Case Name: THOMAS RICHARDSON vs. JOEL STRONG
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1851-12
Citations: 13 Ired. 106
Docket Number: 
Parties: THOMAS RICHARDSON vs. JOEL STRONG.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 35
Pages: 106–108

Head Matter:
THOMAS RICHARDSON vs. JOEL STRONG.
Contráete "with lunatics are not all absolutely void; but such as are fairly made with them for necessaries, or things suitable to their condition abd habits of life, will be sustained.
Where a person is insane, so as to attempt injury to himself, and the destruction of his property, the services sf a nurse and guard fall within the class of necessaries, as defined by law.
The case of Tally v Tally, 2 D. #• B’s Eq. 385, cited and approved.
Appeal from the Superior Court of Law of Granville County, at the Fall Term, 1851, his Honor Judge Ellis presiding.
The action is Assumpsit for work and labor, and was tried on the general issue. The case was, that the defendant became insane, and so much so, as to attempt injury to himself and the destruction of his property. He had negro servants, but his physician and relations thought it necessary that there should be some white person with him," as a nurse and a guard against his violence ; and a son-in-law of the defendant requested the plaintiff to attend on him. He did so, and upon the defendant’s recovery, he refused to pay him anything, and this action was brought. The defendant objected, that, as he was a lunatic at the time, no promise could be implied ; and, also, that the plaintiff’s services were unnecessary. But the Court instructed the Jury, that, if they believed the evidence as to the condition of the defendant, and the state of his family, the services of the plaintiff were necessary to the defendant; and, if so, the plaintiff was entitled to recover. Yerdict and judgment for the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.
Saunders, for the plaintiff.
J. II. Bryan and Busbee, for the defendant.'

Opinion:
'Ruffin-, G. J.
The contracts of a lunatic are not all absolutely void; but it is held, that contracts, fairly made with .them tor necessaries, or things suitable to their condition or habits of life, are to be sustained. The leading case on the -subject, in England, is that of Baxter v Earl of Portsmouth; and in Tally v Tally, 2 Dev. & Bat. Eq. 385, the same opinion was expressed by this Court,. There is, therefore, no absurdity in the case ofdunatics, more than in that of infants, in implying a request to one rendering necessary services, or supplying necessary articles, and implying, also, a promise to pay for them. Indeed', with Whatever propriety the ancient maxim, that no one ought to be al lowed to stultify himself, is denied in modern law, its application jn a case of this lend see us to be entirely just. The urgency of the case demands instant help, and leaves no opportunity for a previous application to a Court, having the ordering of the estates, to fix an allowance; and, in s.ueh an instance as this, in which, as far as is seen, there was a recovery before a commission issued, there could bo no subsequent allowance, however assiduous and effective the attentions to the party might have been. Therefore, there is no middle ground between leaving an unhappy person, thus afflicted, destitute of those services and things indispensable to his proper restraint and recovery, or, however rich, dependent for them on gratuitous benevolence, on the one hand; or, on the other, of implying a promise to pay for them what they may, reasonably, be worth. It is as if a physician administered to a man, deprived of his senses by a dangerous blow, when the loss of life might result from delay. He would, certainly, be bound to make reasonable remuneration, though incapable, at the moment, of making an actual request. The reason extends to medical services to a madman, and to those of a nurse for him, or of a guard, to protect him from a propensity to destroy himself or his property. In the case before the Court, the plaintiff acted at the instance of the defendant's medical adviser, and his nearest friend and relative, not insisting, however disagreeable the duty, on any stipulation for high wages, but content with a quantum meruit. His conduct was, therefore, as fair as it could be.
Upon the other point, there is no doubt. What the plaintiff did, certainly, falls within the class of necessaries, as defined in the law. Judgment affirmed.
Pes Curiam'. Judgment affirmed.