Case of Sutton's Hospital

Sutton's Hospital was a legal case in England during the 17th century. The case is notable for its impact on the development of trust law in England and Wales.

Background

The case of Sutton's Hospital, also known as The Case of Charitable Uses, was a legal dispute that arose in 1612. The case involved the establishment of a charitable trust for the creation of a hospital, which was to be known as Sutton's Hospital. The hospital was founded by Thomas Sutton, a wealthy English landowner and moneylender.

Legal Dispute

The legal dispute arose when relatives of Thomas Sutton challenged the validity of the charitable trust. They argued that the trust was invalid because it violated the Statute of Uses, a law that was enacted in 1535 to regulate the use of land. The relatives claimed that the trust was a device to avoid the Statute of Uses and that it should therefore be declared invalid.

Judgment

The case was heard by the Court of Chancery, which was the court responsible for dealing with matters relating to trusts and estates. The court ruled in favor of the hospital, holding that the trust was valid. The court found that the Statute of Uses did not apply to charitable trusts and that the trust established by Thomas Sutton was therefore valid.

Impact

The judgment in Sutton's Hospital case had a significant impact on the development of trust law in England and Wales. It established the principle that charitable trusts are exempt from the Statute of Uses. This principle has been incorporated into modern trust law and continues to be applied today.

See Also

• Trust law
• Charitable trust
• Statute of Uses
• Court of Chancery

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