Contracts Keyed to Dawson
Hamer v. Sidway
ProfessorMelissa A. Hale
CaseCast™ – "What you need to know"
Facts
Story (D) agreed with his nephew William (P) that if P would refrain from drinking, using tobacco, swearing, and playing cards or billiards for money until he became 21, D would pay him $5,000. When P became 21 he wrote a letter to D stating that P had performed his part of the agreement and had earned the $5,000. P and D agreed that $5,000 plus interest should remain with D until P was capable of taking care of it. D died without paying P the $5,000 plus interest. Judgment for D. P appealed.
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