Henry v. Thompson
Henry v. Thompson
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The situation resulting from the facts stated is that two antagonistic claimants to the fund due from the insurance company agreed that payment might be made to one, both releasing the company, upon a stipulation between the two claimants that such payment would not affect the legal rights of either party to the fund, so that instead of three parties to the controversy there remained but two, one of whom had the fund, which the other claimed, and if the claim was supportable, it could be enforced by an action at law for money had and received to his use. There are no equities to administer or enforce. If the defendant in this proceeding is entitled to the fund, he could have brought his ac-' tion at law against the insurance company, and if that company had any reasonable doubt as to the rights of the respective claimants, it could have filed a bill of interpleader, but when the claimants agreed to discharge the company upon payment to one of them, under an agreement that the rights of the other should not be affected by such payment, no possible ground for equitable relief arises from that condition. Neither can call upon the other to interplead, and no trust requiring equitable interference has been created by the acts of these parties. The defendant has consented that the insurance company may pay the fund to the com
The decree in favor of the defendant will be reversed, and the cause remitted to the court of chancery to be there disposed of in accordance with the view herein expressed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Andrew Henry and Mary L. Prince, executors, &c., of Frederick A. Prince, complainants-appellants v. James L. Thompson, administrator of Sarah E. Moody, and James A. Gordon, trustee, defendants-respondents
- Status
- Published