The United States brought an appeal against Jean Baptiste D'Auterieve, Ponponne Le Blanc and others, the heirs and legal representatives of Jean Antoine Bernard D'Auterieve. The case was based on a dispute over land in Louisiana that had been granted to the deceased by Spain before it ceded Louisiana to France in 1800. The Supreme Court held that under Spanish law, which governed at the time of grant, title passed from Spain to the grantee upon delivery of possession; therefore, when France acquired Louisiana from Spain in 1800 it did not acquire any rights or interests with respect to this particular property. As such, no further action was required for confirmation or recognition by either France or later by the United States after its acquisition of Louisiana through purchase in 1803.

In the dissenting opinion of this case, Justice Daniel argued that the United States had no right to sue Jean Baptiste D'Auterieve and Ponponne Le Blanc as legal representatives of Jean Antoine Bernard D'Auterieve. He reasoned that since they were not parties to any contract with the government, they could not be held liable for any debt owed by their predecessor. Furthermore, he noted that there was no evidence presented in court which showed a transfer of ownership from Jean Antoine Bernard D’Auterive to his heirs or successors. Therefore, Justice Daniel concluded that it would be unjust for them to pay off a debt incurred before their time without having received anything in return.