Eunson v. Dodge was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of whether a contract between two parties was valid. The case involved a contract between Eunson and Dodge, in which Eunson agreed to sell Dodge a large quantity of lumber. The contract was made orally, and Eunson had already begun to deliver the lumber when Dodge refused to pay for it. Eunson then sued Dodge for breach of contract. The Supreme Court held that the contract was valid and enforceable. The Court noted that the contract was made orally, but that it was still binding under the law. The Court also noted that Eunson had already begun to deliver the lumber, and that this was evidence of the contract's validity. The Court held that Dodge was liable for breach of contract and ordered him to pay Eunson for the lumber. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that the contract between Eunson and Dodge was valid and enforceable. The Court noted that the contract was made orally, but that it was still binding under the law. The Court also noted that Eunson had already begun to deliver the lumber, and that this was evidence of the contract's validity. The Court held that Dodge was liable for breach of contract and ordered him to pay Eunson for the lumber.

In Eunson v. Dodge, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties could be enforced when one of them had died before it was executed. The majority opinion held that the contract could not be enforced because it had not been signed by both parties while they were alive and thus did not meet all of the requirements for a valid contract under state law. Justice Field dissented from this decision, arguing that there should have been an exception made in this case since both parties intended to enter into a binding agreement and their intentions should take precedence over technicalities such as signing documents while still living. He argued that if exceptions were allowed in cases like these then contracts would become more reliable and enforceable which would benefit society as whole by encouraging people to enter into agreements with confidence knowing they will be upheld even if one party dies before executing them.