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Contractor, homeowner fight over $182,000 found in walls
Home-improvement contractor Bob Kitts pulled a giant cache of Depression-era cash from the bathroom walls of an 83-year-old Cleveland home he was renovating. He contends the $182,000 is his; the homeowner disagrees. Now it's up for a judge to settle the spat. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
December 12, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
Why doesn't this ever happen to me?!
Posted by: ssarkies | Dec 12, 2007 4:12:10 PM
Greedy bastard. Not his house, not his money. That simple.
Posted by: The Asshole Guy | Dec 12, 2007 4:12:15 PM
I'm with you TAG. And he'd be paying me for ripping more holes in my house looking for more cash.
Posted by: d'ep | Dec 12, 2007 4:26:04 PM
Amanda (the woman that owns the house) is a friend of mine. I saw the story in the paper today, and I've been waiting for you to pick it up!
Posted by: Junior Leaguer | Dec 12, 2007 4:31:41 PM
It isn't his. That is all
Posted by: yucca | Dec 12, 2007 4:57:15 PM
I'm sitting with Amanda right now, and I've just introduced her to the obscurestore. She is thrilled (and a little worried) about following up after the pole dancer and the 11-year-old in need of therapy.
Posted by: Junior Leaguer | Dec 12, 2007 5:27:57 PM
Hi Amanda
Good luck.
Posted by: yucca | Dec 12, 2007 5:42:49 PM
Amanda should worry on one hand, on the other hand she should realize that every loyal OSer will be shooting this link all over and many, many people will realize what a complete JERK that contractor is.
A, we're pulling for you.
Posted by: LooseyGoosey | Dec 12, 2007 6:47:19 PM
Greed, the undisputed dehumanizer of society.
If this butt nugget wins the money from the homeowner, I will lose all faith in the courts. 'Finders-keepers' is for children. If he'd been completely forthright and honest about it, he may have come by a generous couple grand in "finder's fee" from the homeowner, but no. One must be a greedy bastard towards the elderly.
You know what? Humanity totally sucks ass. Truly messed-up kids, "holiday" parades no longer for kids, veterinarians crating their kids... Fark it all. I'm in a bad mood now, and I'm feeling like smackin' someone. Where's that contractor, dammit!
Posted by: Soo | Dec 12, 2007 7:13:54 PM
Hey Amanda, stick to it, and good luck. You're 100% in the right.
(I'm suspicious whether the contractor really believes the money is his, or if this is some cynical ploy to try to crowbar out an undeserved few grand just to make him go away.)
Posted by: Kevin | Dec 12, 2007 7:56:18 PM
Sorry, I think it should have been split 50/50 - she would never have known about it had he not did the work. Had someone else did the work do you really think they would have told her about it?? They would have taken the money and never said a word.
Posted by: DT | Dec 12, 2007 7:59:22 PM
Good luck Amanda!
Posted by: Bob | Dec 12, 2007 11:59:26 PM
I was under the impression that if the 'treasure' was in someone's private property, then the owner of property gets the treasure and NOT the discoverer. ...I realize that the article said that there is a law which states that the person can keep whatever they "find" on someone else's property "as long as the finder had permission to be there."
I don't know. That just seems...wrong. It's her house, dammit! Not his! She bought it, hidden bundles of cash and all. He has no claim over the property in the house. He didn't pay for it, but because he happened to be the one messing around with that particular wall, the item he found inside of her wall somehow belongs to him?
DT said:
"Had someone else did the work do you really think they would have told her about it??"
While I understand where you're coming from, I disagree with you. Just because someone chooses to behave ethically doesn't mean they should be rewarded for it. The man doesn't deserve a reward for NOT stealing the money out of her house without the owner's knowledge. Doing the right thing (ie. telling the owner about his discovery) should not require a reward. Even though I know this is only an ideal, people should do the right thing because it's the right thing to do, and not because they expect to get something out of it.
So I hope the woman wins. I don't think the man deserves anything (especially if what she said is true and the man destroyed her walls without her permission in an effort to find more cash). I hope the court makes the right decision.
Posted by: Megan | Dec 13, 2007 1:55:04 AM
So if a contractor comes to my house to renovate and finds a bottle of expensive wine in my cubboard its his because he wants it? This is totally ridiculous. The contractor gets paid for his efforts...the money in the walls belongs to the homeowner. This shouldn't even be going to court! What a greedy bastard. (he took his mom too seriously when she said "finders keepers" honey)
Posted by: Cherie | Dec 13, 2007 4:34:19 AM
AND GOOD LUCK AMANDA. I THINK We're ALL praying you WIN!!!!!!
Posted by: Cherie | Dec 13, 2007 4:39:31 AM
My house my money.
Posted by: Dick C. Normas | Dec 13, 2007 4:44:47 AM
"That's true even when the finding is done on someone else's property, as long as the finder had permission to be there, courts have established."
Dude, look at all the CD's and the computer I just found in that bedroom back there! I can't believe I'm so lucky!
Posted by: SteveO | Dec 13, 2007 5:27:33 AM
Money certainly has a way of ruining friendships, that's for sure.
After reading the entire news article, I understand the argument for both sides. But my personal opinion is still that they money belongs to the home owner. She owns the property. Thus, she owns everything ON that property.
Posted by: Dave | Dec 13, 2007 5:30:46 AM
had he found oil in the backyard, could he setup a drilling operation?
Posted by: genonyc | Dec 13, 2007 5:36:00 AM
And I suppose if he found a client's wallet sitting on a nightstand, that'd be his, too?
What a colossal prick.
Posted by: Cipher | Dec 13, 2007 5:42:05 AM
Of course it might be the proceeds of a criminal enterprise and therefore belongs someone else entirely.
We certainly have had our share of "interesting stuff found walled up somewhere" stories this month.
Posted by: NellAgain | Dec 13, 2007 5:50:01 AM
Along with the money were religious artifacts. I wonder what those might be, and if they'd fetch any money? Funny the article doesn't elaborate. Considering the original owner of the cash was unmarried, perhaps the "religious artifacts" were photos of altar boys? Or the vicar in a tutu? (since altar boy jokes are getting stale, and The Smiths references are now all the rage)
Posted by: Dave | Dec 13, 2007 6:20:56 AM
And remember, the contractor only found the money because SHE asked him to open that particular wall. Therefore, "SHE" discovered the money
Posted by: d | Dec 13, 2007 6:28:16 AM
What a greedy ass sob. How dare him try to keep money that is not his. And as far as tearing up other walls to find more, I am wondering if the homeowner cant sue him for damages relating to that. After this the state should take away his license.
Posted by: amy | Dec 13, 2007 6:42:54 AM
Soo:
I find it hard to believe that you have any faith left in the justice system to lose.
Posted by: Walt Buchanan | Dec 13, 2007 7:23:03 AM
