What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Colorado
We recently opened a new location for our existing business. This new location was being vacated by another business which had filed for bankruptcy. While inspecting the location, before we took possession, I was able to converse with a regional manager for the company which was vacating the location. This individual sold me various items in the location (storefront signage, counters, chairs, desks, floor safe...etc) which were obviously being used by the business while they were at the location. He claimed that all of the items belonged to the business and that he was authorized by the company to sell the items. One of the items happened to be a water cooler. The water cooler had no distingushing markings identifying it as a leased machine, nor did it have any visible contact information for the company it was leased from.
Over a year after I purchased the water cooler, a rep from a water supply company came into our location and informed us that the cooler was their property and that the previous company hadn't made a payment on it in over a year. He informed us that they would be coming to pick up the cooler and return it to their warehouse. He offered us the opportunity to re-lease the cooler at the same rate that the other company had been paying.
Suffice to say, I'm not interested in leasing a cooler that I've already paid for. The company is threatening legal action and stating that it is illegal to be "in reciept of stolen property" and that just giving them the cooler back and losing the money I paid for it will be "cheaper than the legal battle that will ensue".
Is the cooler mine? I purchased it. Am I required to give it back to the company? If so, am I entitled to any repayment of the money I spent to purchase it?
Thanks in advance for any help!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
We recently opened a new location for our existing business. This new location was being vacated by another business which had filed for bankruptcy. While inspecting the location, before we took possession, I was able to converse with a regional manager for the company which was vacating the location. This individual sold me various items in the location (storefront signage, counters, chairs, desks, floor safe...etc) which were obviously being used by the business while they were at the location. He claimed that all of the items belonged to the business and that he was authorized by the company to sell the items. One of the items happened to be a water cooler. The water cooler had no distingushing markings identifying it as a leased machine, nor did it have any visible contact information for the company it was leased from.
Over a year after I purchased the water cooler, a rep from a water supply company came into our location and informed us that the cooler was their property and that the previous company hadn't made a payment on it in over a year. He informed us that they would be coming to pick up the cooler and return it to their warehouse. He offered us the opportunity to re-lease the cooler at the same rate that the other company had been paying.
Suffice to say, I'm not interested in leasing a cooler that I've already paid for. The company is threatening legal action and stating that it is illegal to be "in reciept of stolen property" and that just giving them the cooler back and losing the money I paid for it will be "cheaper than the legal battle that will ensue".
Is the cooler mine? I purchased it. Am I required to give it back to the company? If so, am I entitled to any repayment of the money I spent to purchase it?
Thanks in advance for any help!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
