Case Title: Planck v. Minneapolis, St. P. & SSM Ry. Co.

Citation: 143 N.W.2d 641

Docket Number: 

State: minnesota

Court: Minnesota Supreme Court

Date: 1966-06-17T00:00:00Z

Document:
143 N.W.2d 641 (1966) George A. PLANCK, Respondent, v. MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL & SAULT STE. MARIE RAILWAY COMPANY, Relator. No. 40206. Supreme Court of Minnesota. June 17, 1966. Lindquist, Magnuson & Glennon and William B. Stukas, Minneapolis, for relator. DeParcq & Anderson, Minneapolis, for respondent. PER CURIAM. This is an action for personal injuries under the Federal Employers' Liability Act against the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company. It was instituted in the District Court of Hennepin County. Defendant moved "for *642 an Order dismissing [it] with prejudice to the commencement of any further action by * * * Plaintiff against * * * Defendant upon the same cause * * * in any District Court of the State of Minnesota, but otherwise without prejudice." This motion was denied by order dated December 3, 1965. Thereafter this court issued a writ of mandamus requiring that the District Court of Hennepin County enter its order granting the motion or show cause why the order of December 3, 1965, should not be vacated. It is not disputed that defendant does business in Hennepin County where the action was started. In support of its motion to dismiss the action, defendant submitted affidavits setting forth numerous grounds why it would be more convenient to try the action in a county in upper Michigan, where plaintiff resides and where a number of witnesses live in close proximity. In resisting the motion plaintiff asserted that if the action were dismissed on defendant's motion plaintiff would forever be barred by statutes of limitations from asserting a part of his claim against defendant. He asserted further that under the Federal Employers' Liability Act an injured employee may file his cause in any state or Federal court in any judicial district where the defendant railroad company is engaged in doing business; and that defendant is a Minnesota corporation with its principal place of business in Minnesota, where its officers reside. He asserted further that plaintiff had been taken to Minneapolis by defendant for the purpose of having his physical condition evaluated and had been examined in a hospital and by doctors in Minneapolis, so that there would be no great inconvenience to defendant if it decided to submit the testimony of such doctors or the records of such hospital. He also asserted that a principal witness who will testify as to the facts resides 190 miles from Minneapolis and that one of the other witnesses would not be subject to subpoena in either Minnesota or Michigan. In a memorandum attached to its order denying defendant's motion for dismissal, the following is set forth: On the basis of the trial court's memorandum and the authorities cited therein, it seems that we have for determination here only the question whether there was an abuse of the broad discretion which rests with a trial court in determining matters of this kind. In view of the facts recited we are of the opinion that there was no abuse of such discretion and accordingly that the order of December 3, 1965, should be affirmed and the writ discharged.