In Fleitas v. Cockrem, the United States Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties was valid and enforceable. The contract in question was between a husband and wife, and it provided that the husband would pay the wife a certain amount of money each month for the rest of her life. The husband had failed to make the payments, and the wife sued him for breach of contract. The Supreme Court held that the contract was valid and enforceable. The Court noted that the contract was not against public policy, and that it was not contrary to any law or statute. The Court also noted that the contract was not unconscionable, and that it was not against the interests of either party. The Court concluded that the contract was valid and enforceable, and that the husband was liable for breach of contract.

In Fleitas v. Cockrem, the United States Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a contract between two parties that had been partially performed could be enforced by one of the parties against the other. The majority opinion held that it could not, as there was no consideration for either party to enforce such an agreement. However, Justice Field dissented from this ruling and argued that partial performance should be sufficient consideration to make a contract binding on both parties. He reasoned that if one party has already begun performing their part of the agreement then they have provided something of value in exchange for what is due them under the terms of said agreement; thus making it valid and legally enforceable even though only partially completed at time of dispute.