Story Archive

He Was Just Resting

“It kind of went further than I ever expected it to,” Donald E. Miller Jr. told a judge in Hancock County Probate Court in Findlay, Ohio. “I just kind of took off, ended up in different places,” he said, after losing his job. Eight years later, in 1994, the court ruled that Miller was dead. Miller, now 61, found out about his “death” eight years ago, but only recently went to court to get the ruling reversed. Judge Allan Davis says there are problems with that. First, there’s a three-year limit on such challenges. Second, his ex-wife has contested the reversal because she and her children can’t pay back the death benefits they received. “We’ve got the obvious here,” Judge Davis said. “A man sitting in the courtroom, he appears to be in good health.” But, he says, the law is clear, and the death ruling can’t be overturned. “I don’t know where that leaves you, but you’re still deceased as far as the law is concerned.” (RC/Findlay Courier) ...Officially dead? Perfect: now he’s not obligated to pay taxes.