E.E. Bolles Wooden Ware Co. v. United States
United States Supreme Court
106 U.S. 432 (1882)

- Written by Josh Lee, JD
Facts
Two hundred and forty-two cords of timber were knowingly and wrongfully taken from land owned by the United States (plaintiff). The timber was transported to a nearby town and sold to E.E. Bolles (defendant). E.E. Bolles did not know and had no reason to know that the timber was wrongfully taken. The timber was worth $0.25 per cord, which was $60.71 for the total amount, sitting on the ground where it was cut. However, the timber was worth $3.50 per cord, which was $850 for the total amount, after it was transported to the nearby town. This increase in value was typical and was based on the difficult and expensive task of transporting the timber from the forest land to the town. The federal government sued E.E. Bolles, seeking recovery for the value of the timber wrongfully removed from its land. The circuit court determined that the proper amount for recovery in the case was the value of the timber after it was transported. E.E. Bolles appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Miller, J.)
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