§ 15-503b — Liability for loss of or damage to property of guest.

Except as provided for in Section 2 of this act, whenever the proprietor, manager or operator of any hotel, apartment hotel or inn shall have complied with the provisions of Section 1 of this act such proprietor, manager or operator shall not be liable for the loss of or damage to personal property brought into such hotel, apartment hotel or inn by any of the guests thereof exceeding Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) in value, whether such loss or damage is occasioned by the negligence of such proprietor, manager or operator, or his, her or its servants, or employees or otherwise; nor shall such proprietor, manager or operator be liable for the loss of or damages to any merchandise samples or merchandise for sale unless the guests bringing such merchandise into such hotel, apartment hotel or inn shall have given such proprietor, manager or operator prior written notice of having the same in his possession, together with the value thereof, and receipt of which notice shall have been acknowledged in writing, but in no event shall such liability exceed the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each trunk and its contents; the sum of Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) for each valise and its contents; the sum of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for each package, box or bundle; the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for all other miscellaneous effects and property including wearing apparel, but in no event shall the total liability exceed the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), unless such proprietor, manager or operator shall have contracted in writing with such guest to assume a greater liability. In case of the loss of or damage to any property left in any hotel, apartment hotel or inn by a guest, after he has departed therefrom, and has ceased to be a guest thereof, the liability of such proprietor, manager or operator shall be that of "gratuitous bailee", and in such case the extent of such liability shall be limited to not more than the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00). In case of loss or damage to any property while being transported to or from any hotel, apartment hotel or inn by the proprietor, manager or operator thereof, for or on behalf of such guest, the liability of such proprietor, manager or operator shall be limited to the sum of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each trunk and its contents; the sum of Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) for each valise and its contents; the sum of Twenty Five Dollars ($25.00) for each package, box or bundle; the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for all other miscellaneous effects and property, including wearing apparel, but in no event shall such liability exceed the sum of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), unless such proprietor, manager or operator shall have contracted in writing with such guest to assume a greater liability.

Legislative History

Laws 1939, p. 342, § 3.