Stone v. Williams

Cathy Stone (plaintiff), whose biological father may have been country singer Hank Williams Sr. (never formally admitted), was adopted by the Deuprees, who kept her in the dark about litigation determining Williams Sr.'s heirs until she turned 21, then discouraged further inquiry until her adoptive father finally encouraged her in 1980 to pursue the question if she wished. Stone made some inquiries but didn't file suit against Hank Williams Jr. (defendant) and various music companies until 1985, by which point the defendants had entered into numerous transactions involving Williams Sr.'s copyrights; the district court granted the defendants summary judgment based on laches.