State: California

Context: My friends and I organize local festivals. Our friend (let’s call him Nick) lent us an expensive decorative cage for the event, worth no less than $1200. Our other friend (let’s call him David) also lent us items from the art studio he works at. At the end of the festival, David’s items were dropped off at the art studio. Nick’s cage was supposed to be taken to a different location, but was instead left at David’s art studio by the Uhaul driver.

The leader of our event group (let’s call him Michael) was notified that same day of Nick’s cage being left at the art studio, as well as other expensive items owned by Michael that were supposed to be dropped off elsewhere. Michael told Nick and the driver he would pick it up. None of this was communicated to David. Michael forgot about picking up the goods in the midst of dealing with other things, and we hadn’t heard from David or Nick about the cage since then.

This was early August. Fast forward to today, November. Nick reaches out to Michael to inquire about picking up the cage. Michael reaches out to David and learns that the cage was sold 3 weeks ago by the owner of the art studio and that he has also given away Michael’s items (worth $400).

We got in touch with the art studio owner to ask about the cage being sold. She was told by David (an employee at the art studio) that David attempted to contact the owner and us multiple times to come pick up the cage. Neither Nick (cage owner), Michael (event leader), the driver, or anyone we work with has been contacted about this, despite David’s claims.

From our perspective, the art studio owner sold almost $2000 worth of goods that didn’t belong to her without contacting the owner. From her perspective, David claims the owners have been contacted.

Was it legal for the art studio owner to sell those goods? Is anyone liable for the lost items?