KILPATRICK
v.
TEXAS & PACIFIC RAILWAY CO.
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The Court held that the district court acted within its statutory authority in transferring the case under 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
Petitioner, injured in an accident, sued respondent railroad under the FELA in New York, but the suit was dismissed for improper venue. After an appea…
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Mr. Chief Justice Vinson delivered the opinion of the Court.
This litigation has a rather involved history. In 1946, while in the employ of respondent railroad, petitioner was seriously injured in an accident at Big Spring, Texas. Petitioner promptly brought suit under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act1 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. That court dismissed the action on the ground that the railroad could not properly be served in that district. 72 F. Supp. 635 (1947).. Petitioner appealed from this dismissal;, and, some days after taking the appeal, instituted an action in the District Court for the Northern District of Texas.’ An answer was filed in the latter action and a number of depositions were taken.
In March, 1948, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that the railroad was subject to service in New York. 166 F. 2d 788. Thereupon petitioner moved to dismiss his Texas action.. When the district court refused to dismiss, petitioner appealed and also applied for a writ of prohibition to the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. That court declined to issue the writ. 167 F. 2d 471 (1948). In No. 275, petitioner fequests this Court to issue a writ of certiorari to review the Court of Appeals action. And in No. 119 Misc., we are. asked to issue a writ, of prohibition directing the District Court for the Northern District-of Texas not to proceed with the trial.. We are advised that counsel have arranged that further, progress of the Texas trial shall be held in a-beyance pending our decision. We are this day denying those petitions. See post, p. 912.
When the New York cause was returned to the district court, after we had denied the railroad’s petition for eertiorani to review the Court of Appeals’ determination that it might be sued there; 335 U. S. 814 (1948), petitioner moved for a preference in the order of trial. The court below, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, denied this motion. Respondent filed a cross-motion for an order transferring the action to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. This motion was granted. The order of transfer relies on the .authority of 28 U. S. C. § 1404 (a),2 and cites Hayes v. Chicago, R. I. & P. R. Co., 79 F. Supp. 821 (1948), and Nunn v. Chicago, M., St. P. & P. R. Co., 80 F. Supp. 745 (1948). To nullify this order, petitioner moved this Court for leave to file a petition for a writ of certiorari or a writ of mandamus or any appropriate relief. We assigned the casé for hearing on the motion for leave to file. 335 U. S. 897 (1948).
In support of his motion, petitioner urges that the general purposes of the 1948 revision of Title 28 by the Congress indicate no intention to “emasculate” the right to choose venue afforded under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act; that “any civil action,” as used in .§ 1404 (a) of the Code, refers only toJcivil actions-specified in the Venue Chapter of Title 28 (§§ 1391-1406, inclusive); and that the court below “ignored the known temper of legislative opinion” as revealed chiefly by Congressional action on the Jennings Bill.
We fail to see anything in these contentions which can distinguish this case from Ex parte"Collett, decided this day, ante, p. 55. In that opinion we have demonstrated that the venue provisions of § 6 of the' Federal Employers’ Liability Act are one thing and the transfer provisions of § 1404 (a) of the present Judicial Code another; that “any civil action” means what it says; and that Congress was fully informed as to the significance of § 1404 (a). For these reasons, we conclude that the District Court for the Southern District of New York acted within its statutory authority. The motion must be
Denied.
' [For opinion of Mr. Justice Rutledge concurring in the result, see ante, p. 72.]
Mr. Justice Black and Mr. Justice Douglas dissent for the reasons stated in the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Douglas in United States v. National City Lines, post, p. 84.
“For the convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, a district court may transfer any civil action to any other district or division where it might have been brought.” This provision became effective Sept. 1 1948. Act of June 25, 1948, 62 Stat. 869,992, §38.
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Jiffy Lubricator Co., Inc. v. Stewart-Warner Corp., 177 F.2d 360 (4th Cir. 1949)…convenience of parties and witnesses, in the interest of justice, whether dismissal under the doctrine of forum non conveniens would have been appropriate or not. See Ex parte Collett 337 U.S. 55, 69 S.Ct. 944, 959; Kilpatrick v. Texas & P. R. Co., 337 U.S. 75, 69 S.Ct. 953; United States v. National City Lines, 337 U.S. 78, 69 S.Ct. 955, and Amalgamated Association, etc., v. Southern Bus Lines, 5 Cir., 172 F. 2d 946, 948. As said by Judge Sibley in the case last cited: “Dismissal for inconvenience is not…
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Atl. Coast Line R. Co. v. Davis. in re Atl. Coast Line R. Co., 185 F.2d 766 (5th Cir. 1950)…Ass’n v. U. S., 325 U.S. 196, 201, 65 S.Ct. 1120, 89 L.Ed. 1554 and cases cited. This power is tacitly recognized in Ex parte Collett, 337 U.S. 55, 69 S.Ct. 944, 959, 93 L.Ed. 1207 and the cases following it of Kilpatrick v. Texas & Pacific R. Co., 337 U.S. 75, 69 S.Ct. 953, 959, 93 L.Ed. 1223 and United States v. National City Lines, 337 U.S. 78, 69 S.Ct. 955, 959, 93 L.Ed. 1226. Though the Court in each of these cases denied the motion for the writ, the merits of the question were fully considered and…
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Plains Growers, Inc. v. Ickes-Braun Glasshouses, Inc., 474 F.2d 250 (5th Cir. 1973)…sal filed after motions challenging the jurisdiction of the person of the defendant is not untimely under Rule 41(a)(1). Kilpatrick v. Texas & P. Ry. Co., 166 F. 2d 788 (2d Cir. 1948), cert. denied, 335 U.S. 814, 69 S.Ct. 32, 93 L.Ed. 369 (1948) and 337 U.S. 75, 69 S.Ct. 953, 93 L.Ed. 1223 (1949). The defendant’s filing of interrogatories which remained unanswered at the time of the notice could not prevent a dismissal by notice. See Sheldon v. Amperex Electronic Corp., 52 F.R.D. 1 (E.D.N.Y.1971), in which…
Previewing 3 of 7 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Kilpatrick v. Tex. & P. Ry. Co., 166 F.2d 788 (2d Cir. 1948)
- Sandstrom v. Cal. Horse Racing Bd., 335 U.S. 814 (U.S. 1948)
- Rein v. Johnson, 335 U.S. 814 (U.S. 1948)
- In re Kilpatrick. In re Parker, 167 F.2d 471 (5th Cir. 1948)
- United States v. California, 335 U.S. 897 (U.S. 1948)
- Kilpatrick v. Tex. & Pac. Ry. Co., 335 U.S. 897 (U.S. 1948)