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Ricketts v. Scothorn

Nebraska Supreme Court
57 Neb. 51, 77 N.W. 365 (1898)

Written by Christine Hilgeman, JD

Facts

Katie Scothorn (plaintiff) quit her job and left her profession as a bookkeeper after her grandfather gave her a promissory note promising to pay her $2,000 on demand and 6 percent annual interest. At the time of giving her the note, her grandfather stated that he did not want his grandchildren to work, and upon receiving the note, Scothorn quit her job. Neither the terms of the note nor her grandfather’s statements obligated her to quit her job in order to receive the promised sum, although this appeared to be her grandfather’s intention. Her grandfather paid one year’s interest on the note but had not paid the balance by the time of his death. Scothorn sued Andrew D. Ricketts (defendant), the executor of her grandfather’s estate, for breaching the terms of the promissory note. The trial court entered judgment in favor of Scothorn, and Ricketts appealed.

Rule of Law

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Holding and Reasoning (Sullivan, J.)

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