Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

6 Serg. & Rawle 208

Irwin v. Hamilton

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided September 28, 1820

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1820-09-28

In Error. WRIT of error to the Common Pleas of Allegheny county. in the lower Court, it was an action on the case brought , r . -r » by Robert Marmitón and Margaret his wire, against Joseph Irwin, on a parol contract made between Irwin, and Samuel Robinson, deceased, for the sale of twenty four acres of land by Irvoin to Robinson, for the sum of twenty four pounds lawful money of the United States.

Decided 1820-09-28

¶1The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Tilghman C. J.

¶2This is a personal action, founded on a contract to which the plaintiffs were not parties.—The right of action for breach of the contract, was in Robinson in his life time, and is now in his executors or administrators, in whose name a suit may be brought, for the use of the plain, tiffs. Robinson had power to devise the land, the equitable estate of which was in him—but -he could not by any means assign or transfer his right of action for a breach of the contract, so as to vest in the assignee a legal right, sufficient to support an action in his own name. That was a chose in action, not assignable at law, though assignable in equity. We are of opinion, that the declaration in this case, sets forth no cause of action on which judgment could be rendered for the plaintiffs. Consequently the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas must be reversed.

¶3Judgment reversed.

/6/sergrawle/208 · .json · Public domain