Coolidge et. al. v. Payson et. al was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1817 that dealt with the issue of whether or not an individual could be held liable for debts incurred by another person, even if they had no knowledge of those debts prior to assuming ownership of property from them. The court ultimately ruled that individuals are only responsible for their own debts and cannot be held accountable for any debt obligations assumed through inheritance or other means without their consent or knowledge beforehand. This ruling established precedent which has been used in many subsequent cases involving similar issues regarding personal liability and responsibility when it comes to inherited assets and liabilities alike, setting forth clear guidelines as to what is legally permissible under such circumstances going forward into modern times today

In Coolidge et. al v. Payson et. al, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a deed of land that had been given by an Indian tribe to two individuals could be enforced against another individual who claimed title from the same tribe and whose claim was prior in time but not recorded until after the deed in question had been executed and delivered. The majority opinion held that such a deed should be considered valid, as it would have otherwise created uncertainty regarding titles granted by Indians which would undermine their ability to make contracts with settlers or other parties for sale of lands they owned or occupied. However, Justice Story dissented on this point arguing that while he agreed with the general principle established by his colleagues, he felt that there were certain exceptions where deeds made subsequent to earlier unrecorded claims should not be enforced if those earlier claims were known at the time of execution and delivery of later deeds; namely when both parties are claiming under one common source - here being an Indian Tribe - then any grantee taking possession afterwards must take notice of all prior grants even if they are unrecorded so long as they can prove knowledge thereof at some point before executing their own grant document.