Blinn v. Nelson, 222 U.S. 1 (1911)

Blinn v. Nelson


No. 5


Argued April 10, 1911
Decided October 23, 1911
222 U.S. 1

ERROR TO THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
OF THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS

Syllabus

A state statute of limitations allowing only a little more than a year for the institution of a suit to recover his personal property by a party who has not been heard from for fourteen years and for whose property a receiver has been appointed is not unconstitutional as depriving him of his property without due process of law, and so held as to the provisions to that effect of the Revised Laws of Massachusetts, c. 144, for distribution of estates of persons not heard of for fourteen years and presumably dead.

Constitutional law, like other mortal contrivances, has to take some chances of occasionally inflicting injustice in extraordinary cases.

197 Mass. 279 affirmed.

The facts are stated in the opinion.