Finder's Keeper's?

[Finder]

I found a potentially expensive watch in a parking lot on a camping trip with the BSA. I gave the watch to the Scoutmaster(the official in charge) on this trip to see if he could find the owner. My first encounter with these people, I didn't know anyone and since he knew everyone, I thought he'd be the man for the task. He could not find the owner. He has kept the watch and is very short with me when I inquire as to the watch's status. He says he will speak with the troop's attorneys about it. What should we be doing to find the correct owner of the watch? If no owner is ever found, should he return the watch to me as finder? or who gets the watch? Should we turn the watch over to the police? contact the campground authorities? the watch manufacturer? to make a concerted effort to find the owner? What is the right thing to do and how should I approach these people as finder but not current possessor of the watch???

 

[PapaSmurf]

Talk to someone at the Council HDQTRS. yourself, explain that YOU found the watch, and you did the right thing by giving it to the 'leader'. Can you identify it? There's a problem with your SMaster's ethics, and if the owner wasn't found, it should be YOURS.
good luck. PS

 

[Tracey]

Most states have laws regarding what people who find valuables must do with them. Usually it's 'turn over to police and wiat 60 days, then get it yourself.' If scoutmaster is not satisfying these laws, make a report to police describing the watch and telling them scoutmaster has it.

After the statutory time, you can sue scoutmaster for title to the watch.


------------------
This is not legal advice and you are not my client. Double check everything with your own attorney and your state's laws.