Riggs v. Lindsay was a case heard before the United States Supreme Court in 1813. The dispute arose when Thomas Riggs, an administrator of the estate of John Lindsay, sued for payment on a promissory note that had been issued by John and endorsed to him. The defendant argued that he should not be held liable because he did not sign the note himself and therefore could not be bound by it. However, the court ruled in favor of Riggs, finding that although there was no signature from either party present on the document itself, both parties were aware of its contents and agreed to abide by them as evidenced by their conduct after its issuance. Furthermore, they found that even if one party does not sign a contract or agreement but is aware of its terms and agrees to them orally or through other means such as correspondence or verbal communication then they are still legally bound under those terms just like any other contract signed with ink on paper would bind two parties together.

In Riggs v. Lindsay, the Supreme Court had to decide whether a state court could exercise jurisdiction over an action brought by citizens of one state against citizens of another in which the cause of action arose from a contract made in the former. The majority opinion held that it was within the power and authority of such courts to do so, but Justice Story dissented on this point. He argued that while states have concurrent jurisdiction with federal courts over certain matters arising under contracts between citizens of different states, they are not empowered to take cognizance or adjudicate upon any case where there is no local law applicable or where its decision would be contrary to some existing rule established by Congress for regulating commerce among them. Furthermore, he maintained that if such cases were allowed into state courts then it would lead to conflicting decisions and create confusion as well as uncertainty about what laws applied when parties entered into interstate agreements.