Case Name: Herbert Lord vs. Town of Winchester
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1969-01-29
Citations: 355 Mass. 788
Docket Number: 
Parties: Herbert Lord vs. Town of Winchester.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 355
Pages: 788–789

Head Matter:
Herbert Lord vs. Town of Winchester.
January 29, 1969.

Opinion:
This is an action of contract in which the plaintiff seeks to recover for services and expenses he incurred in his efforts to prevent the defendant from selling certain land. The plaintiff appeals from the order of the Appellate Division dis- missing a report from the District Court judge who found for the defendant. The Appellate Division was correct in stating that "Ed or a municipality to be bound . . . there must be a contract and not only must there be an underlying authority in the municipality to make the contract, but . . . must be made on its behalf by a duly authorized agent. If any of these elements is missing, there is no liability on the municipality to perform even in quantum meruit." Lowell v. Massachusetts Bonding & Ins. Co. 313 Mass. 257, 272. The plaintiff admits he was a volunteer. There was no error.
Herbert Lord, pro se.
No argument or brief for the defendant
Order dismissing report affirmed.