Hall v. Allen, Assignee was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1871. The case involved a dispute between two parties over a contract for the sale of a steamboat. The plaintiff, Hall, had entered into a contract with the defendant, Allen, to purchase a steamboat for $2,000. Hall paid the full amount, but Allen failed to deliver the boat. Hall then sued Allen for breach of contract. The Supreme Court held that Hall was entitled to recover the full amount of the purchase price, plus interest, from Allen. The Court reasoned that Allen had breached the contract by failing to deliver the boat, and that Hall was entitled to recover the full amount of the purchase price, plus interest, as damages for the breach. The Court also held that Hall was entitled to recover the costs of the suit from Allen. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that Hall was entitled to recover the full amount of the purchase price, plus interest, from Allen for breach of contract. The Court also held that Hall was entitled to recover the costs of the suit from Allen.

In the case of Hall v. Allen, Assignee, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties could be enforced by one party's assignee. The majority opinion held that it could not because there had been no consideration given for such an assignment and thus it violated public policy. However, Justice Field dissented from this decision on the grounds that contracts should be enforced according to their terms regardless of any considerations or lack thereof in assigning them. He argued that if a contract is validly made between two parties then its enforcement should not depend upon how those rights are subsequently transferred; rather, they should remain enforceable as long as all other conditions have been met and nothing has changed since the original agreement was entered into. Furthermore, he noted that allowing assignments would provide greater flexibility in business transactions which would ultimately benefit society at large by encouraging economic growth and development through increased commerce opportunities.