Van Staphorst v. Maryland, , was the first case docketed with the United States Supreme Court. Although the court agreed to hear and decide the case, the suit was settled before oral arguments. Collet v. Collet was the first appellate case docketed with the court, but it was dropped before arguments. West v. Barnes was the first case decided by the court. In the case, the Nicolaas and Jacob van Staphorst lent money to the State of Maryland during the Revolutionary War. Maryland refused to pay back the loan according to the terms the Van Staphorst brothers demanded. After the threat of Supreme Court litigation, the parties finally settled with each other. Background In 1781 the State of Maryland appointed Thomas Ridley to act as an agent for the procurement of loans and supplies. The legislature specified specific values that Ridley was to observe as minimum values for flour and tobacco that would be used to repay the loan. Arriving in Europe Ridley was unsuccessful in France and went to Holland. There after an initial attempt a deal was made with Jacob and Nicolaas Van Staphorst for a modest loan. Under the terms of the loan 300,000 to 600,000 florins of credit were extended on terms similar to those extended to John Adams for the Continental Congress. Instead of receiving money as repayment the Van Staphorst Brothers would receive tobacco as interest. The main issue was the portion of the agreements pertaining to the 1000 hogshead of tobacco to be paid as interest. Under the agreement, Van Staphorst would buy the tobacco at a fixed price and resell it. If a lesser amount satisfied the interest due, then the remainder would still be purchased at the lower price for resale and profit by the Van Staphorsts'. When the legislature realized that an agreement had been reached at their minimum price in conjunction with the end of the war, they realized that the tobacco was worth considerably more than what they would be required to sell it for. The legislature still ratified the loan based on the idea that the wording would change and only the portion to satisfy the interest would be required. However, this was not to be the case. Ridley, attempted to change this with the Van Staphorst but they refused. Despite the disagreement over the implementation, Ridley continued to attempt a resolution. By 1784 the Van Staphorst