If someone is sued for trespassing or taking/damaging property, but they had a good reason to believe the land or property was theirs, the court will only make them pay single damages — meaning just the basic amount of harm caused, not extra penalty damages.
537.360. only recoverable, when. — On the trial of any or brought upon sections 537.340, 537.350 and 537.370 if it shall appear that the had to believe that the land on which the is alleged to have been committed, or that the thing so taken, carried away, injured or destroyed, was his own, the in the action or prosecution shall receive single damages only, with .
(RSMo 1939 § 3684)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 3294; 1919 § 4245; 1909 § 5451
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Red section numbers link to that law.
Related Missouri laws
Private property, permission by owner to hunt, fish, or recreate, limitation on privilege
RSMo 537.355
Prescribed burning act
RSMo 537.354
Liability for damage or destruction of field crop products, when
RSMo 537.353
Trespassers, no duty of care by owners, exception
RSMo 537.351
Double damages for throwing down gates and fences
RSMo 537.350
Penalties, how recovered
RSMo 537.370
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.