District of Columbia v. Lyon

Citations

• 161 U.S. 200
• 16 S. Ct. 450
• 40 L. Ed. 670
• 1896 U.S. LEXIS 2155

Syllabus

<p>Land in the city of Washington was sold, for non-payment of certificates issued by the city goverment for the cost of local improvements, and was bought in by the holder of the certificates for the sum which they represented. The sale was set aside for defects caused by the negligence of the officers of the city government in failing to make assessments as required by law. The purchaser then sued the District of Columbia, which had succeeded to the city government of Washington, to recover the value of the original certificates. Held, that as the work was done in pursuance of a valid contract, of which the city and the District received the benefit, and as the required assessment had not been made, through the failure of the city and the District, the District became liable, and the certificates were valid obligations against it.</p>