Get more case briefs explained with Quimbee. Quimbee has over 16,300 case briefs (and counting) keyed to 223 casebooks ► [ Ссылка ]
Stone v. Williams | 873 F.2d 620 (1989)
The well known saying you snooze, you lose means that those who don’t act quickly will miss out on fleeting opportunities. Stone versus Williams explained how this principle applies to legal claims.
Country singer Hank Williams Sr. executed an agreement with Bobbie Jett while she was pregnant. He didn’t admit paternity but promised to financially support the child. The agreement also assigned custody to Williams Sr.’s mother, Lillian Stone. Williams Sr. then died without a will on January first, nineteen fifty three, and Jett gave birth a few days later. As promised, Lillian adopted the child and named her Cathy Stone. Lillian died two years later, and the Deupree family adopted Stone.
In nineteen sixty seven, an Alabama court assigned the copyright interests in Williams Sr.’s songs to his son, Hank Williams Jr. The court also appointed attorney Drayton Hamilton to find and represent any unknown heirs. Hamilton discovered Cathy Stone and represented her interests. But the court found that Williams Jr. was the sole heir, and that Stone had no rights because of the adoption.
When Stone turned twenty one in nineteen seventy three, the Deuprees finally told her about her biological father’s possible identity and the prior litigation. They also discouraged her from pursuing the matter. But in nineteen eighty, Mr. Deupree changed his mind and encouraged Stone to seek information about her biological father. Stone then conducted research about Williams Sr. and asked Hamilton about the earlier litigation. But she waited until nineteen eighty five to sue Williams Jr. and other copyright owners in federal district court, seeking a portion of the copyright interests in Williams Sr.’s songs. By that time, Williams Sr.’s ex wife and Mr. Deupree had died. In addition, Williams Jr. and the other copyright owners had made several business deals involving Williams Sr.’s songs.
The district court dismissed Stone’s complaint on the basis of laches, and she appealed to the Second Circuit.
Want more details on this case? Get the rule of law, issues, holding and reasonings, and more case facts here: [ Ссылка ]
The Quimbee App features over 16,300 case briefs keyed to 223 casebooks. Try it free for 7 days! ► [ Ссылка ]
Have Questions about this Case? Submit your questions and get answers from a real attorney here: [ Ссылка ]
Did we just become best friends? Stay connected to Quimbee here: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel ► [ Ссылка ]
Quimbee Case Brief App ► [ Ссылка ]
Facebook ► [ Ссылка ]
Twitter ► [ Ссылка ]
#casebriefs #lawcases #casesummaries
