In Thomas Griffin and Hugh Ervin v. Robert Thompson, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that a contract between two parties was valid even if it had been made without consideration. The case involved an agreement between Griffin and Ervin to buy land from Thompson in exchange for $1,000. When they failed to pay on time, Thompson sued them for breach of contract. The court found that although there was no consideration given by either party at the time of making the agreement, it still constituted a binding contract because both parties agreed to its terms voluntarily and with full knowledge of their obligations under it. This ruling established that contracts can be legally enforceable even when not supported by any form of consideration or payment from one party to another as long as all other elements are present such as mutual assent and capacity to enter into agreements.

In Thomas Griffin and Hugh Ervin v. Robert Thompson, 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 completed. The majority opinion held that the contract should not be enforced because it had been made with an individual who no longer existed in law. However, Justice McLean dissented from this decision and argued that contracts are binding on both parties regardless of death or disability unless they have specifically stated otherwise in their agreement. He further noted that if such agreements were not enforceable after death, then creditors would suffer greatly as they would never receive payment for goods or services provided prior to someone's passing away. As such, he concluded that contracts should remain valid even if one party has passed away since its formation so long as there is sufficient evidence proving its existence and terms at the time of execution by both sides involved