Carson Pirie Scott & Co. v. Hyde

Carson Pirie Scott & Company brought action against John A. Hyde and his wife under the so-called Family Expense Act (section 15 of the Husband and Wife Act) to recover for goods purchased by the wife. The parties stipulated to the facts after which judgment was entered for the plaintiff. Defendant John A. Hyde appeals directly to this court, seeking to avoid liability on the ground that the statute is unconstitutional.

The Family Expense Act provides that “The expenses of the family and of the education of the children shall be chargeable upon the property of both husband and wife, or of…