Lassen v. Karrer

This action was brought to recover $500, lost to defendant by plaintiff by betting on the result of an election. At the common law, one who lost money in prohibited gaming or betting could not recover, the rule, in the absence of statute, being that the law will leave the parties in pari delicto where it finds them. This has been so universally held that it is not necessary to support the proposition by authority. In fact, the doctrine is not controverted in this case; but the plaintiff contends — and the circuit judge sustained the contention —that the plaintiff had a right of action by our…