Inhabitants of Dedham v. Inhabitants of Milton
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Contract for expenses incurred by the plaintiff town from August 18, 1879, to October 13, 1881, in the support of Mary Cavanaugh, whose settlement was alleged to be in the defendant town.
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Contract for expenses incurred by the plaintiff town from August 18, 1879, to October 13, 1881, in the support of Mary Cavanaugh, whose settlement was alleged to be in the defendant town. The case was submitted to the Superior Court, and, after judgment for the plaintiff, to this court on appeal, upon agreed facts, in substance as follows: The support was properly furnished to the pauper by the plaintiff; proper and sufficient notices thereof were given to the defendant; and reasonable and sufficient answers to such notices were made by the defendant, denying any settlement in the defendant…
1Opinion of the CourtDevens, J.
The Legislature may charge upon the cities and towns the burden of supporting the poor in any manner it deems consistent with justice. This may be done by statutes retroactive in their character, based upon supposed benefits derived *426from previous residence, ownership or occupancy of property, payment of taxes, or other facts, which may have occurred previously to the enactment; and the date of such liability may be arbitrarily fixed, as of that of the enactment, of the occurrence of the events upon which it is made to depend, or of any other time. There are no constitutional objections to…
2Cases cited6 opinions
- City of Somerville v. City of BostonMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1876
- Endicott v. Inhabitants of HopkintonMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1878
- City of Worcester v. City of SpringfieldMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1879
- City of Fitchburg v. Inhabitants of AshbyMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1882
- Inhabitants of Lunenburg v. Inhabitants of ShirleyMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1882
1 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by5 opinions
- City of Cambridge v. Town of West SpringfieldMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1939
- Bradford v. City of WorcesterMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1904
- Treasurer & Receiver General v. Town of DedhamMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1938
- Inhabitants of Williamsburg v. Inhabitants of AdamsMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1903
- City of Worcester v. Inhabitants of Great BarringtonMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1885