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Let's get real here. "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" have nothing to do with it. The fact is that it stands in the body of American Law that meteorites belong to the person or entitity that owns the land upon which the meteorite fell. If the landholder lays claim to the meteorite then the meteorite goes to the landowner. That is the way it is, and that is the "American Way"
I can think of two cases where this was affirmed by the "Justice" system and there are probably many more. The first that comes to mind is the Willamette Meteorite, and the second is the Old Woman meteorite. In both cases the "Justice" system decided that the meteorite belongs to the landowner. With the Willamette it was a private company, the Standard Iron Co., and in the latter it was the Federall Gov. and or the State of California. Though in both cases the finder laid claim to the meteorite, and even though they had spent a great deal of time and money in the recovery, the "Justice" courts ruled in favor or the landowner's claim. And that is the "truth" of the whole matter. The finder has absolutely no claim to meteorites unless: 1) it falls on their own land.; or 2) it hits them.; or 3) the landowner relinquishes claim to said meteorite to the finder.
Where does this leave the finder-- hardly a leg to stand on.
So with the Mnahans meteorites-- they rightfully are the property of the
City of Monahans. That is the "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" of
it.
Steve Schoner
AMERICAN METEORITE SURVEY