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30 Me. 190

Hussey v. Collins

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided July 1, 1849

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1849-07-01

Assumpsit, alleging that the defendants, in consideration that the plaintiffs Vould sell and did sell and deliver to them a horse, of the value of $80, by their contract in writing agreed with the plaintiffs to carry on a certain lawsuit, commenced by one Levi Hunnewell against the plaintiffs, free from expense to the said plaintiffs, and if the suit should terminate against the plaintiffs, to save them harmless and pay all damages arising from said suit.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently July 2000

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1849-07-01

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Sheplet, C. J.

¶1— The declaration alleges in substance, that the defendants by a written contract, made on December 30, IP 15, agreed to defend an action commenced by Levi Hunnewell against the plaintiffs free of expense to them; and to save them harmless from all damages occasioned thereby. That Hunnewell recovered judgment against them at the Oct. term of the District Court in this county, in the year 1846, for the sum of $75,00, damages, and $26,57, costs of suit.

¶2By an agreement of the parties the declaration is to be regarded, as stating the facts correctly, and it is further agreed, *192that the execution issued on that judgment against the plaintiffs has not been satisfied, and that neither of them has been arrested upon it.

¶3There is no allegation or proof, that the plaintiffs had paid any thing on account of that suit, or that they had been otherwise injured thereby. The judgment may never be enforced against them. It may be, that the defendants have made arrangements to prevent it.

¶4There must be proof of damage actually suffered, to enable one to maintain an action upon a contract of indemnity. Gardiner v. Cleaveland, 9 Pick. 336; Pond v. Warner, 2 Verm. 532; Morrison v. Berkey, 7 S. & R. 238; Reynolds v. Magness, 2 Iredell, 26; Brown v. Spann, 3 Hill, S. C. 324.

¶5The contract declared upon is a contract of indemnity.

¶6It is unnecessary to consider, whether it was made upon sufficient consideration. Plaintiffs nonsuit.

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