Bridges v Hawkseworth

Question 1

Facts

Answer 1

Plaintiff (the customer) found bank notes on the floor of a shop owned by the defendant
Customer gave the notes to the shopkeeper, asking to be contacted if the owner was not found, and paid the cost of advertisement to find the owner.
The customer now wants the banknotes back from the shopkeeper (and has offered to indemnify the shopkeeper against any claim by the true owner)

Question 2

Issue

Answer 2

Whether the circumstances of the notes being found in the defendants shop, gives the shop-owner, right to have them against the plaintiff who found them

Question 3

Decision

Answer 3

Plaintiff has rights over the bank notes

Question 4

Reasoning

Answer 4

Chattels found in third party premises shouldn’t alter the general principle of finders law
Ruling in the Defendants favour may lead to bad future outcomes

Question 5

Rule of law

Answer 5

The finder of an article has a right to the chattel against all others, excluding its true owner