Newman v. Stuart

Curtis Newman, investigator for the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol (MHP), and MHP appeal a judgment of the circuit court of Jackson County directing them to return a stolen pickup truck, which had been delivered by its owner, Motors Insurance Corporation (MIC), to Walter H. Stuart, an innocent purchaser of the stolen vehicle. The basis of the court's decision directing return of the vehicle was that it had been delivered by MHP to MIC without a judicial determination of its right to do so. Finding the court erred in directing return of the vehicle and assessment of damages under the facts…