Connecticut man sues for return of colonial document

[dogday]

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A Connecticut man has filed a lawsuit against federal authorities and the governor of North Carolina in an ongoing fight over the ownership of an original copy of the Bill of Rights.


Robert Matthews, a businessman with ties to former Gov. John G. Rowland, is challenging the seizure of the document three years ago. Matthews had bought a half interest in the document in 2000.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, names U.S. attorneys, agents from the FBI's Philadelphia field office, a U.S. marshal and North Carolina Gov. Michael Easley.

Matthews claims that the document, which he says is worth $30 million on the private market, was improperly seized by the U.S. Attorney's office in 2003


http://wfsb.com/Global/story.asp?S=4635144

[GardeningGal]

1. I don't understand why it was seized.

Was there some question of ownership? If not, seems pretty straightforward to me.

[dogday]

2. Since they are rare documents, I am

assuming the government wants it for posterity... I believe this guy is entitled to this document, unless the government wants to reimburse him for it....

[GardeningGal]

3. Agreed.

If he acquired his ownership legally, if the government wants it they should pay for it.

[BOSSHOG]

4. This storyline was on West Wing a couple of years ago

when the parties wanted the white house to intervene.