United States v. Hatahley

Hatahley and other Navajo tribal members (plaintiffs) sued the United States (defendant) after federal agents wrongfully seized their horses and donkeys and sold them to a horsemeat plant and glue factory. The plaintiffs did not prove the animals' replacement cost, arguing the animals were specially trained and irreplaceable. The trial court used estimated trade values instead of replacement cost, awarded a flat sum per animal, awarded a lump-sum reduction in the value of the plaintiffs' other livestock herds, and awarded an identical pain-and-suffering amount to every plaintiff. The United States appealed the damages award.