West Headnote of the Day – September 4, 2009

September 4, 2009

West's Key 1 Abandoned and Lost Property
West's Key 1II Finding Lost Goods
West's Key 1k11 k. Rights and Liabilities of Finder as to Owner.

Where recluse died at age of 82, and her mattress was sold for $2.50, and buyers sent mattress to mattress works for renovation, and air blast at mattress works blew $22,200 in gold certificates from mattress, gold certificates could be rightfully claimed by legal heirs of deceased recluse under either article of Louisiana Civil Code dealing with treasure or article dealing with lost property, and buyers of mattress had no right to gold certificates.
United States v. Peter, 178 F. Supp. 854 (E.D. La. 1959)

Suggested by Marie Erickson; Law Library of Louisiana; New Orleans, LA

1 Abandoned and Lost Property