System Co. v. Lycoming Foundry & Machine Co.
System Co. v. Lycoming Foundry & Machine Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
There is no dispute in regard to the facts in this case. The defense presented in the affidavit of defense is one of law. The facts pleaded are substantially these: The Universal Polygraph Company was the owner of an equity in 150 shares of the capital stock of the par value of $100 each of the N. Waldo Harrison Company; it was at the same time indebted to various creditors to the amount of about $3,000; by an agreement in writing dated October 30, 1908, it assigned to the defendant company its interest in the 150 shares of stock of the Harrison company above referred to, in which assignment the fact and amount of the indebtedness of the polygraph company are recited; the consideration for the assignment of the said shares was $1.00 paid by the defendant and the assumption of the debts of the said polygraph company to the extent of $3,000 which the defendant agreed to pay; the plaintiff’s claim was one of the debts so assumed. The defendant contends that it has had no contract relation with the plaintiff and that the action cannot be maintained. It is not now to be doubted that the common-law rule that no one can sue on a contract to which he is not a party is also the law of this state. It was so declared in Blymire v. Boistle, 6 Watts, 182, and in many succeeding cases. It became necessary to recognize certain exceptions to this rule, however, in order that manifest injustice might be avoided. One of these exceptions' exists where property has been put into the hands of another by a debtor for the purpose of discharging a debt due a third person. In such a case the creditor is held to be a party to the consideration and the contract is for his benefit to the extent of his interest: Beers v. Robinson, 9
The judgment is reversed, the rule is reinstated and the record remitted to the court below with instructions to enter judgment in favor of the plaintiff unless other cause be shown to the contrary.
Reference
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- System Company to use v. Lycoming Foundry & Machine Company
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- Actions — Parties—(Contracts. While it is the general rule that no one can sue on a contract to which he is hot a party, the rule is not applicable where property has been put into the hands of another by a debtor for the purpose of discharging a debt due to a third person. In such a case the creditor is held to be a party to the consideration, and the contract is for his benefit to the extent of his interest.