Approximately 200 years ago, France sold the U.S. a large amount of land, including New Orleans, which was built on ground that was sinking. It would have flooded a long time ago if the U.S. had not built levies that held back the Atlantic Ocean until 2005. Contrary to the popular opinion that the levies caused the flooding, the city would have flooded many years earlier if the levies were not built.
Can the U.S. sue France for any or all of the following:
The difference between what New Orleans would have been worth if it was not sinking and what it was actually worth
The damage that would have happened if the levies were never built
The cost of building the levies
The damage that happened when even the levies were not enough
Is there a statute of limitations?
Does the statute of limitations require suit be filed within a certain amount of time of the date of the original transaction, the date that the U.S. became aware of the problem, or the date that the flooding began?
2007-11-15 11:57:34 · 4 answers · asked by StephenWeinstein 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
This was not intended as a joke. The reason that it seems like a "simplistic and inaccurate description" of the city is that the positive things about New Orleans are not relevant to the legal question being asked.
2007-11-15 12:14:55 · update #1
No. The government of France enjoys Sovereign immunity from suit.
In addition, any SoL is LONG past, whatever start date you chose to use.
Finally, when you buy a swamp, that it's sinking is something you should expect.
"Caveat Emptor" !
Richard
2007-11-15 12:10:05 · answer #1 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This would be a lot funnier if so many of my friends and relatives had not been made homeless when the levees broke. Maybe I just can't laugh because we had a good friend who died at a local nursing home. Her husband died later that year, and was never the same after the storm. Perhaps I could chuckle at this simplistic and inaccurate description of my city if my garage wasn't filled with the contents of my relatives attics while they tear down and rebuild their houses.
Maybe I'll be able to laugh about it one day...but it'll have to be a funnier joke than this.
2007-11-15 12:12:01 · answer #2 · answered by Geaux Tigers 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
US can no longer sue France for the sinking of Lousiana because the sale was already 200 years ago and prescription for any defect on the transaction had already set-in.
2007-11-15 12:03:47 · answer #3 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call the law offices of james sokolove, he'll sue anyone.
2007-11-15 12:08:06 · answer #4 · answered by Mary Jo W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