# What happens if you applied to sue a non-human or otherwise inanimate object? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226 "2013-07-22T18:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![compositejoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/compositejoe/32/7232_2.png) [@compositejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/compositejoe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/1 "2013-07-22T18:34:13Z")
What would happen if one was to apply to sue for something, except it wasn’t another person or a company, but more rather a non-human or otherwise inanimate object? I’m asking this because I remember browsing Yahoo! Answers one evening because I was bored and reading a question which got deleted before it got any meaningful answers asking what would happen if one was to sue the moon! WTF?!?! 😕:eek: So what would the exact consequences be if I was to for example sue a lamp post out in the street? Would there be any penalities issued for causing waste of time etc? ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/2 "2013-07-22T18:37:16Z")
The most imaginative one I remember off hand was where a guy tried to sue Satan. The judge dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. That’s some funny shit right there. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/3 "2013-07-22T18:48:13Z")
It happened in the Middle Ages in Western Europe that animals were sued in court. I would guess they generally killed the poor things whether they were convicted or not. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/4 "2013-07-22T18:56:04Z")
Isn’t that the principle behind civil forfeiture? They don’t need probable cause because they are arresting the money/car/house/etc rather than you? ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/5 "2013-07-22T21:05:08Z")
It is possible to sue a corporation. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/6 "2013-07-22T21:38:39Z")
In the US, you don’t “apply” to sue someone (or something) you just file the Complaint. As others have noted, the government sues money and assets in forfeiture actions. In some maritime cases the defendant is the vessel. Generally, though, if you sued a lamppost, you’d have a hard time establishing proof of service and your case would be thrown out eventually. Or there would be no Answer, and you’d win. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/7 "2013-07-22T21:50:40Z")
How do you establish proof of service on a boat or a pile of money? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/8 "2013-07-22T23:23:04Z")
There is something called [_in rem_ jurisdiction](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_rem_jurisdiction) which results in such fascinating case names as: [_United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_vs._Forty_Barrels_and_Twenty_Kegs_of_Coca-Cola) [_United States v. 11 1/4 Dozen Packages of Articles Labeled in Part Mrs. Moffat’s Shoo-Fly Powders for Drunkenness_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._11_1/4_Dozen_Packages_of_Articles_Labeled_in_Part_Mrs._Moffat%27s_Shoo-Fly_Powders_for_Drunkenness) [_United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Ninety-Five_Barrels_Alleged_Apple_Cider_Vinegar) [_United States v. One Book Called Ulysses_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._One_Book_Called_Ulysses) [\* United States v. Thirty-seven Photographs\*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Thirty-seven_Photographs) [_United States v. Approximately 64,695 Pounds of Shark Fins_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Approximately_64,695_Pounds_of_Shark_Fins) [_United States v. 50 Acres of Land_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._50_Acres_of_Land) [_United States v. 12 200-ft. Reels of Film_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._12_200-ft._Reels_of_Film) [_United States v. $124,700 in U.S. Currency_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._$124,700_in_U.S._Currency) State governments can also get in on this sort of thing, leading to [_Quantity of Books v. Kansas_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantity_of_Books_v._Kansas) and [_One 1958 Plymouth Sedan v. Pennsylvania_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_1958_Plymouth_Sedan_v._Pennsylvania). ---
**Author:** ![lawbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/9 "2013-07-23T14:24:21Z")
> [@compositejoe](#): > > What would happen if one was to apply to sue for something, except it wasn’t another person or a company, but more rather a non-human or otherwise inanimate object? I’m asking this because I remember browsing Yahoo! Answers one evening because I was bored and reading a question which got deleted before it got any meaningful answers asking what would happen if one was to sue the moon! WTF?!?! 😕:eek: > > So what would the exact consequences be if I was to for example sue a lamp post out in the street? Would there be any penalities issued for causing waste of time etc? Besided IN REM as mentioned, here is the federal rule, who can sue and be sued; > **[Rule 17. Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity; Public Officers](https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/rule_17)** There was a man who sued GOD a few years back, of course it was dismissed. I sued my brain for non support and won! ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/10 "2013-07-23T14:30:15Z")
> [@compositejoe](#): > > What would happen if one was to apply to sue for something, except it wasn’t another person or a company, but more rather a non-human or otherwise inanimate object? Like a carbon rod? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/11 "2013-07-23T14:42:30Z")
There’s always that famous Jamaican case, R. v. One Dead Man’s Chest, yo ho ho and a Bottle of Rum. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/12 "2013-07-23T15:29:52Z")
So, let’s say you win your suit against the lamp post. Then what? How are you going to collect damages? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/13 "2013-07-23T19:12:45Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Like a carbon rod? It’s not just a carbon rod, it’s an _inanimate_ carbon rod. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-applied-to-sue-a-non-human-or-otherwise-inanimate-object/664226/14 "2013-07-23T19:19:02Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > So, let’s say you win your suit against the lamp post. Then what? How are you going to collect damages? smashy smashy