70-5-103. Duty to inform owner when known, MCA

Montana Code Annotated 2019

TITLE 70. PROPERTY

CHAPTER 5. FINDERS

Part 1. Rights and Duties of Finders Generally

Duty To Inform Owner When Known

70-5-103. Duty to inform owner when known. If a person finds money, goods, things in action, or other personal property or saves a domestic animal from drowning or starvation when the property is of a value of $10 or more and the person knows or suspects who the owner is, the person shall use reasonable diligence to inform the owner and make restitution without compensation, further than a reasonable charge for saving and taking care of the property. If the person fails to do so, the person is liable in damages to the owner and does not have a claim to any reward offered by the owner for the recovery of the thing or to any compensation for the person's trouble or expenses.

History: En. Sec. 2900, Pol. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 1996, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 7694, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Pol. C. Sec. 3136; re-en. Sec. 7694, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 20-410(part); amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 115, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2071, Ch. 56, L. 2009.