The People of the State of New York, Appellants v. William C. Stephens, Respondents; the Same Appellants v…

Summary

The Court affirmed the nonsuits, holding that the Legislature’s acts of 1868 and 1870 expressly waived the State’s right to recover damages for contracts procured by fraud, thereby ratifying the contracts and barring the plaintiffs’ claims; the Court also affirmed that the State is bound by its officers’ acts and cannot rescind contracts after affirming performance with full knowledge of the fraud.