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==General Rules==
==General Rules==
''See generally '''[[Conflicts of Laws]]'''.''
''See generally '''[[Conflict of Laws]]'''.''


A contract is governed as to its intrinsic validity and effect by the law with reference to which the parties intended, or fairly may be presumed to have intended, to contract,<ref name ="intent">"The general principle is that a contract is to be governed by the law with a view to which it was made, and this is a question of intention, to be deduced, when not expressly declared, from the place, terms, character, and purposes of the transaction." [[Croissant v. Empire State Realty Co.]], 29 App. (D.C.) 538.</ref> the real place of the contract being a matter of mutual intention, except in exceptional circumstances evincing a purpose in making the contract to commit a fraud on the law.<ref>[[International Harvester Co. v. McAdam]], 142 Wis. 114, 118, 124 NW 1042, 26 LRANS 774, 20 AnnCas 614.<br />
A contract is governed as to its intrinsic validity and effect by the law with reference to which the parties intended, or fairly may be presumed to have intended, to contract,<ref name ="intent">"The general principle is that a contract is to be governed by the law with a view to which it was made, and this is a question of intention, to be deduced, when not expressly declared, from the place, terms, character, and purposes of the transaction." [[Croissant v. Empire State Realty Co.]], 29 App. (D.C.) 538.</ref> the real place of the contract being a matter of mutual intention, except in exceptional circumstances evincing a purpose in making the contract to commit a fraud on the law.<ref>[[International Harvester Co. v. McAdam]], 142 Wis. 114, 118, 124 NW 1042, 26 LRANS 774, 20 AnnCas 614.<br />
Line 187: Line 187:
#Of contracts regarding slaves good where made but Illegal where sought to be enforced. White v. Hart, 3 Wall. (U. 8. ) 646, 20 L. ed. 685 : Green wood v. Curtis, 8 Masa. 3 68, 4 AmD 145.
#Of contracts regarding slaves good where made but Illegal where sought to be enforced. White v. Hart, 3 Wall. (U. 8. ) 646, 20 L. ed. 685 : Green wood v. Curtis, 8 Masa. 3 68, 4 AmD 145.
#Of contracts made in the Confederate States. Scheible v. Bacho, 4 1 Ala. 423.
#Of contracts made in the Confederate States. Scheible v. Bacho, 4 1 Ala. 423.
#Of contracts whose obj ect was the dismissal of criminal prosecutions. Harrison v. Baldwin, 6 Oh. C!r. Ct. 310, 3 Oh. C!r. Dec. 164.
#O f contracts whose obj ect was the dismissal of criminal prosecutions. Harrison v. Baldwin, 6 Oh. C!r. Ct. 310, 3 Oh. C!r. Dec. 164.
#Of agreements in violation of the revenue laws of foreign states. Kohn v . The Renalsance, 6 La. Ann. 25, 68 AmD 577.
#Of agreements in violation of the revenue laws of foreign states. Kohn v . The Renalsance, 6 La. Ann. 25, 68 AmD 577.
#Of con tracts made on Sunday. See Sunday [37 Cyc 569].
#Of con tracts made on Sunday. See Sunday [37 Cyc 569].
Line 374: Line 374:
# The law of the state where a written con· tract Is to be performed. that a con- temporaneous parol agreement Is not available as a defense to lt. prevails I n an action thereon. Musser v. Stautrer. 1 9 2 Pa. 3 9 8, 43 A 1 0 1 8.
# The law of the state where a written con· tract Is to be performed. that a con- temporaneous parol agreement Is not available as a defense to lt. prevails I n an action thereon. Musser v. Stautrer. 1 9 2 Pa. 3 9 8, 43 A 1 0 1 8.
#Where the laws of another state pro hac vice apply, an answer to a suit based on a contract to be performed In that state should be stricken, un- less a meritorious defense, as ad- j u d ged by the laws of that state. Is presented. Missouri State L. Ins. C o. v. Lovelace. 1 Ga. A. 4 4 8 . 68 SE 9 3 .
#Where the laws of another state pro hac vice apply, an answer to a suit based on a contract to be performed In that state should be stricken, un- less a meritorious defense, as ad- j u d ged by the laws of that state. Is presented. Missouri State L. Ins. C o. v. Lovelace. 1 Ga. A. 4 4 8 . 68 SE 9 3 .
# A statute of a foreign nation forbidding actions on parti cular claases of contracts enters Into the contr<:�ct and will b e enforced I n a n action here. Camfranque v. Burnell. 4 F. Cas. No. 2,342. 1 Wash. C. C. 3 4 0. 6</ref> It is a well-settled principle that, if a party is justified as to a transaction in the country where it took place, he is justified everywhere.<ref>Shaver v. White, 6 Munf. (20 Va.) 110, 8 AmD 730. 8</ref> Thus if the defense of infancy is valid by the lex loci contractus it is good wherever the contract may be sued on.<ref>Thompson v. Ketchum. 8 Johns, (N. Y.) 1 89 , 6 AmD 332.</ref> And so it is of the defense of tender or payment.<ref>Thomson-Houston Electric Co. v. Palmer. & 2 M inn. 1 H. 5 3 NW 1 1 3 7, 38 AmSR 5 3 6A· Gilman v. Stevens. 6 8 N. H. 3 4 2 , 1 2 02 ; Warder v. Arell. 2 Wash. ( 2 Va. ) 282, 1 ArnD 488. 11</ref> But the defense must go to the contract and not to the remedy.<ref>Galliher v. State Mut. L. Ins. Co . • 150 Ala. 5 4 3, 6 4 8, 4 3 S 8 33, 12 4 AmSR 88.{{Quote|Where a law of another state Is relied on as a defense to a suit brought In this state. It must be shown that according to the lex loci contractus the contract was In- valid, or, If once valid. that I t has become extin guished. and therefore Is not I n legal contemplation a con· tract. If the foreign · law does not a trect the contrac t Itself, but onl y the remedy to enforce lt. we cannot regard lt h · for all remedlea on con- tracts, w ether m ade In or out ot this state, must be governed by our own laws, when the suit Is brought here. without regard to the remedies atrord ed bv the laws of other countries.}}
# A statute of a foreign nation forbidding actions on parti cular claases of contracts enters Into the contr<:�ct and will b e enforced I n a n action here. Camfranque v. Burnell. 4 F. Cas. No. 2,342. 1 Wash. C. C. 3 4 0. 6</ref> It is a well-settled principle that, if a party is justified as to a transaction in the country where it took place, he is justified everywhere.<ref>Shaver v. White, 6 Munf. (20 Va.) 110, 8 AmD 730. 8</ref> Thus if the defense of infancy is valid by the lex loci contractus it is good wherever the contract may be sued on.<ref>Thompson v. Ketchum. 8 Johns, (N. Y.) 1 89 , 6 AmD 332.</ref> And so it is of the defense of tender or payment.<ref>Thomson-Houston Electric Co. v. Palmer. & 2 M inn. 1 H. 5 3 NW 1 1 3 7, 38 AmSR 5 3 6A· Gilman v. Stevens. 6 8 N. H. 3 4 2 , 1 2 02 ; Warder v. Arell. 2 Wash. ( 2 Va. ) 282, 1 ArnD 488. 11</ref> But the defense must go to the contract and not to the remedy.<ref>Galliher v. State Mut. L. Ins. Co . • 150 Ala. 5 4 3, 6 4 8, 4 3 S 8 33, 12 4 AmSR 88.{{Quote|Where a law of another state Is relied on as a defense to a suit brought In this state. It must be shown that according to the lex loci contractus the contract was In- valid, or, If once valid. that I t has become extin guished. and therefore Is not I n legal contemplation a con· tract. If the foreign · law does not a trect the contrac t Itself, but onl y the remedy to enforce lt. we cannot regard lt h · for all remedlea on con- tracts, w ether m ade In or out ot this state, must be governed by our own laws, when the suit Is brou��rht here. without regard to the remedies atrord ed bv the laws of other countries.}}
Galliher v. State Mut. L. Ins. Co., supra.</ref>
Galliher v. State Mut. L. Ins. Co., supra.</ref>


