New York Court of Appeals
Charles I. Baldwin, Respondents v. the United States Telegraph Company, Appellants
June 6, 187145 N.Y. 744
Summary
The Court reversed the judgment awarding special damages to the plaintiffs, holding that the United States Telegraph Company was not liable for the loss incurred from the non‑delivery of a telegraph message because no agency or partnership existed with the other carrier and the plaintiffs' special purpose was unknown to the defendant, limiting damages to the ordinary cost of transmission.