before. If a demand letter doesn't do the trick then you can take the matter to civil court. The civil court can either order the return of the property or award you the value of that property if it is not returned.
You will have to provide evidence of everything you claim is stored there and prove its value of you expect to be compensated for it.
This sounds like a bit more than most do-it-yourself jobs. You will likely want to at least get a consult from s a local attorney who can better asses your situation.

This is all assuming that the people at the storage facility are refusing you access to the property.
 
With respect to the readers and members of this "legal" forum, please only post "legal" statements and/or questions.

If you have any remedy, it'll be before a judge in a court where the goods are alleged to be held.

You'll also have to PROVE ownership of the goods, if the other party refuses to play nice, I suspect the other party could or will lie.

For example, the other party could say ONLY his goods are in HIS storage unit.

Absent any writing to the contrary, you as a plaintiff have the burden of proving ownership.

As you no longer have any access to the unit, for all you know the other party could have emptied it, sold the goods, and pocketed a tidy little profit.

If the other party is really a soiled diaper, he or she could stop paying rent and the storage facility will eventually offer someone's good for sale at an auction.
 
Thanks to all whom provided useful info. Shame on the time wasters still trying to find purpose in their meaningless lives through the mindless regurgitation of common knowledge. I've since attempted to file a complaint with the county prosecutor and consulted with a civil law attorney. Now that I have tried a possible means for a peaceful resolution, I will be taking a different course of action. If anyone brings forth anything pertinent before then, I would gladly give it a shot.
 
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