Legal Definitions - constructive bailment

Constructive bailment is a legal term that refers to a situation where the law imposes an obligation on a person to return personal property to its rightful owner. This can happen even if there was no agreement or contract between the two parties.

For example, if you find a lost wallet on the street and pick it up, you become a constructive bailee of the wallet. The law imposes an obligation on you to return the wallet to its rightful owner, even though you did not have any agreement with the owner.

Another example of constructive bailment is when a person accidentally leaves their personal property in someone else's possession. The person who finds the property becomes a constructive bailee and has an obligation to return the property to its rightful owner.

It's important to note that constructive bailment is different from other types of bailment, such as bailment for hire or gratuitous bailment, which involve an agreement or contract between the two parties.