United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Coleman v. United States, 152 U.S. 96 (1894)

Coleman v. United States

No. 109

Submitted November 23, 1893

Decided March 5, 1894

152 U.S. 96

Syllabus

In an action brought to recover fees as assistant district attorneys in suits to vacate patents of public land, it being conceded that the complainants did not expect, during the period in which the services were performed, that the United States would compensate them, and that they looked for recompense to the clients who had retained them, and that the use of the name of the United States had been consented to on the application of the plaintiffs with the understanding that they were to receive no compensation from the United States, and that on the first intimation that they might look to the United States for compensation, their formal employment was at once terminated, held that there was no contract, express or implied, between them and the United States, for a breach of which judgment should be rendered against the latter.

The case is stated in the opinion.