Court Opinion

ID: 7284640
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-25 20:24:34.423087+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:19:06.182129
License: Public Domain

Per Curiam.
This was an action in replevin. The owner of a coat placed it in the hands of the plaintiff for cleaning” and pressing and he sent it to the defendant for plaintiff. It was not returned, and upon demand another coat was sent to him which he declined to receive and returned.
The action in question was then brought alleging delivery of the coat to defendant, and demand for and failure to return. '
These facts were established at the trial as well as the value of the coat and a judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff by the trial judge sitting without a jury, for the sum of $60 for the value of the coat.
Three grounds for reversal are urged' — ■
1. Judgment for value was improper because the defendant did not recapture the property under the writ of replevin. .
2. The plaintiff was not entitled to a judgment for value because he was not the owner of the coat, but merely a bailee.
*1723. The defendant’s possession was lawful and ther§ was no proof of demand and refusal to return.
All of these grounds are without substance. Inasmuch as the coat was lost and not in the possession of the defendant, there could be no taking by the plaintiff under his writ, nor could there be a recaption by the defendant, and, as plaintiff demanded in his action, not only possession, but damages in event there was no restoration of possession, he was entitled to a judgment for the value of the article. Frazier v. Fredericks, 24 N. J. L. 162 (at p. 170); Pedrick v. Kuemmell, 74 Id. 379.
Plaintiff as bailee was entitled to recover the value of the coat. Central Railroad Co. v. Bayway Refining Co., 81 N. J. L. 456.
There was a demand for the return of the coat, and the only manner in which it was complied with was by returning a coat which was not the one in question.
Finding no error the judgment below is affirmed, with costs.