M'Kim v. Fulton

First page of the opinion M'Kim v. Fulton, in Reports of Cases Argued and Decided in the Court of Appeals of Virginia, by Daniel Call. Richmond: R. I. Smith, 1833.

M'Kim v. Fulton, 10 Va. (6 Call) 106 (1806),‎ was a case regarding the execution of promises made at a business partnership's dissolution.

Background

John Davies and Alexander Fulton entered into a trader partnership. In 1798, three years later, both parties agreed to dissolve the partnership. The parties agreed that Davies would relinquish all his interest in the partnership to Fulton. In consideration, Fulton agreed to pay Davies $36,150, pay all Davies's debts from the firm, and to indemnify Davies from any addition debts related to the firm. On November 4, 1798, Davies died and bequeathed his property to his widow and two infant children. M’Kim, the administrator of Davies estate, brought sued Fulton to recover the funds promised to Davies, which had since been used by Fulton to capitalize a partnership he subsequently formed with his brother. M'Kim also requested relief from the debt balance Fulton failed to pay while a partner with Davies.

The Court's Decision

On October 4, 1805, Chancellor Wythe, without deciding whether the endorsements on the subpoenas in the case amounted to attachments, discharged the debt. The Court of Appeals reversed.

See also

• Wythe's Judicial Career