In Batchelor v. Brereton & Another, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties was valid. The contract in question was between a husband and wife, and it provided that the husband would pay the wife a certain sum of money in exchange for her relinquishing her right to alimony. The wife argued that the contract was invalid because it was against public policy. The Supreme Court held that the contract was valid. The Court reasoned that the contract was not against public policy because it was a voluntary agreement between two competent parties. Furthermore, the Court noted that the contract did not involve any illegal activity or fraud. The Court also noted that the contract was not against public policy because it did not involve any public interest. The Court concluded that the contract was valid and enforceable. The Court held that the wife was not entitled to alimony because she had voluntarily relinquished her right to it. The Court also held that the husband was entitled to the money he had agreed to pay the wife in exchange for her relinquishing her right to alimony.

In the case of Batchelor v. Brereton & Another, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties could be enforced when one party had not received full payment for their services. The majority opinion held that since there was no evidence of fraud or mistake in the transaction, and since both parties were aware of what they were agreeing to at the time, then it should be enforced as written. However, Justice Field dissented from this decision and argued that even if there is no evidence of fraud or mistake in a contract dispute such as this one, courts must still consider other factors before enforcing it fully. He argued that equity demands consideration for any hardship suffered by either party due to an unequal exchange; thus he believed that some form of compensation should have been given to Batchelor despite his lack of proof regarding fraud or mistake on behalf of Brereton & Another.