Thursday, December 28, 2023

Holmes' Supreme Court Opinions. 10

This case is out of chronological order in this series. It was decided March 9, 1903, before Giles v Harris, April 27, 1903.

National Bank & Loan Co. v. Petrie, 189 U.S. 423 (1903)

The bank president made fraudulent representations re its bonds, inducing Petrie to purchase. Petrie recovered in New York state court and the bank appealed, asserting the defense that the bank qua bank did not authorize the sale. (?)

This seems too easy a factual circumstance to trace threads of Holmes' experience in the decision. It resulted in a short (4 page), unanimous (McKenna did not participate) opinion worthy of the factual simplicity. By my lights there is nothing else to see here.