James G. Wilson brought a case against Joseph Turner, Junior and John C. Turner to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1846. The dispute was over an unpaid debt that had been contracted by James G. Wilson with Joseph Turner, Senior (the father of both defendants). After his death, it was claimed that his sons were liable for this debt as they had assumed responsibility for their father's estate upon his passing away without leaving a will or making any other arrangements regarding payment of debts he owed prior to his death. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of James G. Wilson and held that when someone assumes control over another person’s estate after their death without having been appointed executor or administrator by law, they are responsible for paying off all outstanding debts from said estate before distributing assets among heirs according to state laws governing intestate succession (inheritance where no will exists).

In the case of James G. Wilson v Joseph Turner, Junior and John C. Turner, Justice McLean delivered a dissenting opinion in which he argued that the court should have granted relief to Wilson on his claim for damages against the Turners. He noted that there was evidence presented at trial showing that they had acted fraudulently by inducing him to enter into an agreement with them without disclosing material facts about their title to certain lands in dispute. Furthermore, he argued that even if it could be established that they did not act fraudulently, then under common law principles of equity and justice Wilson still deserved compensation for his losses due to their breach of contract or other wrongful acts committed against him. In conclusion, Justice McLean believed strongly enough in this argument to dissent from the majority opinion denying relief for Wilson's claims against the Turners.