24:9-27.Ā  Disposition and sale of articles in refrigerated warehouse longerĀ  than two years without extension
In the event that any article is held in a refrigerated warehouse for a period of longer than twenty-four calendar months without extension having beenĀ  applied for and granted by the commissioner, and neither the operator of theĀ  refrigerated warehouse nor the commissioner can locate the owner of the saidĀ  article, after ten days' notice by registered mail directed to the last knownĀ  address of such owner, by the officials of the refrigerated warehouse and aĀ  copy of the said notice to the commissioner, then and in that event, theĀ  commissioner shall have the power to order the disposition and sale of the saidĀ  article for the purpose of payment of charges for storage or other valid liensĀ  against same.Ā  If a sale as herein provided is ordered by the commissioner, theĀ  proceeds of such sale shall be applied, first, to the payment of any and allĀ  charges for storage and service in connection with said property, and second,Ā  for any other valid liens against the said property.Ā  Any balance thenĀ  remaining from the proceeds of the sale shall be paid to the owner of the saidĀ  property, if such owner can be located;Ā  and, in the event the owner cannot beĀ  located within one year of the date of notification, then any balance shall beĀ  paid into the treasury of the State of New Jersey.

In carrying out any order of the commissioner for sale or disposition of anyĀ  property under the provisions of this section, the owners or operators of theĀ  refrigerated warehouse are hereby relieved from any liability to the originalĀ  owner or any other person or persons for the custody of said property, and fromĀ  any legal liability under any warehouse receipt issued and outstanding coveringĀ  the said property.

L.1951, c. 342, p. 1233, s. 7.
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