==Presumptions==
==Presumptions==
The presumption is that a conttact is governed by the law of the forum.<ref>Hutchins v. Hanna. 8 Ind. 5 3 3 : Fish v. Delaware, etc . . R. Co. , 168 App. Dlv. 9 2 . 143 NYS 3 6 & [aff 79 Misc. 636. H t N Y S 2 4 5. and rev on other grounds 211 N.Y. 374, 105 NE 661]; Canadian F. Ins. Co. v. Robinson. 31 Can . S. C. 488.</ref> The courts will not take judicial notice of the unwritten law of a foreign state, nor of the statutes of another state or territory, nor of the written laws of a foreign country; but in the absence of proof on the subject, they will generally presume that the common law is in force in such state, and the law of the foreign state, if different, must be pleaded and proved.<ref>Smith v . Whitaker. 23 I ll. 167: Davis v. Cress, 214 Mass. 879. 101 NE 1081; Dibert v . D'Arcy, 248 Mo. 617, 164 SW 1118.; Milly v. Smith. Mo. 86; Fidelity, etc., Co. v. Wells, 49 App. Dlv. 1 7 1 , 82 NYS 1088.</ref> When, however, the common law has never been in force in the plaee where the contract was made, and the foreign law is not proved, the court will follow the law of the forum.<ref>Ala.-Allen v. Pierce. 1ft Ala. 6 7 7, 42 S 858; Allen v. Caldwell. 1 49 Ala. 293, 42 S 866.<br />
 
