SUCK IT MAINE!-- Va. man to retain rare Declaration

[underpants]

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/SCOV28_20090227-223126/218093/

A wealthy Fairfax County collector can keep a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence that was claimed by the small Maine town where it was sent in 1776.

Yesterday a unanimous Supreme Court of Virginia upheld a lower court ruling that Internet pioneer Richard L. Adams Jr., who bought the document for $475,000 in 2001, had a stronger claim to ownership than did the town of Wiscasset.

"We are very disappointed," said David R. Cheever, Maine's state archivist. "I'm just sorry they reached the decision they did. It seems like a bit of a stretch," he said of the ruling, "but we waged a good fight, they prevailed."

Cheever said there were no plans to try to purchase the copy from Adams.

"Mr. Adams, as a bona fide purchaser and as the party in possession of the print, had demonstrated his claim of ownership," Ney wrote. Maine appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court on 10 grounds, and the justices agreed to hear arguments in the case last month.

Yesterday, in a 19-page opinion written by Justice Barbara Milano Keenan, the Virginia Supreme Court agreed.

"Maine failed to prove under any theory that Maine owned the print or had superior title," concluded the opinion.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. There is only one Wiscasset.

It's a pretty little coastal town. It also was the site of Maine's only nuclear reactor before it was decommissioned.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. I was really surprised

that the state of Maine even tried to claim ownership of this document. When I read the history, it was really obvious that the dude bought it fair and square.

Sometimes here in Virginia we get things right. This is one of those times.

[1620rock]

3. Not so sure, the document should belong to the people.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. I agree,

but, as we all know, the concept of "should" is wholly subjective, and we don't get to decide.

The man bought it legitimately. It would be nice if he were to donate it - if only for a certain amount of time, retaining ownership - to the Archives for some public display.

[Thickasabrick]

5. I'd be curious if "the people" offered to reimburse the guy the

$450,000 he paid for it. That might have made a difference in this outcome.