305B.4 Conservation or disposal of loaned property.

1. Unless there is a written loan agreement to the contrary, a museum may apply conservation measures to or dispose of property on loan to the museum without the lender’s or claimant’s permission, or formal notice, if immediate action is required to protect the property on loan or other property in the custody of the museum or if the property on loan is a hazard to the health and safety of the public or the museum staff and if any of the following apply:

a. The museum is unable to reach the lender or claimant at the lender’s or claimant’s last known address or phone number if action is to be taken within more than three days but less than one week from the time the museum determined action was necessary.

b. The museum is unable to reach the lender or claimant at the lender’s or claimant’s last known phone number prior to taking action if the action is to be taken within three days or less from the time the museum determined action was necessary.

c. The lender or claimant does not respond or will not agree to the protective measures the museum recommends, yet is unwilling or unable to terminate the loan and retrieve the property.

2. If a museum applies conservation measures to or disposes of property under this section, or with the agreement of the lender and claimants unless the agreement provides otherwise, the museum:

a. Has a lien on the property and on the proceeds of any disposition of the property for the costs incurred by the museum.

b. Is not liable for injury to or loss of the property if the museum:

(1) Had a reasonable belief at the time the action was taken that the action was necessary to protect the property on loan or other property in the custody of the museum or that the property on loan was a hazard to the health and safety of the public or the museum staff.

(2) Exercised reasonable care in the choice and application of conservation measures.

88 Acts, ch 1117, §4

Referred to in §305B.13