Great Western Serum Company v. United States/Opinion of the Court

by James Clark McReynolds

United States Supreme Court

254 U.S. 240

Great Western Serum Company  v.  United States

 Argued: Nov. 12, 1920. --- Decided: Dec 6, 1920

The Serum Company sued to recover the value of anti-hog cholera serum, anti-cholera virus, and serum blood, seized without agreement to purchase by agents of the Bureau of Animal Industry in November, § 914, and thereafter destroyed. Judgment went for the defendant, and we are asked to reverse it upon the ground that—

'As a conclusion of law the court should have found that the Act of Congress of March 4, 1915, created an obligation to pay for the appellant's materials, and that the facts show an implied contract to purchase and to pay for such materials.'

'In case of an emergency arising out of the existence of foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, contagious pleuro pneumonia, or other contagious or infectious disease of animals, which in the opinion of the Secretary of Agriculture threatens the live stock industry of the country, he may expend in the city of Washington or elsewhere, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $2,500,000, which sum is hereby appropriated, or so much thereof as he determines to be necessary, in the arrest and eradication of any such disease, including the payment of claims growing out of past and future purchases and destruction, in co-operation with the states, of animals affected by or exposed to, or of materials contaminated by or exposed to, any such disease, wherever found and irrespective of ownership, under like or substantially similar circumstances, when such owner has complied with all quarantine regulations, and said sum shall be immediately available for the purposes specified.' 38 Stat. 1115.

There was no purchase of the destroyed articles or agreement therefor-none is claimed-and we think it quite clear that no contractual obligation by the United States to pay for them can be implied from the act itself.

Affirmed.

Notes