Bates v. Cashman

Bates (plaintiff) and Cashman (defendant) contracted for Cashman to purchase stocks and bonds representing control of real property owned by Newburyport Cordage Company. During negotiations, Bates represented that the company owned a right of way that substantially increased the property's value; unbeknownst to Bates, this representation was false. When Bates later sued to enforce the contract, Cashman argued he was induced to sign based on Bates's false representation and should not be bound.