Shaw v. United States, Docket 15-5991

Bank account: Property rights: Bailment: Common law:

When a customer deposits funds, the bank ordinarily becomes the owner of the funds and consequently has the right to use the funds as a source of loans that help the bank earn profits (though the customer retains the right, for example, to withdraw funds). Michie, Banks and Banking, ch. 9, §1, pp. 1–7 (2014) (Michie); id., §4b, at 54– 58; id., §38, at 162; Phoenix Bank v. Risley, 111 U. S. 125, 127 (1884). Sometimes, the contract between the customer and the bank provides that the customer retains owner­ship of the funds and the bank merely assumes possession. Michie, ch. 9, §38, at 162; Phoenix Bank, supra, at 127. But even then the bank is like a bailee, say, a garage that stores a customer’s car. Michie, ch. 9, §38, at 162. And as bailee, the bank can assert the right to possess the depos­ited funds against all the world but for the bailor (or, say, the bailor’s authorized agent).  Am. Jur. 2d, Bailment §166, pp. 685–686 (2009). This right, too, is a property right.  W. Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 452–454 (1766) (referring to a bailee’s right in a bailment as a “special qualified property”).

Neder v. United States, 527 U. S. 1, 21–25 (1999) (bank fraud statute’s definition of fraud reflects the common law).

Secondary sources: Michie, Banks and Banking, ch. 9, §1, pp. 1–7, ch. 9, §38, at 162 (2014); Am. Jur. 2d, Bailment §166, pp. 685–686 (2009); W. Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England 452–454 (1766); O. Holmes, The Common Law 132 (1881).

(U.S.S.C., December 12, 2016, Shaw v. United States, Docket 15-5991, J. Breyer, unanimous).

Les notions de droit de propriété et de "bailment" en rapport avec un compte bancaire. Même si le contrat entre la banque et son client dispose que le client conserve la propriété des fonds tandis que la banque n'est au bénéfice que d'un droit possessoire, la banque sera tout de même assimilée à un "bailee", tout comme l'est par exemple un garagiste qui entrepose le véhicule d'un client. Comme "bailee", la banque peut invoquer son droit possessoire erga omnes, sauf envers le propriétaire des fonds déposés. Ce droit est un des droits de propriété.