Scanlan v. Gillan

California Supreme Court
Scanlan v. Gillan, 5 Cal. 182 (Cal. 1855)
Heydenfeldt

Scanlan v. Gillan

Opinion of the Court

Heydenfeldt, J., delivered the opinion of the Court.

Bryan, J., concurred.

The bill alleges a transfer by complainant to defendants of the property in dispute without any valuable consideration, and seeks to set it aside. The bill fails to allege the reasons for the transfer. The answer declares that the transfer was for a valuable consideration.

This should have ended the suit, and the bill ought to have been dismissed.

When Courts are called upon to set aside contracts, there must be some substantial reasons shown, and a Court of Chancery, particularly, will not act when it is kept in the dark as to the reasons or purposes of a transaction in reference to which relief is sought.

The decree is reversed, and the bill dismissed.

Reference

Full Case Name
BARTHOLOMEW SCANLAN v. PATRICK GILLAN and MICHAEL TEENEY
Status
Published
Syllabus
When Courts are called upon to set aside contracts, there must be some substantial reasons shown, and a Court of Chancery particularly, will not act when it is kept in the dark, as to the reasons or purposes of a transaction in reference to which relief is sought.