W. P. MCGEE v. STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Case summary
The claimant sought compensation for a suitcase lost while in the custody of the Dixon State Hospital. The court found no legal liability but awarded $68 as a matter of equity and social justice.
AI-generated summary from the opinion text — may contain errors. The opinion text and PDF above are the official record.
Headnotes
- NON-LIABILITY OF STATE-property lost at State institution. This claim SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY-an award may be made. While the State
W. P. MCGEE
v.
STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Opinion filed April 18, 1923.
NON-LIABILITY OF STATE-property lost at State institution. This claim is for the value of a suit-case lost while in the custody of the Dixon State Hospital. Held, no legal liability exist against the State.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY-an award may be made. While the State is not liable the Court as a matter of social justice and equity may allow an award.
Edward J. Brundage, Attorney General, for State.
This is a claim to recover the value of a suitcase and its contents while the claimant was an inmate of the Dixon State Hospital. There appears to be no dispute of the facts that the suitcase was lost while in the custody of the Dixon State Hospital. Neither is there any dispute as to the value of the suitcase or its contents. However, the State interposed a demurrer which is hereby sustained as it is the opinion of this Court that there is no legal liability on the part of the State. It however, appears by statements made in open Court that the claimant is a very poor and worthy person and the loss of the suitcase in question was a matter of serious consequence to him financially.
It is therefore recommended by this Court that the claimant be allowed the sum of sixty-eight ($68.00) dollars as a matter of equity and social justice.