Section Six Hundred and Twenty-seven. In an action for the recovery of specific personal property, if the property has not been delivered to the plaintiff, or the defendant, by his answer, claim a return thereof, the jury, if their verdict be in favor of the plaintiff, or, if being in favor of defendant, they also find that he is entitled to a return thereof, must find the value of the property, and, if so instructed, the value of specific portions thereof, and may at the same time assess the damages, if any are claimed in the complaint or answer, which the prevailing party has sustained by reason of the taking or detention of such property.
§ 627.Action For Recovery of Specific Personal Property
Title 8. Of the Trial and Judgment In Civil Actions · Chapter 4. Trial by Jury · Article 3. The Verdict · Last amended 1873 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 627 requires the jury, in an action to recover personal property that hasn't been delivered to the plaintiff where the defendant's answer claims its return, to find the property's value -- and specific portions if instructed -- whenever ruling for the plaintiff or a defendant entitled to return, and lets the jury also assess damages for the property's taking or detention.
Full Text of § 627
Plain-English Summary
Actions to recover specific personal property raise a wrinkle ordinary money verdicts don't: what if the property itself can't be handed back? Section 627 addresses that situation directly. If the property hasn't already been delivered to the plaintiff, and the defendant's answer claims a return of it, the jury has to find the property's value whenever it rules for the plaintiff, or rules for the defendant while also finding the defendant is entitled to that return.
If the court has instructed accordingly, the jury can go further and value specific portions of the property separately, rather than just the whole. On top of the value finding, the jury may also assess damages the prevailing party has suffered from the taking or detention of the property, but only if those damages were claimed in the complaint or answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must the jury find the value of the property in a personal-property recovery action?
Whenever the property hasn't been delivered to the plaintiff, the defendant's answer claims its return, and the verdict is for the plaintiff, or for a defendant found entitled to a return of the property.
Can the jury value separate portions of the property individually?
Yes, if the court has so instructed.
Can the jury also award damages for the property's detention?
Yes, so long as damages for the taking or detention were claimed in the complaint or answer.
Amendment History
Amended by Code Amendments 1873-74, Ch. 383.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: recovery of specific personal property jury verdict californiavalue of property jury finding