I know these threads have come up before (maybe even this specific incident), but…do y’all think this guy is really entitled to *anything*?
http://breakingnews.nypost.com
Reader’s Digest Version: Guy demoing old house finds $182K in old money (probably worth more than that in collectors value). Owner offers 10% finders fee. He wants more, takes her to court. Heirs of previous owner get in on the action, and now it’s getting split several ways.
All-around stupidity ensues.
Replies
just read that too.
contractor wanted 40%
the homeowner was a friend of his.
they should have just quietly resolved it.
greed. it's a terrible thing.
it's found money for crying out loud.
carpenter in transition
I don't see why the contractor would expect to get anything, nevermind 10%. Why would he expect to keep something he found in someone elses house?
I'm with you, can't believe the man could actually think he was entitled to ANYTHING.
The story as I heard it, was the contractor called the h.o. and said "I found money in your walls". The h.o.'s reply was "thanks for telling me when you could have kept it and not said a word - I'll split it with you 50-50 in appreciation." Thinking it would be a couple hundred dollars.
Then when it turned out to be worth more than either anticipated, the 50% dropped to 10%, and the contractor balked because of having a previous agreement.
Probably greed on both sides - kinda like dividing the estate among the heirs, never pretty.View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
From a legal standpoint, the "promise" by the homeowner is probably not enforceable as an agreement or contract because there is no "legal consideration". The homeowner made the so-called promise because he was grateful to the contractor, not because the contractor had done something that he promised to do(here, the work on the house) or refrained from doing something illegal or immoral (ie stealing from the customer). In other words, he felt a moral obligation to do something nice for the honest contractor.Legally, this is considered "moral consideration" as opposed to "legal consideration" and does not create a legally enforceable contract. It's kind of like making a promise to give someone a gift...it means nothing legally and can be reneged upon at any time up until the gift is actually given. The contractor should be grateful for the "gift" of 10%; in court, he should get nothing, unless he can convince the judge that there actually was a legally enforceable gift (which includes giving up possession of the property in question)
Edited 11/9/2008 10:58 am ET by TommH
He should get nothing. I found a 80 year old dime in the wall once. I gave it back to the OWNER of the house.
It was worth a big 90 cents, but it wasnt mine, I found it in his house.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
You're right... absolutely nothing he should get. I bet he found wiring and copper pipe in the walls too, does he get to keep some of that ? !!
I read this earlier and then saw your post- I think once the guy made the decision to tell the homeowner he found something in her wall the only thing he is entitled to is her decision. After all if he didn't see her as the owner why would he have called her in the first place- to tease her with it?
If that customer was a friend I would call her too- but I'd realize her decision is all I'd be entitled to.
If that customer was a friend I would call her too- but I'd realize her decision is all I'd be entitled to.
But if the customer wasn't a friend it would be ok to keep the money?
My point is- when the question is: "what is the guy entitled to?", I believe it is the customer's decision- and that's all.
If the customer had been an unbearable jerk and then I found it- if I decided to call and tell them about the find, I would be only entitled to whatever they decided. If I knew they were jerks when I made the call, I'd know my odds of them wanting to give me a percentage wouldn't be very good.
The guy gets nothing.
The previous owner reference reminded me of a slightly different angle a news item came up a few years ago where the buyer of an upright piano found $150K in it. In that case the SELLER got nothing.
Maybe the same legal view as "Gee, I bought this painting at a yard sale for $25 and it turns out it's worth 10K." Don't understand the previous owner thing at all. What would they claim if they sold the house and found the housing market then just went through the roof like it did in 2004. Would they come back a year later and say "Wow! The value here was a lot more then I figured. I'm looking for another 200K. Let's share the wealth".
Runnerguy
The contractor was being honest in reporting the find, as well he should, as it doesnt belong to him.
He should have accepted the 10%
Shame on the homeowner for reneging on the deal of 50%. as someone else said, it was found money