A couple in Alabama sued Sovran Acquisition Limited Partnership after their property was stolen from a unit at an Uncle Bobs Self Storage.

Tasha Robinson and Eddie Robinson signed a rental agreement March 1, 2008. The agreement stated tenants stored property at their own risk and must provide their own insurance to protect their goods against fire, theft or damage. The couple was also told when signing the rental agreement that the facility was protected by surveillance cameras 24 hours a day.

In July 2008, Sovran began renovations on the facility, causing the cameras to not function properly. On Aug. 13, someone broke into the Robinsons unit and stole the stored items. When the couple spoke with management about the break-in, they were told the surveillance cameras were not working properly during the renovation so the break-in wasnt recorded.

The Robinsons sued Sovran for negligence, wantonness, fraud, deceit, and breach of contract and asked for monetary damages to cover the loss.  

Sovran asked for a summary judgment on various grounds, and the trial court entered a judgment in their favor on all claims. The Robinsons then appealed to the state supreme court, and the case was transferred to the Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama, where the trial courts ruling was upheld.

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