Verbal agreement, abandoned property

[matty1stop]

What is the name of your state? Massachusetts

My father own's a business property. A few years back an employee of a company that he does business with asked if he could store some construction equipment including a truck and a spreader on his lot in exchange for a monthly rent and for plowing the snow from the parking area. He paid a few months rent and plowed the property once. 4 years have passed without payment. We have since learned that he has cheated some coworkers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and has not been heard from in years. He is rumored to be somewhere in Europe.

My father has been offered money for the equipment, but wasn't sure if he had any right to do so. Again this was an entirely verbal contract and the property has been abandoned for 4 years. Is there any way that my father can take ownership of this property to try to make up for the rent he is due?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[seniorjudge]

What is the name of your state? Massachusetts

My father own's a business property. A few years back an employee of a company that he does business with asked if he could store some construction equipment including a truck and a spreader on his lot in exchange for a monthly rent and for plowing the snow from the parking area. He paid a few months rent and plowed the property once. 4 years have passed without payment. We have since learned that he has cheated some coworkers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars and has not been heard from in years. He is rumored to be somewhere in Europe.

My father has been offered money for the equipment, but wasn't sure if he had any right to do so. Again this was an entirely verbal contract and the property has been abandoned for 4 years. Is there any way that my father can take ownership of this property to try to make up for the rent he is due?

Thanks,

Matt

Pa cannot steal the equipment. He must sue the bad guy, get a judgment, and then latch on to the stuff to pay the judgment. It should take about two or three years and $10K.

 

[LindaP777]

My father has been offered money for the equipment, but wasn't sure if he had any right to do so. Again this was an entirely verbal contract and the property has been abandoned for 4 years. Is there any way that my father can take ownership of this property to try to make up for the rent he is due?

Is the equipment "titled" (like a car or a truck?) If so, he can go through the procedures to acquire a "salvaged title". Call the BMV in your state and ask. If it's not "titled" equipment, you all have been a lot more patient than I!!!