Teacher who Lost Students Computer
Is a Teacher Responsible for a Confiscated Computer?
Sometimes melamdim, teachers, find it necessary to temporarily confiscate their students’ computers or games. There is a discussion among poskim whether a melamed is permitted to do so, and many permit it for chinuch purposes; however, that is not the topic of our discussion today. Our question is: What is the melamed’s halachic responsibility if the item is lost after it was confiscated? Is the melamed obligated to reimburse the student? If the melamed locked the closet or locker where he stored the confiscated item there is no obligation to reimburse the student, as there was no negligence. However, if the melamed did not lock up the object in a manner that reasonably ensures its safety, it is considered to be negligence, and since the melamed is deemed to be the shomer, the guardian, of the item, the melamed is obligated to reimburse the student. At times the exemption of be’alav imo applies, but that too is beyond the scope of today’s discussion. #266
https://halacha2go.com?number=266