Polk’s Lessee v. Wendell et al. was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1820 that dealt with the issue of whether or not an individual could be held liable for debts incurred by another person, even if they were unaware of them at the time of purchase. The court ruled that individuals are responsible for any debt associated with property they purchase, regardless of their knowledge or lack thereof regarding said debt. This ruling established a precedent which has been used to determine liability in similar cases since then and is still relevant today when it comes to determining responsibility for debts related to real estate purchases and other transactions involving personal property.

In Polk's Lessee v. Wendell et al., the Supreme Court was tasked with deciding whether a tenant in possession of land had standing to bring an ejectment suit against another party claiming title to the same property. The majority opinion held that tenants in possession did not have such standing, as they were not considered legal owners of the property and therefore could not sue for it. However, Justice Story dissented from this ruling on two grounds: firstly, he argued that tenants should be allowed to maintain suits when their rights are infringed upon by third parties; secondly, he contended that even if tenants do lack ownership status under common law principles, they still possess certain equitable interests which entitle them to protection through judicial action. In conclusion, Justice Story believed that allowing tenants in possession access to courts would promote justice and prevent injustice between litigants who may otherwise be unable or unwilling to protect their own interests without assistance from the judiciary system.