854.25 Personal liability of recipients not for value.

(1) Original recipients. A person who, not for value, receives property to which the person is not entitled under this chapter shall return the property. If the property is not returned, the recipient shall be personally liable for the value of the property to the person who is entitled to it under this chapter, regardless of whether the recipient has the property, its proceeds or property acquired with the property or its proceeds.

(2) Subsequent recipients.

(a) If a recipient described in sub. (1) gives all or part of the property described in sub. (1) to a subsequent recipient, not for value, the subsequent recipient shall return the property. If the property is not returned, the subsequent recipient shall be personally liable to the person who is entitled to it under this chapter for the value received, if the subsequent recipient has the property, its proceeds or property acquired with the property or its proceeds.

(b) If the subsequent recipient described in par. (a) does not have the transfer described, its proceeds or the property acquired with the property or its proceeds, but knew or should have known of his or her liability under this section, the subsequent recipient remains personally liable to the person who is entitled to it under this chapter for the value received.

(3) Mode of satisfaction. On petition of the person entitled to the property under this chapter showing that the mode of satisfaction chosen by the recipient in sub. (1) or (2) will create a hardship for the entitled person, the court may order that a different mode of satisfaction be used.

History: 1997 a. 188.