Cal.-Norman v. Norman. 111 Cal 6 2 0, 64 P 1 4 3 .<br />
 
Ind.-Mendenhall v. Gately, 1 8 Ind. 149; Krouse v. Krouse. 48 Ind. A. s. 9& NE 262.<br />
Ky.-Hurdt v. Courtney. 4 Mete. 1 3 9 .<br />
N. Y .--Latham v. De Loiselle. 3 App. Dlv. 1126, 3 8 NYS 2 7 0 [atr 1 5 8 N. Y. 687 mem, &3 NE 1 1 2 7 mem ] .<br />
S. C.-Allen v . Watson, 20 S. C. L. 3 1 9 .</ref> If the contract is void by the lex fori, it devolves on the party seeking to sustain it to show that it is valid by the law of the place of making,<ref>Thatcher v. Morris, 11 N. 437; Kldd v. Arnold, 18 Pa. Dlst. 46'!, 465, 35 Pa. Co. 667 (quot CycJ ; Ohn v. Western Union Tel. Co .• 45 8. 344, 23 BE 148. &6 AmSR 783 ; South ern Pac. Co. v. Anderson. 26 Tex. Clv. A. 6 1 8, 83 SW 1 0 2 3 .</ref> although in Illinois it has been held that a contract will be presumed lawful where made.<ref>Miller v . Wilson, 1 4 6 tft. 623: 3 4 NE 1 1 1 1 . 37 AmSR 1 86 ; Raphael v. Hartman, 8 7 Ill. A. 6 8 4 . 111. 8 206.</ref> On the other hand if the contract is legal by the lex fori, it will be presumed legal by the lex loci contractus.<ref>Ellis v. Park, 8 Tex. 205.</ref> When the contract is silent on the subject, the place of the making of the contract is presumed to be the place of performance.<ref>Ala.-Schuessler v. Watson 3 7 A la. 9 8, 7 6 AmD 8 4 8.<br />
Ky .-Hyatt v. Commonw-I U BRnk, 8 Bush 193; Short v. Trabue f Mete. 2 9 9 .<br />
Md.-De Sobry v. De Lalatre. Harr. & J. 191. 3 AmD &56. Mlnn.-clement v. Willett. 101 Minn. 26 7. 1 1 7 NW 491. 127 AmSI 6 6 2. 1 7 LRANS 1094, 16 AnnCaJ 1 0 5 3.<br />
Mlss.-Jones v. Perkins. :11 9 Miss 139. 64 AmD 186.<br />
N. Y.-Potter v. Tal lman. 3& Ba.r't 182; Albera v. Sclarettl. 72 Misc. 49 131 NYS 889. Pa.-Ai lshouse v. Ramsay. 6 Wbarl 331 . 37 AmD 417.<br />
Utah.-Lawson v. Tripp. St Uta: 28. 37, 9 5 P 520 (cit Cyc).<br />
'''[a] Illustration.'''--Where a citizen of New York lent money to a firm in Iowa, and took a certificate of debt for the same dated at the office the firm in Iowa, and which did not specify the place of payment, the contract was an Iowa contract. Potter v. Tallman, 36 Barb. (N.Y.) 18.</ref> In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the place of performance, the laws of which govern the validity of a contract, is presumed to be the place of the common domicile of the parties.<ref>Bliss v. Haighton, 11 N.B 90.</ref> A contract good according to the law either of the place of contract or of performance will be presumed to have been made in view of the law of that place where it would be good.<ref>U. S.-Caesar v. Capell, 8 3 Ffd. 403.<br />
Ind.-cable Co. v. McE!hoe, 5 8 Incl. .-\. f37. 1 08 NE 790.<br /> Miss.-Brown v. Freeland. 3 4 Miss. 181.<br />
N. D.-U. S. Savings, etc., Co. v. Shain, 8 N. D. 1 3 6, 7 7 NW 1006.<br />
Pa.-Zenatello v. Hammersteln, 2 3 1 P a. 56. 79 A 922.<br />
Wash.-Crawford v. Seattle, etc., R. Co., 86 Wash. 628, 150 P 1165, LRAI916D 732.<br />
'''[a] {{Quote|The law will not presume''' that the parties contracted to do an unlawful thing or violate a statutory prohibition in carrying out its terms, but that their purpose was the accomplishment of a lawful object and the performance of the agreement in a place or territory where its performance was permissible.}} Zenatel1o v. Hammerstein, 231 Pa. 56, 58, 79 A 922.</ref> But this presumption is rebutted by the fact that the parties intend that the contract shall be governed by the law of a particular state,<ref>J.I. Case Threshing Mach. Co. v. Tomlin, 174 Mo. A. 512, 161 SW 286.</ref> although it is not rebutted by the mere fact that the parties have in mind a particular state for the place of performance.<ref>Canale v. Pauly, etc., Cheese Co., 155 Wis. 541, 145 NW 372.</ref> When the parties agree that the contract shall be governed by the laws of a particular place they are conclusively presumed to have known such law.<ref>Mutual L. Ins. Co. v. Phinney, 178 U.S. 227, 20 SCt 906, 44 L. ed. 1088.</ref>


==Remedies==
==Remedies==
===General Rules===
===General Rules===
Th remedy on a contract both in substance and form is
 
