Hatzenbuehler v. Essig

OPINION ON REHEARING1

Jane Bland, Justice

This appeal from a special appearance arises out of a dispute between German *660citizens concerning the provenance of a cauldron discovered in a Bavarian lake. Josef Hatzenbuehler sued Jens Essig, alleging that Essig and others falsely represented the cauldron to be of ancient Celtic origin. With Essig’s assistance, Josef purchased the cauldron at a Swiss bankruptcy sale. Josef alleged that he later discovered that the cauldron was likely created by the Nazis in the 1940’s, making it significantly less valuable.

Josef died during the pendency of the suit…