Groover v. Dickey

Deen, Presiding Judge.

This is an unusual case involving the explosion of a Civil War artillery shell. The appellee, Thomas Dickey, is a collector of Civil War projectiles and author of several authoritative books and articles on the subject. Mr. Dickey’s collection contained a rare Hotchkiss shell which was believed to be a solid shot containing no explosives. The appellant, James Groover, a carpenter/contractor, was hired by Dickey to perform corrective work on the shell which had a crooked base. Groover constructed a forge with a used paint can, charcoal and a vacuum cleaner in his backyard…