The Law To Know

Case Briefs

Real, decided cases — 24 briefs so far, organized by course. Each one covers the facts, the issue, the holding, the court’s reasoning, and why the case still matters today. Every citation, fact, and holding is checked against real sources before publishing — never invented, never AI-generated from memory alone. Part of the All-Access catalog, alongside the courses.

Contract Law

Consequential Damages & Foreseeability

Paid

Hadley v. Baxendale

156 Eng. Rep. 145, 9 Ex. 341 (1854) — Court of Exchequer (England), 1854

Objective Theory of Assent

Paid

Lucy v. Zehmer

196 Va. 493, 84 S.E.2d 516 (1954) — Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, 1954

Expectation Damages

Paid

Hawkins v. McGee

84 N.H. 114, 146 A. 641 (1929) — Supreme Court of New Hampshire, 1929

Substantial Performance

Paid

Jacob & Youngs, Inc. v. Kent

230 N.Y. 239, 129 N.E. 889 (1921) — New York Court of Appeals, 1921

Tort Law

Duty & Proximate Cause

Paid

Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co.

248 N.Y. 339, 162 N.E. 99 (1928) — New York Court of Appeals, 1928

Product Liability & Privity

Paid

MacPherson v. Buick Motor Co.

217 N.Y. 382, 111 N.E. 1050 (1916) — New York Court of Appeals, 1916

The Negligence Calculus (Hand Formula)

Paid

United States v. Carroll Towing Co.

159 F.2d 169 (2d Cir. 1947) — United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1947

Privilege to Use Force in Defense of Property

Paid

Katko v. Briney

183 N.W.2d 657 (Iowa 1971) — Supreme Court of Iowa, 1971

Criminal Law

Actus Reus & Mens Rea

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Regina v. Cunningham

[1957] 2 Q.B. 396 — Court of Appeal (England), 1957

Homicide (Premeditation & Deliberation)

Paid

Commonwealth v. Carroll

412 Pa. 525, 194 A.2d 911 (1963) — Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1963

Inchoate Offenses (Attempt)

Paid

People v. Rizzo

246 N.Y. 334, 158 N.E. 888 (1927) — New York Court of Appeals, 1927

Defenses (Insanity)

Paid

M'Naghten's Case

10 Cl. & Fin. 200, 8 Eng. Rep. 718 (1843) — House of Lords (England), 1843

Constitutional Law

Judicial Review

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Marbury v. Madison

5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137 (1803) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1803

Federalism & Implied Powers

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McCulloch v. Maryland

17 U.S. (4 Wheat.) 316 (1819) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1819

Equal Protection

Paid

Brown v. Board of Education

347 U.S. 483 (1954) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1954

First Amendment (Student Speech)

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Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District

393 U.S. 503 (1969) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1969

Property Law

First Possession & Acquisition of Property

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Pierson v. Post

3 Cai. R. 175, 2 Am. Dec. 264 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1805) — Supreme Court of New York, 1805

Servitudes & the State Action Doctrine

Paid

Shelley v. Kraemer

334 U.S. 1 (1948) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1948

Land Use Regulation & Takings

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Kelo v. City of New London

545 U.S. 469 (2005) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2005

Landlord-Tenant Law

Paid

Javins v. First National Realty Corp.

428 F.2d 1071 (D.C. Cir. 1970) — United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 1970

Civil Procedure

Jurisdiction & Venue

Paid

International Shoe Co. v. Washington

326 U.S. 310 (1945) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1945

The Erie Doctrine

Paid

Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins

304 U.S. 64 (1938) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1938

Pleadings

Paid

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly

550 U.S. 544 (2007) — Supreme Court of the United States, 2007

Preclusion

Paid

Parklane Hosiery Co. v. Shore

439 U.S. 322 (1979) — Supreme Court of the United States, 1979

These briefs summarize real, publicly decided court opinions for educational purposes. They are not legal advice, and are not a substitute for reading the full opinion when accuracy matters for real work. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance on any specific situation.