Cross Lake Club v. Louisiana, 224 U.S. 632 (1912)

Cross Lake Shooting and Fishing Club v. Louisiana

No. 46

Argued April 18, 1912
Decided May 13, 1912
224 U.S. 632

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

Syllabus

The contract clause of the federal Constitution is not directed against all impairment of contract obligations, but only against such as result from a subsequent exertion of the legislative power of the state.

The contract clause does not reach mere errors committed by a state court when passing upon the validity and effect of a contract under the laws existing when it was made, and even if such errors operated to impair the contract obligation, there is no federal question, in the absence of a subsequent law, on which to rest the decision of the state court.

Where the state court has decided that the plaintiff in error never acquired title because the grant was not one in praesenti, but depended upon conditions subsequent which had never been fulfilled, and rests its judgment on that fact alone, and not on the effect of a subsequent statute which might have affected the title had the title of plaintiff in error been perfected, there is no federal question.

Writ of error to review 123 La. 208 dismissed.

The facts are stated in the opinion.