regulated by the lex fori, and not by the lex loci
contractus,<ref>U.S- Scudder v. Union Nat. s. 406, 2 3 L. ed. 2 4 5j Aleundr!a Canal Co. v. Swann, o How. 83. 13 L. ed. 6 0 ; Wilcox v. 􀄘unt, 13 Pet. 3 7 8, 10 L. ed. 2 0 9 : U.S. Bank v. Donnal ly, 8 Pet. 361, 8 L. fd. 974 ; Wadsworth v. Henderson, II Fed. 447 [ rev on other grounds m u. 8. 264, s set 40. 2 9 L. ed. Ji7]; Burrows v. Hannegan, 4 F. C al!. So. UOS, 1 McLean 31􀚁 Ca mtr..
nque v. B11 M1el l, 4 F. 􀍋as. No. !.J H, 1 Wash . 340; Consequa v. Wlll;
nr· ' F. eas . No. 3,128, Pet. c. c. • ! ; Ex p. Helde1ba.ck, 1 1 F. Cas. No. 0%%, Z Lowell 626; Hinkley v. Martan.
1 Z F. Cas. No. 6 , 5 2 3 . 3 Mason II; Nicolls v. Rodgers, 18 F. Cas. 􀀪- lo.%60, 2 Paine 437; Wlllar.d v.
,l rr, %9 F. cas No. 17,679, 3 Mason<br />
Ala.-Swink v. Dechard, 41 Ala. 􀄙􀄚􀄛: .. Jones v. Jones, 18 Ala. 248;
""""man v. Munks, 8 Port. 8 4 .<br />
Ark.- Lawler v. Lawler, 107 Ark. W 1 1 1 3 ; Laird v. Hodges, 2 6 􀄖-:4k., H16 6A; mDJor d5a4n6 .v . Thornton, 7 Ark.<br />
Colo.-cockburn v. Kinsley, 25 olo. A. 89, 135 P 1 112.<br />
Conn.-lllustrated Postal Card, etc.,
o. "· Holt, 8 5 Conn. 1 4 0, 81 A 1 06 1 ;
F'awoton v. Middlebrook, 50 Conn. 4 4 ; ood v. Watkinson, 1 7 Conn. 500, l AmD 562 ; Atwater v. Townsend, 4
H IIIL 4 7, 10 AmD 9 7 ; Medbury v. opldns, 3 Conn. 472.<br />
Ga.-Tburman v . Kyle. 7 1 Ga. 628 · AGDaa.t lanUta,4 ; etc., R. Co. v. Tanner, 6S Cox v. Adams, 2 Ga. 1 5 8 ;
,... vSisE v95. 6De. Vaughn, 7 Ga. A. 3 24.<br />
Ill.-- Burcbard v. Dunbar, 82 Ill. 25 AmR 3 3 4 ; Mumford v. Canty,
.., Ill & 1 0, 99 AmD 5 2 5.; Roosa v. Cris;71􀀫t.o n17h ern111 . L4u50m, be65r ACmo .D. 164769 ;I llR. eAid.<br />
Iowa.-- Banco de Sonora v. Bank100
NW 6Cas32, u10a4l ty Co. . 124 Iowa 676, AmSR 367.<br />
Kan.-Den ny v. Faulkner. 22 Kan. l!: Hetrerl ln v. Shtslnderfer, 2 Kan. nl, t5 AmD 593.<br />
Ky.-- Davis v. Morton, 6 Bush 1 6 0. D'...􀄗 US: Woodson v. Gallipolis --.f a. .lion. 203 ; Gruhbs v. {larria.
arria.
1 Bibb 567; Stevena v. Gregg,
K73y0L. 267 ; Gibson v. Sublett, 4 KyL La.-Brent v. Shouse, 16 La. Ann. 1 1 0, 79 AmD 6 7 3 : Tatum v. Wright,
7 La. Ann. 3 6 8 ; Jackson v. Tiernan, 15 La. 4 85 ; Ohio Ins. Co. v. Edmondson.
6 La. 295.
Me.-Gross v. Jordan, 8 3 Me. 380,
2 2 A 260; Everett v. Herrin. 4 6 Me. 357, 74 AmD 4 66.
Md.-Mandru v . Ashby 1 08 Md. 693, 7 1 A 312; Dakin v. Pomeroy, Gill 1 i Traaher v. Everhart, 3 0!11
J. 2h ; De Sobry v. De La!stre,
Harr. & J. 1 9 1 , 3 AmD 5 6 5 .
Masa.-Pitkln v. Thompson,•
Pick. 6 4 ; Pearsall v. Dwight, 2 Mass. 84, 3 AmD . 3 5 .
63M5, lch.-MIIler v. Hilton, 1 89 Mich. 155 NW 5 7 4 ; Iron Wks. v. Til
den. 1 5 4 · NW 3 5 , 36 felt Cyc).
M!nn.-Lewls v. Bush, 30 Minn. 244. 15 NW 1 1 3 .
Mlss.-Ivey v. Lalland, 4 2 Miss. 4 4 4, 9.7 AmD 475. 2 AmR 6 0 6 ; Coffman
v. Kentucky Bank, 4 0 M iss. 90 AmD 3 1 1 .
Mo.-Thompson v . Chicago Traders'
Ins. Co.. 169 Mo. 1 2 , , 6 8 SW 8 8
Rube v. Buck, 1 2 4 Mo. 1 7 8 , .27 SW 4 1 2 . 46 AmSR 4 3 9 , 2 5 LRA 1 7 8 ; Edmondson
V; Ferguson, 11 Mo. 3 4
Tremain v. Dyott, 161 Mo. A. 2
1 4 2 SW 760 ; Johnston v. Gawtry,
Mo. A . 3 2 2 [ a tr 8 3 Mo. 3 3 9 ] .
N . J.-Jaqul v . Benjamin, 80 N. L. 1 0, 77 A 4 6 8 ; Cronan v. Fox, 50
JIn. s.L . 4 1 7, 1 4 A 1 1 9 ; Columbia
Co. v. Kinyon. 37 N. J. L. 33
Harker v. Brink, 2 4 N. J. L. 3 3
Gulick v. Loder, 1 3 N. J. L. 68.
AmD 7 1 1 ; Bullock v. Bullock, 5 1
J. Eq. 4 4 4 . 27 A 4 3 6 [ atr 52 N.
Eq. 6 6 1 , 3 0 A 6 7 6, 4 6 AmSR 6
27 LRA 2 1 3 j .
N. Y.-Re lly v. Steinhart, 21 7
Y. 5 4 9 , 1 1 2 NE 4 6 8 : Union Nat. Bank
v. Chapman, 1 69 N. Y. 5 3 8, 62 NE 672, 8 8 AmSR 6 1 4 , 5 7 LRA 6 1 3 [rev 52 App. Dlv. 67, 64 NYS 1 11 5 3 ) ; New
York L. Ins. Co. v. Aitkin, 1 2 5 N.
6 6 0, 2 6 NE 7 3 2 ; Hooley v. Talcott, 1 29 App. Dlv. 2 3 3, 1 1 3 NY8 8 20 ; Oans
v. Frank. 38 Barb. 3 2 0 ; Hodges
Shuler, 2 4 Barb. 68 [atr 2 2 N. 1 1 4 ] ; Stoddart v. Key, 62 HowPr 1 3 7 ; Andrews v. Herrlot, 4 Cow. 508
Peck v. Hozler, 1 4 Johns. 3 4 6 ; Scov!
lle v. Canfield, 14 Johns. 3 3 8,
AmD 4 6 7 ; Bird v. Carltat. 2 Johns. 3 4 2, 3 AmD 4 3 3 ; Smith v. Spl nolla. 2 Johns. 1 9 8 ; Lodge v. Phelps.
Johns. Cas. 1 3 9 : Holmes v. Remsen. 4 Johns. Ch. 4 6 0, 8 AmD 6 8 1 .
N . C.-carpenter v. Hanes, 1 6 7
C. 5 5 1 , 83 SE 577.
Oh.-Wurzel •v. Delph, 3 3 Oh. Clr.
Ct. 2 1 9 ; Thompson v. Citizens Nat.
Bank, 32 Oh. Clr. Ct. 1 3 1 ; The Bal timore
v . Levi, 2 Handy 3 0 , 12 Oh.
Dec. ( Reprint) 3 1 4 ; CUrtis v. HutchInson,
