Speelman v. Pascal
Court of Appeals of New York
178 N.E.2d 723 (1961)
Relevant factsFree
While unsuccessfully trying to arrange Lerner and Loewe to produce a musical adaptation of "Pygmalion," Pascal wrote and delivered a letter to Speelman (plaintiff) confirming a gift of specific shares of his future royalties from any such adaptation; after Pascal's death, his estate's administrator succeeded in producing "My Fair Lady" with Lerner and Loewe before the underlying rights expired, and the estate (defendant) disputed Speelman's entitlement to the assigned royalty share.
IssueFree
Whether, where a letter assigns the right to receive a share of future profits that may or may not come into existence, delivery of the letter constitutes a present and enforceable gift.