Douthwright v. Northeast: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 19:27, September 17, 2023

Douthwright v. Northeast
Court Connecticut Appellate Court
Citation 805 A.2d 157
Date decided September 17, 2002

Facts

A concrete pylon fell off a truck & crushed Mr. Douthwright ("Douthwright")'s leg.

Procedural History

  • Northeast Corridor Foundations ="Northeast" = 1 of the defendants

Douthwright sued several defendants for money damages in a Connecticut state court.

The opposing parties reached an oral agreement to pay Douthwright $3.2 million. The insurers of Northeast were supposed to pay Douthwright $2.5 million upfront.

In return, Douthwright withdrew his lawsuit in January 2001. Next, Northeast's insurer paid Douthwright $1 million. Northeast's other insurer refused to pay the remaining $1.5 million.

Consequently, in February 2001 Douthwright filed a motion for a default judgment for $1.5 million + interest.

25 April 2001
Northeast sent Douthwright a $1.5 million check
at evidentiary hearing, the trial court gave for Douthwright in the amount of $40,931.45 in interest
May 8, 2001





Issues

Is the accord-&-satisfaction doctrine enforceable only in the context of a good-faith dispute about the amount of an unpaid debt?

Arguments

After the payment of $1 million & the $1.5 million, Northeast argued that it had sent Douthwright an accord & satisfaction letter. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/accord_and_satisfaction

Holding

Yes. A debtor may invoke the accord-&-satisfaction doctrine only if there's a good-faith dispute about the debt amount.

Holding was in favor of Douthwright. In this case, the accord-&-satisfaction letter didn't have a legal effect to discharge the interest obligation of Northeast.

Judgment

Affirmed in favor Douthwright

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