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BAILMENT (from Fr. bailler, to place ...

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Originally appearing in Volume V03, Page 221 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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BAILMENT (from Fr. bailler, to See also:place in See also:charge of, cf. See also:BAIL)  , in See also:law, a delivery of goods from one See also:person called the bailor, to another person called the bailee, for some purpose, upon a See also:contract, See also:express or implied, that after the purpose has been fulfilled they shall be redelivered to the bailor, or otherwise dealt with according to his direction, or kept till he reclaims them . The following is See also:Chief See also:Justice See also:Holt's See also:classification of bailments in Coggs v . See also:Bernard, 1704, I Sm . L.C . 167, which is generally adopted . (1) Depositum, or See also:bailment without See also:reward, in See also:order that the bailee may keep the goods for the bailor . In this See also:case, the bailee has no right to use the thing entrusted to him, and is liable for See also:gross See also:negligence, but not for See also:ordinary negligence . Thus, where a customer had deposited some securities with his banker (who received nothing for his services) and they were stolen by a See also:cashier, it was held that as there was no See also:proof of gross negligence the banker was not liable (Giblin v . McMullen, 1868, L.R . 2 P.C . 317) . (2) Commodatum, or See also:loan, where goods or chattels that are useful are See also:lent to the bailee gratis, to be used by him .

The bailee may be justly considered as representing himself to the bailor to be a person of competent skill to take care of the thing lent (See also:

Wilson v . Brett, 1843, II M . & W . 113), and the transaction being a gratuitous loan, and one for the See also:advantage of the bailee solely, he is See also:bound to use See also:great See also:diligence in the See also:protection of the thing bailed and will be responsible even for slight negligence . Thus, where a See also:horse was lent to the See also:defendant to ride, it was held that it did not See also:warrant him in allowing his servant to do so (Bringlee v . Morriee, 1676, r Mod . 21o) . But where a hbrse was for See also:sale and the vendor allowed the defendant to have the horse for the purpose of trying it, it was held that he had a right to allow a competent person upon the horse to try it (Camoys v . Scurr, 184o, 9 C . & P . 383): (3) Locatio rei, or lending for hire . In the case of See also:hiring the bailee is bound to use such diligence as a prudent See also:man would exercise towards his own See also:property .

Thus, where the defendant hired a horse, and it having fallen See also:

ill, prescribed for it himself instead of calling in a veterinary surgeon, be was held liable for the loss (See also:Dean v . See also:Keats, 1811, 3 See also:Camp . 4) . (4) Vadium, See also:pawn or See also:pledge; a bailment of See also:personal property as a See also:security for a See also:debt . In this case the pledgee is bound to use ordinary diligence in guarding the thing pledged . (5) Locatio operis faciendi, where goods are delivered to be carried, or some-thing is to be done about them for a reward to be paid to the bailee . In this case, the bailee is bound to use ordinary diligence in preserving the property entrusted to him . (6) Mandatum, a delivery of goods to somebody, who is to carry them, or do something about them gratis . The liabilities of a mandatory and of a depository are exactly the same ; neither is liable for anything See also:short of gross negligence . See further under See also:BANKS AND BANKING; See also:CARRIER; DILIGENCE; See also:FACTOR; HIRING; INNS AND INNKEEPERS; See also:LIEN; NEGLIGENCE; PLEDGE; See also:PAWNBROKING; See also:PRINCIPAL AND See also:AGENT, &C .

End of Article: BAILMENT (from Fr. bailler, to place in charge of, cf. BAIL)
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JEAN SYLVAIN BAILLY (1736-1793)
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EDWARD HODGES BAILY (1788-1867)

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