"Finders, Keepers" For Hidden Treasure?

[piemaker720]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/...e=search_story

Amanda Reece had planned on sinking money into her nearly 90-year-old house, not pulling money out.
So, imagine her surprise when her contractor, Bob Kitts, called to say he'd found a hidden treasure - inside the bathroom wall.

“I open up one of the envelopes, tear open the corner and there's a $50 bill. I thought I was going to pass out,” Kitts said.

The total? One hundred and eighty-two thousand dollars, many of them rare bills dating from 1929, worth an estimated half-million dollars
Reece says she offered Kitts a 10 percent finder’s fee. He says she offered to split it and then backed out.

Now the two speak only through their attorneys.

Citing an arcane law more commonly associated with sunken treasure found on the high seas than buried treasure in a suburban neighborhood, Kitts is claiming “finders, keepers,” and saying he's entitled to a much bigger chunk.
Eighteen months later, the money is in a safe deposit box, her bathroom is still in a shambles, and Reece just wants it all to be over.

“I honestly hope and I believe, that the law and common sense will co-mingle,” Reece said.

Just how this buried treasure is divvied up could well be up to a judge. In the meantime, the only people getting a share of the windfall now are the attorneys.

Why would this guy think he should get the money? He was an employee hired by the lady to do a job.

[AnimeSpirit]

Right, the carpenter should be happy that she offered him 10% because he is technically not entitled to any of it. Trying to claim an item of value that you found on someone else's property is like walking into your neighbor's yard and "finding" his lawn mower. That does NOT make it yours! That carpenter should give it up because his case won't fly in court.

[j.nc]

By this point the only ones that will end up with any money are the lawyers -they'll have hoovered up every penny of the findings.

Stupid bugger shoulda taken the 10%.

Edit: Plus NOW that the find is out in the open - every cent of the half million is TAXABLE as Gross Income - ha ha ha - dumb dumb carpenter.

[Pocahontas]

That money belongs to the homeowner! Whether she knew it was there or not it indeed was on her property. She purchased the hidden treasure just as she purchased the rest of the house.

[vixweb]

It belongs to the home owner, and he's a MORON for calling her and telling her! What a dumbass! She didn't know it was there, and it was only hers "technically", I would not have felt the least bit bad about taking it. Whoever stashed that money is long gone-I would have finished the job and smiled-