Crumpton v. Smith

A scrap metal salvage company purchased and crushed a 1991 pickup "auto hulk" from a seller who represented that he was the owner of the vehicle. The alleged true owner sued the seller and scrap company for damages in Monroe City Court alleging that the scrap company failed to require proof of ownership from the seller. After the suit languished for several years, the scrap company filed a petition for concursus seeking dismissal from the suit by admitting liability for purchasing the truck, but asserting that its liability was limited to the amount it paid the seller for the vehicle plus…