What Was the Court's Decision in Willsmore V

question 53

Multiple Choice

What was the court's decision in Willsmore v.Township of Oceola,Michigan,in which the plaintiff sought clarification regarding the ownership of money found within a suitcase he found while hunting?

• A) Because the suitcase was placed in a hole and the time was taken to intentionally cover it up, the suitcase was mislaid and not lost, so Willsmore as the finder had no rights.
• B) Powell, the owner of the property where the suitcase was found, had superior rights to any finders of personal property on his real estate.
• C) The Township's Lost Property Act was unconstitutional, because requiring finders to forfeit fifty percent of the value of any found property is excessive, and violates common law principles giving one hundred percent of the found property to the finder.
• D) Willsmore complied with all required notice and posting provisions of the Township's Lost Property Act, so he was entitled to his share of the money.
• E) Because $383,840 found in a watertight suitcase, buried and hidden in an unoccupied property, was obviously money from a criminal activity, Willsmore had no claim to the funds, and the money therefore goes to the Township.

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Definitions:

Compassion

The emotional response of understanding and caring for others, coupled with a desire to alleviate their suffering.

Participative

A leadership or management style where decision-making is shared with others, especially the members of the team, encouraging input and involvement from all.

In-Group Collectivism

The tendency for members within a group to prioritize and emphasize the goals, needs, and views of the group over individual ones.

Farmer-Owned

A business or cooperative that is owned and controlled by the farmers who produce the goods or use the services it provides.