Definition

1. Noun:
   • The agent to whom property involved in a bailment is delivered: A bailee is a person or party who temporarily receives possession of, but not ownership of, personal property from another person (the bailor) under a bailment agreement. The bailee has a duty to take reasonable care of the property and to return it or dispose of it according to the bailor's instructions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The parking garage, as the bailee of my car, is responsible for its safekeeping while I am away.
  • When you leave your coat at a coat check, you are the bailor and the attendant is the bailee.
  • The law clearly outlines the responsibilities of a bailee for hire.

Advanced Usage

• Gratuitous Bailee: A bailee who receives the property without providing payment or other compensation.
  • A friend who agrees to store your furniture for free is a gratuitous bailee.
• Bailee for Hire: A bailee who receives compensation for holding the property.
  • A warehouse storing goods for a fee is a bailee for hire and has a higher standard of care.

Variants and Related Words

• Bailment (n): The delivery of personal property by one person (the bailor) to another (the bailee) for a specific purpose.
  • Leaving a laptop for repair creates a bailment.
• Bailor (n): The person who delivers property to a bailee in a bailment.
  • As the bailor, you should get a receipt for the items you leave.

Synonyms

• Custodian: One who has the care or custody of something.
• Trustee: A person who holds or manages property for the benefit of another (note: this implies a fiduciary duty, which is similar but often in a different legal context).

Related Phrases

• Duty of a bailee: Refers to the legal obligation of the bailee to take proper care of the bailed property.
  • The duty of a bailee is to exercise ordinary care.
• Bailee's lien: A right of the bailee to retain possession of the bailed goods until payment is made for services rendered.
  • The repair shop asserted a bailee's lien on the car until the bill was paid.

Noun

1. the agent to whom property involved in a bailment is delivered