[WSBARP] Abandoned Vehicles/Boats

[Rick Hoss]

Jeff,

Have you called a local towing company? They might tow the vehicles, then
auction them. If you can't get them to agree, maybe they would tow to a
storage unit, you pay 2 or 3 month's rent, then send the storage unit
address to the title owner, certified and regular. If you sue the title
owner think about  including 4.24.630 damage to property damages.

I've had to foreclose on vessels and manufactured homes - you might get
default judgments on a nuisance claim. You might have to serve by
publication.

Look at the manufactured home title elimination rules - probably too easy
but worth a check.

Rick

From: wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbarp-bounces at lists.wsbarppt.com>
On Behalf Of Jeff Davis
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2019 3:18 PM
To: 'WSBA Real Property Listserv' <wsbarp at lists.wsbarppt.com>
Subject: [WSBARP] Abandoned Vehicles/Boats

 

Jefferson County pursued a neighbor to remove derelict vehicles including an
RV, a 5th wheel trailer, a regular trailer, van and a few trucks from his
vacant land.  To solve this problem, and to facilitate the sale of his land,
Neighbor towed the derelict vehicles onto client's vacant land.  Client only
found out about this when he received a nasty gram from Jefferson County
telling him he needed to deal with the vehicles.  They have only been on
client's land for a little over a month.

 

Neighbor has left town.  No known address.  Client is working with the
County and Department of Licensing regarding titles to each vehicle.  The
two trucks and van are full of stuff like old car parts, scrap metal, and
other odds and ends.  The worry is if client simply disposes of these items
that neighbor will return and claim client owes him lots of money for
converting neighbor's very valuable property.  [client has taken lots of
pictures of the vehicles and stuff so not worried so much about valuation.]

 

Is there a process to have these items deemed abandoned?  I envision, if I
had neighbor's address, sending him a letter saying you have 45 days to pick
up your stuff or it will be deemed abandoned and it will be disposed of
without further accounting.  Have any of you run into this situation before?


 

In a related matter, another client purchased property from an estate, years
ago, with the understanding the estate or its heirs would pick up a 26 foot
sail boat left there.  The boat has been left there for over eight years.
Is that abandoned?  I believe the boat is a Coast Guard documented vessel.
What to do?  The probate was closed years ago.

 

And to cover the full line of things left, a third client inherited her
mother's home and property.  Mother had allowed a person to place a
manufactured home on her property and charged him rent.  Client evicted the
tenant who left, months ago, and has made no attempt to move the home.  Is
this abandoned?

 

I looked at the RCW's dealing with vehicles but have not found anything that
really applies.  Any help would be appreciated.

 

Jeff

 

 

W. Jeff Davis, Esq.

BELL & DAVIS PLLC
P.O. Box 510
Sequim WA 98382
Phone No.:(360) 683.1129 
Fax No.: (360) 683.1258 
email:  <mailto:info at bellanddavispllc.com> info at bellanddavispllc.com
 <http://www.bellanddavispllc.com/> www.bellanddavispllc.com
 
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