Friday, September 12, 2008

Prosser v. Keeton (a.k.a. Hey, that's my watch!)

Prosser v. Keeton
143 Unrep. Case 1113.

Justice Allen delivered opinion

Facts:
  • Prosser was owner of a valuable watch
  • Watch was stolen by an unknown person (later discovered to be Thurlow)
  • Thurlow sold stolen watch to Keeton
    • Thurlow told Keeton needed to sell watch to raise money for ill mother
  • Keeton and Thurlow attended the same church
    • Keeton reasonably believed Thurlow was owner and paid Thurlow for watch
  • Thurlow disappears
  • Prosser sees Keeton wearing watch about a month later
  • Prosser able to identify watch by secret mark on back
  • Prosser demanded return, Keeton declines advising pd money and would not return it
  • Trial ct orders Keeton to return watch or pay its reasonable value
Issue:
Does a person who acquired an item that turns out to be stolen have to return it or give the original owner the value of the item?

Holding:
No, the person does not have to return the item or pay the value of the item to the original owner.

Reasoning:
Judge Bateman
  • Since neither party is guilty of wrongdoing, Keeton keeps the watch
  • Prosser was in a better position to prevent the loss
Justice Compton
  • Making buyer liable for purchases would stop capitalism
  • Social policy requires Keeton to keep the watch
  • No evidence that Prosser was better able to prevent theft than Keeton was able to detect watch was stolen
Judgment: Affirmed

Opinions:
Justice Allen dissented
  • thief did not have title to watch so therefore was unable to transfer it
  • Keeton is liable because he converted the watch

2 comments:

Amber said...

This is my favorite one so far. I remember from my Criminology classes that someone who buys stolen property is just as guilty as the person who originally stole it. I'm actually glad to see that it depends on whether or not the secondary buyer had reason to believe it was stolen property. And I like your new avatar. I hope you're able to get half that comfy while you're studying!

Cathy said...

So - the two judges don't agree? What happens? Does it matter?

And yes - I like your new avatar - and I was thinking almost the same thing as amber - but I have a feeling that's not what studying looks like!?