In Peter K. Wagner, et al v John Baird and others, the Supreme Court of the United States heard a case involving land in Louisiana that had been granted to two individuals by Spain before it ceded control of the territory to France in 1800. The complainants argued that they were entitled to ownership of this land based on their descent from one of those original grantees. However, respondents contended that since France had taken possession after 1800, any rights held by Spanish grantees were extinguished under French law. Ultimately, the court ruled against the complainants and found that no title could be established due to changes in sovereignty between Spain and France following 1800.

In the case of Peter K. Wagner, et al v. John Baird and Others, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a Louisiana state court had jurisdiction over a dispute involving land located in both Tennessee and Kentucky. The majority opinion held that it did not have such jurisdiction because the two states were separate sovereigns with their own laws governing property rights within their borders. However, Justice McLean dissented from this decision on the grounds that since all parties involved were citizens of Louisiana at the time of filing suit, they should be allowed to litigate in a single forum rather than having to file multiple suits in different courts across multiple jurisdictions. He argued that allowing them access to one court would save time and money while also providing more efficient resolution for disputes between citizens of one state who owned land outside its boundaries.