Hurtt v. Stirone

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Eagen,

This case presents two appeals from a judgment entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.

The factual background is as follows:

The plaintiff, Trustee in Bankruptcy of the Estate of William G. Rider, individually and trading as Rider Supply Company and Rider Construction Company, bankrupt, brought this action of assumpsit in his capacity as trustee to recover a sum of money paid by Rider to the defendant as the result of extortionate threats.

Rider was engaged in construction work, and also in the business of supplying building materials to general…