Study aid, not legal advice. caselaw is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or engage in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL). All briefs, outlines, and citation tools on these pages are educational summaries for law students; they are not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney admitted in your jurisdiction. Bar-admission rules vary by state. For court filings or client matters, verify every authority against the official reporter and your court's local rules. Use of caselaw does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Contracts · MBE-tested
Carson v. Hood's executors
4 U.S. 934 Dall. 93·Supreme Court of Pennsylvania·1790·PA
Brief incoming
Hand-reviewed Bluebook brief (procedural posture, facts, issue, holding, reasoning, dissent) ships once the AI generation pipeline runs through this case. Join the waitlist to get notified when 1L briefs go live.
Opinion
Carson v. Hood’s executors.
Verdict.
If debt be brought against executors, on simple contract, it will be bad on demurrer, but if they plead to issue, they cannot afterwards make the objection.
After a verdict, it will be presumed, that everything was done at the trial, which was necessary to support the action, unless the contrary appear upon the record.
Debt. Plea, nil debet. The principal point in this case was, whether debt would lie against executors, on a simple contract of the testator ?
Bradford, for the plaintiff,
stated the rule to be, that if the executors demur to the action, they are entitled to judgment; but if they plead to issue, they cannot, afterwards, make the objection; and the following authorities were cited to maintain the distinction. Cro. Eliz. 600, 557; Cro. Car. 187; Cro. Eliz. 121; 1 And. 182; Golds. 106; Leon. 165; Vaugh. 99; 1 Sid. 333; Plowd. 182; Palm. 32; Cro. Eliz. 435, 459; Yelv. 56; 1 Lev 200; 1 Vent. 139; Vaugh. 97.
[MAJORITY — The Court,]
The Court,
being unanimously of this opinion, gave judgment for the plaintiff ; having, on a preliminary point, decided, that after a verdict, the will presume everything was done at the trial, which was necessary to support the action, unless the contrary appeared upon the record. 3 Burr.1725; 1729; 1 Wils. 225; 2 Str. 1180.
The proper title of this case is Carson v. Hood et al., executors of Hood. The action was brought to September term 1788, and at July term 1789, the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, with liberty to move for a new trial, on this ground, whether the action is supported by the evidence or not ? A rule to show cause why a new trial should not be granted, was obtained by Mr. Lewis, but after argument, the tourt discharged the rule aDd gave judgment as above.