Section 97.635. Liability of hotelkeeper for loss of property by fire or theft; owner's risk.

  A hotelkeeper is not liable for the loss of baggage or other property of a hotel guest by a fire unintentionally produced by the hotelkeeper. Every hotelkeeper is liable for loss of baggage or other property of a guest caused by theft or gross negligence of the hotelkeeper. The liability may not exceed $200 for each trunk and its contents, $75 for each valise and its contents and $10 for each box, bundle or package and contents, so placed under the care of the hotelkeeper; and $50 for all other effects including wearing apparel and personal belongings, unless the hotelkeeper has agreed in writing with the guest to assume a greater liability. When any person permits his or her baggage or property to remain in any hotel after the person's status as a guest has ceased, or forwards the baggage or property to a hotel before becoming a guest and the baggage or property is received into the hotel, the hotelkeeper holds the baggage or property at the risk of the owner.

1975 c. 413 s. 15 ; Stats. 1975 s. 50.82; 1991 a. 316 ; 1993 a. 27 s. 87 ; Stats. 1993 s. 254.82; 2015 a. 55 s. 4097 ; 2015 Stats. s. 97.635.