1 Oh. Dec. ( Reprint ) . 4 7 1 ,
WestLJ 1 3 4 .
Okl.-clark v. Marse!IIes First
Nat. Bank, 1 5 7 P 96 .
Or.-Jam!eson v. Potts, 66 Or. 2
1 0 5 P 93, 2 5 LRANS 2 4 .
. Pa.-Thornton v . Western Re11erve
Farmers' Ins. Co., 31 Pa. 5 2 9 ; Speed
v. May, 17 Pa. 9 1 , 65 AmD 6 4 0 ; Watson
v. Brewster, 1 Pa. 3 8 1 ; Kldd
Arnold, 1 8 Pa. Dlst. 4 6 ! , 35 Pa. Co. 6 6 7.i. Morgan v. Camden, etc .. R. Co 2 YR. Co. 9 7 ; Gilbert v. Black,
LegChron 1 3 2 ; Hoag v. Dessan,
P!ttsh. 390.
Phll!pplne.-Government v. Frank, 13 Philippine US. ,
S. C.-Pegram v. Williams, 38 s. C. L. 2 1 9 ; Allen v. Watson. 20 S. C.
L. 3 1 9.
Tenn.-McKissick v. M cKissick. 6
Humphr. 76.
Tex.-ch!cago, etc., R. Co. v.
Thompson, 4 1 Tex. Clv. A. 4 59, 9 3
SW 702.
Vt.-Murtey v. Allen. 7 1 Vt. 377.
4 5 A 762. 7 6 AmSR 7 7 9 ; Cartwright v. New York, etc., R. Co . . 59 Vt. 67 5 , 9 A 370 · Porter v. Munger, 2 2 Vt. 191 ; Sutrolk Bank v. Kidder, 12 Vt. 4 6 4 , 3 0 AmD 364 ; Pickering v. Flak, 6 Vt. 1 02.
Va.-Young v. Hart, 101 Va. 480,
4 4 SE 703 ; Union Cent. L. Ina. Co. v.
Pollard. 94 · Va. 1 4 6, 26 SE 4 2 1 , 64
AmSR 7 15, 36 LRA 271. See Bowman
v. M!ller. 2 5 Gratt. (66 Va. ) 33 1 , 1 8
AmR 6 8 6 (where It was questioned
Iwnhtoe ther a VIrginia court, examining contracts entered Into In a
foreign country, can do more than
atflrm the validity or Invalidity of
such contracts, or can, In such case,
administer any remedies other than
those a.trorded by the laws of VIrginia
) .
Wash.-La Selle v. Woolery, 1 4
Wash. 7 0 , H P 1 1 5, 5 3 AmSR 855,
11 Wash. 83 7, 3 9 P 663, 3 2 LRA 73.
W. Va.-Dav!dson v. Browning, 7 3
W . Va. 2 7 6, 8 0 SE 3 6 3 , LRA 1 9 l &C
9 7 6 ; Stevens v. Brown, 20 W. Va. 4 6 0.
Wls.-Internatlonal Harvester Co.
v. McAdam, 142 Wis. 1 1 4 , 124 NW
1 0 4 2, "2 6l..RANS 7 7 4 , 20 AnnCas 6 1 4 .
Wyo.-Studebaker Bros. Co. v. Mau, 1 4 Wyo. 68, 82 P 2 ( den reb 1 3
Wyo. 3 6 1, 80 P 1 6 1 , 1 1 0 AmSR 1 00 1 ) .
Eng.-Bullock v. Calrd, L. R. 10 Q. B. 2 7 6 ; De Ia Vega v. V!anna. 1
B. & Ad. 2 8 4 , 20 ECL 4 8 7. 1 0 9 Reprint
7 9 2j British Linen Co. v.
Drummona. 10 B. & C. 903, 21 ECL 3 7 7, 1 0 9 Reprint 6 8 3 ; Tr!mbey v.
Vlgnler, 1 Bing. N. Cas. 1 5 1 , 27 ECL 5 11 4, 1 3 1 Reprint 1 0 75, 6 C. & B. 2 5 .
2 5 ECL 303 ; Robinson v. Bland, 2
Burr. 1 077, 9 7 Reprint 7 1 7 ; Meyer v.
Dresser, 1 6 c. B. N. S. 646, 1 1 1 ECL 6 4 6 , 1 4 8 Reprint 1 2 8 0 ; Don v. Lippmann,
5 Cl. & F. 1 , 7 Reprint 3 0 3 ,
6 ERC 9 3 0 . [.a) :Porm of aotloa.-In an action
to en(orce a foreign contract. the
form o f B.!!tlon and the course o!
judicial proceedings are governed by
the law ot the place where the action h1 brought. Trasher v. Everhart. 3
Gill & J. ( Md. ) 2 3 4 ; Ayres v. Audubon,
2 0 S. C. L. 6 0 1 .
fbl :ti'OI'IIl of j114&'mnt O l' ·4eoNe. -The Jaw of the forum governs the
Corm of judgment or decree and the
method of carrying It Into execution.
Wick v; Dawson, 4 2 W. Va. 43, 2-l</ref> even where the contract was to be
performed in the place where it was made.<ref>Garr v. Stokes, 1 Harr. (Del. ) 403, 4 0 5 : Bacon v. Dahlgreen, 7 La. Ann. 5 9 9 ; Roberts v. Wilkinson, 6 La. Ann. 3 7 9 ; Murray v. Gibson, 2 La. Ann. 3 1 1 ; Collins Iron Co. v. Burksm, 10 Mich. 283 ; Jaqul v. Benjamin, 80 N. J. L. 10. 77 A 4 6 8; Armour v. Michael, 3 6 N. J. L. 9 􀃉 ; Harker v. Brink, 24 N. J. J􀷫. 3 3 3 ; Wood v . Malin, 1 0 N. J. L. 2 0 8 ; Gulick v. Loder, 13 N. J. L. 6 8, 23 AmD· 7 1 1 .</ref> A
contract made in a foreign country or state, but to
be wholly performed in the place where it is sought
to be enforced, is governed in all respects by the
law of the forum.<ref>Hibernia Nat. Bank v. La· combe, 8􀃊 N. Y. 367, 38 AmR 5 1 8 ; Everett v. Vendryes, 19 N. Y. 4 3 6 ; Thompson v . Ketcham, 4 Johns. ( N. Y. ) 2 8 5 ; Byers v. Brannon, (Tex. C!v. A. ) 30 SW 4 9 2 ; Young v. Hart, 1 0 1 Va. 4 8 0, H SE 703. v.</ref> This rule must be confined to
the remedies and does not apply to the rights arising
under the contract.<ref>Greenville Nat. Bank v. Evans Snyder-Buel Co., 9 Okl. 353, 363, 60 P 249. See Camfranque v. Burnel l. 4 F. Cas. No. 2. 3 4 2. 1 Waeh. C . C. 3 4 0 (where a foreign statute forbidding actions on certain classes of contracts was held to have a binding force on the contract).
{{Quote|I t has always been the policy of the courts to give force and ettect to a contract made In another state. If the con tract c o u l d be u pheld u n d e r the lti-W of such state. and rights once acquired In a jurisdiction under a contrac.t w i l l not be forfel tt>d slm- ply because the subject ot the con- tract I s by one of the parties moved I nto a forei gn j u risdiction. The right remains the same, regardleRs of t h e law ot the state to which t h e subject of t h e contract I s removed ; but the procedure of the latter state w i l l always obtain.}} Greenville Nat. Bank v. Evans-Snyder-Buel Co., supra.</ref> The lexi fori governs in determining the mode of trial, including the form of
pleading and the mode of redress.<ref>U.S.-U.S. Bank v . Donnelly, 8 Pet. 3 6 1 . 8 L. ed. 9 7 4 .<br />
Md.-Trasher v. Everhart . 3 Glll & J. 2 3 4 . •<br />
Pa.-Kid.d v. Arnold, 1 8 Pa. D!st. 4 6 2. 465, 3 5 Pa. Co. 667 [ quot Cyc] ; AtLewis v . Linton. 2 4 P a. Co. 1 8 8t Morgan v. Camden. etc., R. Co . • " Pa. Co. 9 7 .<br />
Vt.-Harr!son v. Edwards, 12 Vt. 6 4 8, 36 AmD 3 6 4 .<br />
Eng.-Ada.m v. Kerr, 1 B. & P. 860. 1 2 6 Repri nt 9 5 2.</ref> Questions as to the admissibility and effect of evidence relate to the remedy and are to be determined by the lex fori;<ref>j3 87. U. S.-Pr tchard v. Norton. 1 0 6 U. S. 1 2 4 . 1 set 1 0 2 . 27 L. ed. 1 0 4 ; Doll v. u. s. Equitable L. Assur. Soc.. 1 3 8 Fed. 705. 71 CCA 1 2 1 .<br />
Ala.-Helton v . Alabama Midland R. Co., 97 Ala. 275. 12 8 276. Conn.-Downer v. Chesebrough. a6 Conn. 39. 4 AmR 29.<br />
D. C.-National Express, e t c .• Co. v. Morris. 16 App. 262.<br />
Ga.-Richmond. etc.. R. Co. v. Mitchell. 92 Ga. 77. 18 SE 290.<br />
Ky.-Steele v. Curle. 4 Dana 381.<br />
Mass.-Hoadley v. Northern Transp. Co .. 115 Mass. 304. 16 AmR 106.<br />
Nebr.-Marvel v. Marvel. 70 Nebr. 4 98. 97 NW 6 40, 113 AmSR 792.<br />
N. Y.-Genet v. Delaware. etc.. Canal Co .• 56 N. Y. Super. 27. 4 NYS 880 [ mod on other gro unds 122 N. Y. 5 0 5 , 2 5 NE 9 2 2 ] ; Kirtland v. Wanzer. 9 N. Y. Super. 2 7 8 ; Bloomer v. Bloomer. 2 Bradt. Surr. 8 9 9 .<br />
Oh.-Tho mpson v. Citizens Nat. Bank, 3 2 Oh. Clr. Ct. 1 3 1 .<br />
Pa.-Musser v. Stautter, 1 9 2 Pa. 3 9 8. 4 3 A 1 0 1 8.<br />
R.I.-Winward v. Lincoln, 23 R. I 4 7 6 , 61 A 10 8.<br />
Va.-Unlon Cent. L. Ins. Co. v. Pol lard. 9 4 Va. 1 4 8 . 2 6 SE 4 2 1 . 6 4 A m S R 7 1 5 . 3 8 LRA 2 7 1 .<br />
Eng.-Wiedmann v . Waloole. [ 1 89 1 2 Q. B. 5 3 4 ; Brown v. Thornton. A . & E . 1 8 5 , 3 3 ECL 1 1 7. 1 1 2 Repri n 7 0 ; Acebal v. Levy, 10 B i n g. 3 76. 25 ECI. 1 8 0. " 1 3 1 Repri n t 9 4 9 ; Leroux v Brown. 1 2 C. B. 8 0 1 . 7 4 ECL 8 0 1 . 1 3 Repri n t 1 1 1 9 ; Bristow v . Sequevllle. 6 Exch. 2 7 6, 1 6 5 Reprint 1 1 8 ; Baln v. Whi tehaven . t>tc.. R. Co., 3 H. L. Cas. 1 . 1 0 Reprint 1 .<br />
"Whether a. witness Is competent or not : whether a certain matter re- quires t o be p roved by writin g or not : whether certain evidence proves a certai n tact or not : that Is to be determined b y the law o f the country where the question arises:· Per Lord Brougham In Baln v. Whi tehaven etc . • R. Co . • 3 H. L. Cas. 1, 1 9 , 10 Reprint 1 .<br />
'''[a] {{Quote|This is well illustrated''' in Leroux v. Brown. 1 4 Eng. L. & Eq. 247, In which It was held that an ac- tlon can not be mai n ta i ned In the courts ot England upon a parol con- trac t made In France. which was not to be performed w ! t:b ! n one year from the mak i n g thereof. although the contract was val i d by the laws of France. The case turned upon the question whether the statute made v o i d suc h contracts. It I t made them \" old. then, Inasmuch as the law of France governed the contract. the suit could be maintained. but It the statute appl ied to the remedy mere- ly. then, Inasmuch as the law of England governed the course of pro- cedure. no recoverv could be had.}} Marvel v. Marvel. 'TO Nebr. 49 8. 501. 97 NW 640. 113 AmSR 792.<br />
'''[b] Parol evidence.'''--The question whether a contract may be proved by parol. or whether written evidence must be adduced. and the question whether parol evidence may be received to show the actual agreement of the partlee to a blank Indorsemen t o f a negotiable Instrument, must be determined by the law of the state where the action I s brought. and not by that of the state where the eon - tract was made. Downer v. Chese- brough, 38 Conn. 8 9 . 4 AmR 29.</ref> this rule extends also to presumptions<ref>Hoadley v. Northern Transp. Co., 115 Mass. 804, 15 AmR 106.</ref> and
burden of proof.<ref>Atlanta, etc., R. Co. v. Broome, 3 Ga. A. 641, 60 SE 355.</ref>


===Particular Matters Affecting Remedy===
===Particular Matters Affecting Remedy===
====Statutes of Limitations====
====Statutes of Limitations====
Statutes of limitations, unless they discharge the debt, go merely to the remedy, and questions arising under them are to be determined by the law of the forum. And this rule applies to actions on foreign judgments or to those of courts of record of sister states as well as to actions on conventional contracts. But if the statute has run its course in the jurisdiction where the contract was made, and its effect there is to extinguish the obligation, this goes to the right and not merely to the remedy; and no action can thereafter be maintained on the contract in another jurisdiction. The validity of a contract limiting the time for bringing action is governed by the law of the forum.<ref>Missouri, etc., R. Co. v. Godair Commn. Co., 3 & Tex. Clv. A. 298, 87 S W 871.</ref> In some states, by express statutory provision, foreign statutes of limitation may be pleaded.


====Exemption Laws====
====Exemption Laws====
Exemption laws are considered as statutes affecting the remedy only, and have no extraterritorial force. Questions of exemption, therefore, are to be determined solely by the laws of the forum.
 


====Discharge in Bankruptcy or Insolvency====
====Discharge in Bankruptcy or Insolvency====
In an action on a contract defendant cannot set up as a defense a discharge under the bankruptcy or iosolvency laws of another state or country, unless the debt was created within the jurisdiction of the court granting the discharge, or unless the creditor voluntarily submitted himself to the jurisdiction of such court. A discharge under the Federal Bankruptcy Law, however, is available in any state.
 


====Protection from Civil Arrest====
====Protection from Civil Arrest====
The lex fori, and not the lex loci contractus, applies in regard to defendant's protection from arrest on civil process, inasmuch as such arrest is of the remedy and not of the right.


====Whether Instrument Is a Specialty====
====Whether Instrument Is a Specialty====
The remedy on a contract under seal, and the ques­tion whether a contract is under seal, are determined by the lex fori. If an instrument has a scrawl instead of a seal, it must be treated as a simple contract and sued on as such in a jurisdiction where a scrawl is not regarded as sufficient to create a specialty, whatever may be the lex loci contractus.<ref>Douglas v. Oldham, 6 N.H. 150; Andrews v. Herriot, 4 Cow. (N.Y.) 608.</ref>
 


====Whether Remedy Is at Law or in Equity====
====Whether Remedy Is at Law or in Equity====
If, where a contract is sought to be enforced, the remedy is in equity, a suit in equity must be brought, although the remedy may be at law in the jurisdiction where tlte contract was made.<ref>Burchard v. Dunbar, 82 Ill. 460, 25 AmR 334; Halley v. Ball, 66 Ill. 250.</ref>
 


=====Parties=====
=====Parties=====
So also the question as to who are the proper parties to the action is to be determined by the lex fori. And that law determines whether a suit is to be brought in the name of the assignor of the contract to the use of the assignee, or whether it shall be brought in the name of the assignee.
 


==Conflict of Laws as to Time==
==Conflict of Laws as to Time==
===In General===
===In General===
The validity of an agreement depends on the state of the law at the time it was entered into. A contract will be construed according to the law of the state, as interpreted by its courts, at the time the contract was made, and not in accordance with subsequent contrary decisions. The organization of a territory as a state will not affect rights under the existing contracts which are expressly saved.
 


===Agreement Illegal When Made but Afterward Legalized===
===Agreement Illegal When Made but Afterward Legalized===
If an agreement was illegal by statute, or on grounds of public policy, when made, it is not, according to the great weight of authority, rendered legal by repeal of the statute or by a subsequent change in public or legislative poliey, although a contract which provides for something known to the parties to be illegal at the time being done in the event and only in the event of ita becoming lawful is good, unless the thing is
of snch a character that its becoming lawful cannot be seriously contemplated. And where a person has received a benefit under an illegal contract, a promise by him to pay therefor, although made after the repeal of the statute which rendered the contract illegal, is not supported by a sufficient consideration.<ref>Ludlow v. Hardy, 38 Mich. 690; Puckett v. Alexander, 102 N.C. 95, 8 SE 767, 3 LRA 43; Dever v. Corcoran, 8 N.B. 338.</ref>


===Agreement Legal When Made but Afterward Prohibited===
===Agreement Legal When Made but Afterward Prohibited===
So a change in the law oannot make an agreement illegal which was legal when it was made, although it may be rendered unenforceable. Therefore, where an agreement is legal when entered into, and is afterward made illegal by statute, acts done under it while it remained legal are legal; and a contract that is valid when made is not affected by a change in the public policy of the state.<ref>Stephens v. Southern Pac. R. Co., 109 Cal. 86, 41 P 783, 50 AmSR 17, 29 LRA 751.</ref> An agreement made after the passage of a prohibiting statute, but before the act went into effect, is not affected by it.<ref>Armstrong v. Bufford, 51 Ala 410.</ref> But a contract is discharged by illegality supervening subsequently to the time of contracting, which may occur by a new statute or other act of public authority rendering the performance legally impossible,<ref>See [[Contracts/Illegality|Illegality]]</ref> unless the discharge is prevented by the constitutional prohibition of laws impairing the obligation of contracts.
 
 
 
 
 


==References==
==References==
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