Hassall, Trustee v. Wilcox & Others was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of whether a trustee had the right to bring a suit against a third party on behalf of the trust. The case involved a trust created by a man named William Wilcox, who had died in 1876. The trust was created to provide for the care of his wife and children. The trustee of the trust, William Hassall, brought a suit against the executors of Wilcox's estate, claiming that they had mismanaged the trust's funds. The executors argued that Hassall did not have the right to bring a suit against them on behalf of the trust. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of Hassall, finding that he did have the right to bring a suit against the executors on behalf of the trust. The Court held that a trustee has the right to bring a suit against a third party on behalf of the trust, provided that the trustee is acting in good faith and in the best interests of the trust. The Court also held that the trustee must be able to show that the third party has acted in a manner that is detrimental to the trust. This case established the principle that a trustee has the right to bring a suit against a third party on behalf of the trust.

In the case of Hassall, Trustee v. Wilcox & Others, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a trust created by an individual in his will could be enforced against creditors after that individual's death. The majority opinion held that such trusts were not enforceable and thus creditors had priority over beneficiaries when it came to collecting debts owed by the deceased person. Justice Field dissented from this decision and argued that trusts should be recognized as valid legal instruments which can be enforced against creditors even after death. He reasoned that if individuals are allowed to create wills for their own benefit during life, then they should also have the right to create trusts for their own benefit upon death without fear of interference from creditors or other third parties who may seek repayment of any outstanding debts owed by them at time of passing away. Furthermore, he noted that allowing these types of post-death trusts would provide greater protection for those with limited financial means since they would no longer need worry about having all their assets seized upon death in order satisfy debt obligations