UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

In order to maintain an action for deceit, it is not only necessary to establish the telling of an untruth, knowing it to be such, with intent to induce the person to whom it is told to alter his condition, but also that he did alter his condition in consequence, and suffered damage thereby, and if it appear affirmatively that although he altered his condition after hearing the untruth, he was not induced to do it in consequence thereof, but did it independently, the action fails.

On the facts proved in this case, the plaintiff has no cause of action founded on contract.

The facts are stated in the opinion of the court.