Thomas M. League brought a case against Cyrus W. Egery, Joseph F. Smith and Sarah A. Smith, Administratrix in the United States Supreme Court in 1860. The dispute was over an agreement between League and Egery to purchase land from the latter for $1,500 with payment of half due at signing of contract and balance within one year after date of deed delivery; however, no deed was ever delivered by either party as part of this agreement or any other transaction related thereto. The court found that there had been no actual transfer or conveyance made by either party so therefore neither could claim title to the property nor enforce their rights under the contract since it had not been executed according to its terms; thus both parties were held liable for breach of contract but without damages being awarded because none could be proven on behalf of either side due to lack evidence presented regarding performance or non-performance thereof by each respective party involved in this matter before the court's ruling was issued..

In Thomas M. League v. Cyrus W. Egery, Joseph F. Smith, and Sarah A. Smith, the dissenting opinion argued that the plaintiff had a valid claim to an estate in dispute due to his being named as a beneficiary in the will of William Egery Sr., who died intestate (without leaving a will). The majority opinion held that since no probate court was ever established for William's estate, there could be no legal recognition of any rights or claims by anyone involved with it; however, Justice Catron dissented from this ruling on two grounds: firstly he argued that under Tennessee law at the time such an action should have been recognized even without formal probate proceedings; secondly he noted that if such proceedings were necessary then they had already taken place when letters of administration were granted to Sarah A. Smith - thus making her administratrix and giving her authority over all matters relating to William's estate including recognizing League's right as one of its beneficiaries according to his father’s wishes expressed in his last will and testament before dying intestate himself