Contract Law

Elvis Memorabilia Has Not Left the Building

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The Delaware Supreme Court has upheld a ruling giving a California businessman the right to sell Elvis Presley memorabilia once owned by the singer’s personal physician.

The collection includes a device used to irrigate Presley’s sinuses, a laryngeal scope used to examine his throat, prescription bottles, jewelry and guns, the Associated Press reports.

A lower court judge had granted a default judgment to businessman Richard Long after two business partners he sued did not show up for court hearings and refused to allow the collection to be inspected for insurance purposes. The judge had ruled that Long could dissolve the partnership and sell the collection.

Long had sought to enforce an agreement in which he reportedly paid $1 million for the collection. His suit claimed the business partners agreed to assign their rights to the items to a company he controlled.

At one point the collection was being stored in three tractor trailers in Nevada airport hangars.

Meanwhile the owner of a museum based on the contention that Elvis is still alive is selling its contents on eBay, the New York Times reports. The owner, Bill Beeny, claims he has DNA that proves the body buried at Graceland is not that of Elvis Presley. Bidding stood at $8,300 yesterday evening.

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