[meteorite-list] Museum investigation: 'Probably a rock, not meteorite'

From: Bob Loeffler <bobl_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2010 08:49:10 -0600
Message-ID: <75EE04C7A5FB431BBCDD56EBAF16B172_at_dell>

Hi Shawn and all,

If someone has already mentioned this, I'm sorry for the repeat. I have
another 150 e-mails to catch up on.

Some states in the US, including Colorado up until 7/2009, have a law that
says that rainwater is owned by the state, not by the individual. So I
couldn't put a bucket outside to catch the rain without breaking the law. So
in Colorado, rain would basically fall into the same category as meteorites
in some states, although I don't know about Australia. All four (rain,
hail, lightning, meteorites) could be considered "acts of God", but there
can be specific stipulations for meteorites and rain depending on where they
fall.

Rain won't hurt if it hits you, but a meteorite could. But, governments
could say that a meteorite isn't a meteorite until it hits the ground (or
has come to a stop after hitting something on the ground, like the floor of
your house), so the government doesn't own the meteorite yet when it hits
you, so they are not liable for any damages that it causes, but as soon as
it stops, then they become the owner of it. I'm not saying that this is the
law, but it could be what some governments are thinking.

In the case of Lorton, the lawyers for the landlord could argue that the
first part of the building that was hit was the roof (which is undoubtedly
owned by the landlord), so the landlord should own the meteorite. The
meteorite came to rest on the floor inside the building that is being
rented, but since the outside of the building was struck first, then the
renters would have no say in the matter. Again, this is just a possible
argument and I don't know if it would stand up in court. Just a thought.
If the meteorite flew through an open window and came to rest on the floor,
then I would think that the renters would have a much better case.

Regards,

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Shawn Alan
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 5:40 PM
To: stanleygregr at hotmail.com
Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Subject: [meteorite-list] Museum investigation: 'Probably a rock,not
meteorite'

Hello Greg and Listers,
?
Great point that you brought up about the "Act of God" ruling but my
question wasn't about rain or hail, my question is about a?meteorite fall,
which is the property of? Australia. If Australia's property hits someone, I
would say Australia is responsible for what damages the meteorite fall?might
cause, if its?physical?or psychological?in my opinion....... Its their
property.
?
Shawn Alan
eBayshop
http://shop.ebay.com/photophlow/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p
4340
?
?
?
?
?
[meteorite-list] Museum investigation: 'Probably a rock, not meteorite'
Greg Stanley stanleygregr at hotmail.com
Wed Apr 14 19:25:44 EDT 2010

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I would think this would fall under the "Act of God" ruling. I'm not sure
about Australian law, but in the US an "Act of God" is used for damage
caused by hail damage or lightning and such. So I would think you could not
sue the government since it is an "act of God." 
Greg S. 
---------------------------------------- 
> Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:15:13 -0700 
> From: photophlow at yahoo.com 
> To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com 
> Subject: [meteorite-list] Museum investigation: 'Probably a rock, not
meteorite' 
> 
> Hello Listers, 
> 
> I have a question about Alex's run in with being hit on the head by a rock
that might have been a meteorite or not a meteorite. In any case, lets say
this "meteorite" was bigger and hit him and caused some harm. And lets say
Alex is from Australia , which from what I have read sounds like that is the
case. Now from my understanding all meteorites are the property of the
country, Australia . So in a since Australia is responsible for damages,
harm, psychological and/or the well being of the citizens of Australia as a
result from a meteorite fall. Now couldn't people sue if their town was hit
by a meteorite because lets say if they had happen to be in that spot where
it hit, they could have been murdered from the meteorite? Or lets say it did
hit someone, then couldn't they hire a Johnnie Cochran lawyer and sue the
day lights out of the state in Australia? 
> 
> Shawn Alan 
> eBayShop 
>
http://shop.ebay.com/photophlow/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p
4340 
> 
> 
> 
> [meteorite-list] Museum investigation: 'Probably a rock, not meteorite' 
> Martin Altmann altmann at meteorite-martin.de 
> Wed Apr 14 12:47:57 EDT 2010 
> 
> Previous message: [meteorite-list] Time to revisit Lorton? 
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> Dear Alex, 
> 
> I presume that you're from Western Australia, because you chose this
thread 
> to report your strange accident? 
> 
> The description of the stone sounds, as it is most probably no meteorite, 
> but who knows? 
> 
> But if it is one, then be well aware - I know that it is difficult to 
> understand - that in the millisecond the stone struck your head, it
suddenly 
> and instantaneously turned into a national natural or even cultural
heritage 
> of Australia. 
> (yes, we know that a "heritage" is something old and traditional, but 
> understand, that with such cosmic and astronomical things, the relativity
of 
> space and time comes into play). 
> 
> It might be painful to you, similar to the pain you felt, when the object 
> hit you - but under no circumstances you are allowed to keep the stone, 
> but you have the privilege to deliver it completely to the authorities, as
> it is property of the Western Australia Government, which rules also over 
> the inner solar system. 
> 
> It may seem to you somewhat unjust and we know the Statute of Westminster 
> and the Astralia Act, but here and there some isolated backslides into 
> totalitarianism had obviously happened in your country. 
> 
> Now be pride to be allowed to deliver the object in person either 
> to Mr. Ralph Martin from the observatory of Perth 
> Ralph.Martin at dec.wa.gov.au 
> 
> or to Mr. Alex Bevan at the Museum in Perth 
> bevana at museum.wa.gov.au 
> 
> The latter will be able to explain you better than anybody else in your 
> country, why this stone does not belong to you and why it is called a 
> heritage, because he is said to be a famous meteorite philosopher. 
> 
> It is your duty as a patriot to bear the expenses of the delivery and to 
> spend your time for handing over the object. 
> 
> In one point I can calm you: 
> You can leave your head on. 
> It hadn't became a cultural heritage and is not property of the WA 
> government, neither the blain, because both items are reckoned to be so 
> called "impact materials" and are not yet covered by legislation. 
> 
> To be sure that you can keep your head also in future, I recommend to let 
> the incident being attested by a lawyer - for the case that Bevan and 
> colleagues once will suggest to expand the meteorite laws also on impact 
> materials. 
> 
> Best! 
> Martin 
> 
> 
> ________________________________________ 
> Von: alex rynkiewicz [mailto:acesand at live.com] 
> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 14. April 2010 16:42 
> An: altmann at meteorite-martin.de; meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> Betreff: RE: [meteorite-list] Museum investigation: 'Probably a rock, not 
> meteorite' 
> 
> dear meteorite hunters. iwork as a prison guard and on 9july09 940pm i was
> hit in the head by a bean sized and shaped stone, it is golden in color
with 
> small clear stones and has 2 dark stains bb sized, one on each side. it 
> looks like staining (graphite) like under a fusion crust that has blown
off. 
> it has a carbide feel to the touch. need help in identifing it. any help
is 
> appreciated. alex j rynkiewicz 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>
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