Maffia v. United States

This case is before us on defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

*605Plaintiff’s petition alleges that one James J. McSweeney offered to purchase from the Office of the Foreign Liquidation Commissioner of the Department of State three tugs lying at the Island of Malta for $4,000 each, and that his offer was accepted.

Before the sale was consummated, McSweeney executed a power of attorney to one A. G. Van Wye authorizing him to act as his attorney in fact “for the purpose of effectuating an assignment of said contract” to purchase the tugs. Ten days later, Van Wye “assigned said contract to…