Stoddard v. Martin
Supreme Court of Rhode Island · 1828-03-06 · cited 4×
This case involved a wager between the parties on the outcome of an election for U.S. senator by the state general assembly. The court held that the wager was unenforceable. The reasoning centered on the wager's tendency to encourage corruption, undue influence, misrepresentation, and discord in the electoral process, which conflicts with sound public policy and the integrity of free elections. Such contracts were deemed to have an immoral tendency that could affect third parties and society at large, as supported by precedents from other jurisdictions.
