Mo. OKs bill to let landlords dump left property

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers have approved a bill barring evicted tenants from suing landlords for disposing of property they leave behind.

The measure goes to the governor after winning House approval Monday on a vote of 158-1.

Landlords would be protected from lawsuits for selling, removing or otherwise disposing of personal property left behind by evicted renters. But such tenants could still sue if the landlord's actions were willful, wanton or malicious.

The bill also requires landlords to notify the owner of property that had been rented by evicted tenants before it could be thrown away.