Cast of Characters
Pl--Goddard (landowner)
Hoagland--Finder
Def--Winchell (purchased meteorite from Hoagland)
If you were the judge in this case, how would you have decided it? Explain your reasoning? How important are the "enlightened demands of the time in which we live" as cited by defendant?
Suppose the meteorite was not
imbedded in the soil—suppose it bounced and rolled and came to a rest on the
surface of Plaintiff’s field. Same result? Explain.
Suppose that instead of a meteorite a piece of a man-made space station fell onto Goddard’s land, became imbedded 3-feet deep in the soil, and was removed by Hoagland and sold to Winchell.
Now how should the case come out? The Court implies that Winchell should win on these facts. Do you agree? Explain your reasoning.
Suppose the object landed and settled on the surface of the land (i.e. it was not imbedded in the soil)?
What is the best argument for the landowner, Goddard?
I like to think that Creedance Clearwater Revival (CCR) were thinking of this case when they performed "It Came Out of the Sky":
Whoa, it came out of the skyLanded just a little south of MolineJody fell out of his tractorCouldn't b'lieve what he seen, ohLaid on the ground shookFearin' for his lifeThen he ran all the way to townScreamin', "It came out of the sky"
