Is there anything that I can do if I’m in the middle of filing for bankruptcy and my shop landlord put a paddle lock on my door and sold all the equipment?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Is there anything that I can do if I’m in the middle of filing for bankruptcy and my shop landlord put a paddle lock on my door and sold all the equipment?

The value of the items sold was 3 times of what I owed him in rent. We made a verble agreement that he would on to the stuff at no charge until I finalized the bankruptcy knowing all along there was a federal lien on the tools.

Asked on December 29, 2014 under Bankruptcy Law, Maine

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 9 years ago | Contributor

You can sue the landlord for the value of your goods--even if you owed him money, he has NO right to take and sell your goods without your permission (just like if your landlord owed you money, you couldn't reach into his wallet and just take money out). You can, and probably should, also report this to the police as a theft--because it is theft to take someone else's belongings, even if they owe you money. And if you had insurancer, you could file an insurance claim against him.

In addition, you need to make the bankrutpcy court aware of what happened.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption