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Thompson v. Thompson, 218 U.S. 611 (1910)
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General SummaryThis case is from a collection containing the full text of over 16,000 Supreme Court cases from 1793 to the present. The body of Supreme Court decisions are, effectively, the final interpretation of the Constitution. Only an amendment to the Constitution can permanently overturn an interpretation and this has happened only four times in American history.
Thompson v. Thompson, 218 U.S. 611 (1910)
Thompson v. Thompson No. 17 Argued October 27, 1910 Decided December 12, 1910 218 U.S. 611
ERROR TO THE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Syllabus
At common law, husband and wife were regarded as one, the legal existence of the latter during coverture being merged in that of the former.
Statutes passed in pursuance of a more liberal and general policy of emancipation of the wife from the husband’s control differ in terms, and each must be construed with a view to effectuate the legislative intent leading to its enactment.
In construing a statute, the courts must have in mind the old law and the change intended to be effected by the passage of the new.
While, by § 1155 and other sections of the Code of the District of Columbia the common law was changed by conferring additional rights on married women and the right to sue separately for redress of wrongs concerning the same, it was not the intention of Congress to revolutionize the law governing the relation of husband and wife between themselves.
Under the existing statutes, a wife cannot maintain an action in the District of Columbia against the husband to recover damages for an assault and battery by him upon her person.
While the wife may resort to the chancery court to protect her separate property rights, quaere, and not decided, whether she alone may bring an action against the husband to protect such rights.
31 App.D.C. 557 affirmed.
The facts, which involve the right of a wife to maintain an action in the District of Columbia against her husband to recover damages for an assault and battery, are stated in the opinion.
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Chicago: U.S. Supreme Court, "Syllabus," Thompson v. Thompson, 218 U.S. 611 (1910) in 218 U.S. 611 218 U.S. 614. Original Sources, accessed November 24, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=6FNLV2DZBE42RRJ.
MLA: U.S. Supreme Court. "Syllabus." Thompson v. Thompson, 218 U.S. 611 (1910), in 218 U.S. 611, page 218 U.S. 614. Original Sources. 24 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=6FNLV2DZBE42RRJ.
Harvard: U.S. Supreme Court, 'Syllabus' in Thompson v. Thompson, 218 U.S. 611 (1910). cited in 1910, 218 U.S. 611, pp.218 U.S. 614. Original Sources, retrieved 24 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=6FNLV2DZBE42RRJ.
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