Opinion ID: 2381939
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Storage Fee After Demand and Offer To Pay Reasonable Storage Fee

Text: State Farm also contends that it should not be liable for the storage charges for the period between its demand on Bowe for return of the vehicle, in July, 1983, and its actual recovery of the vehicle pursuant to the writ of seizure. State Farm supports its argument by claiming that Bowe's continued possession of the car was illegal. Bowe contends that he was entitled to retain it because he had a common law garageman's lien for the towing and storage charges. It is the well-settled rule in this Commonwealth that possessory liens are consensual in nature and must arise from an agreement, either express or implied, between the owner of goods and the bailee who provides some service with regard to the goods. Associates Financial Services Co. v. O'Dell, 262 Pa.Super. 584, 396 A.2d 1324 (1979). The consensual nature of the transaction which gives rise to a possessory lien is an indispensable element of the common law possessory lien as recognized in this Commonwealth.. . . A garagekeeper's possessory lien is no different. His common law lien will arise where he has repaired, stored, or otherwise provided service to an automobile at the request of the owner. . . . However, the lien will not attach as against one who has not authorized, expressly or impliedly, the repairs or services rendered. Id., 262 Pa.Superior Ct. at 588-589, 396 A.2d at 1326 (citations omitted). In this case, Bowe had a legitimate garageman's lien against State Farm's vehicle only after State Farm learned that the vehicle was being stored. At that time, State Farm offered to pay a reasonable storage fee and a fee for the towing. It properly refused to pay a storage fee for the entire period in which the vehicle had been stored. Because State Farm was willing to pay a reasonable storage fee, which is all that State Farm was obligated to pay, Bowe had no right to assert a garageman's lien for any further sum and retain possession of the vehicle. State Farm therefore is not liable for any storage fee imposed for a period beyond the time when State Farm offered to pay a reasonable storage fee.