Document: 345 U.S. 514 73 S.Ct. 856 97 L.Ed. 1211 WELLSv.SIMONDS ABRASIVE CO. No. 394. Argued Jan. 7, 1953. Decided May 18, Mr. Charles J. Biddle, Philadelphia, Pa., for petitioner. Philip Price, respondent. Chief Justice VINSON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Cheek Wells was killed in Alabama when a grinding wheel with which he working burst. The had been manufactured by respondent, corporation its principal place business Pennsylvania. administratrix estate brought an action damages federal court Eastern District Pennsylvania after one year, but within two years, death. Jurisdiction based upon diversity citizenship. 2 section Code1 petitioner predicated her wrongful death provided that '* * must be years from and *.' respondent moved summary judgment on ground statute required suit to commenced year.2 In opinion3 motion, district judge found statute, analogous one-year limitation. He further conflict laws rule called application own limitation rather than accident. Deeming himself bound conflicts rule, ordered Court Appeals Third Circuit affirmed.4 3 We granted certiorari5 limited question whether this violates Full Faith Credit Clause6 Federal Constitution. 4 states are free adopt such rules as they choose, Kryger v. Wilson, 1916, 242 171, 37 34, 61 229, subject Clause other constitutional restrictions. does not compel state any particular set laws; it merely sets certain minimum requirements each observe asked apply law sister state. 5 Long ago, we held applying limitations forum foreign substantive right did deny full faith credit, McElmoyle Cohen, 1839, 13 Pet. 312, 10 177; Townsend Jemison, 1850, 9 How. 407, 194; Bacon Howard, 1857, 20 22, 15 811. Recently referred well established principle 'If is barred forum, no can maintained though where cause arose.' Restatement, Conflict Laws, s 603 (1934).' Order United Commercial Travelers Wolfe, 1947, 331 586, 607, 67 1355, 1365, 91 1687.7 6 um (which has said meets credit) usual states.8 However, there have divergent views statutory unknown common period included creating right. here involved creates contains built-in view some jurisdictions so intimately connected enforced along right.9 7 concerned reasons led their purposes limitation, instead own, situation. compels them do so. Our prevailing use see reason present situation graft exception onto it. Differences known or arrangement code too unsubstantial form basis distinctions under Clause. 8 agree Engel Davenport, 1926, 271 33, 46 410, 70 813, here. It presented entirely different problem. Congress given seamen personal injuries, placing concurrent jurisdiction courts . Engel, supra, two-year California similar actions controlling courts. Once decided intention meant both our Constitution, supreme land.10 decisions Hughes Fetter, 1951, 341 609, 71 980, 95 1212, First National Bank Air Lines, 1952, 342 396, 72 421, 96 441, call change well-established permitted crucial factor those cases laid uneven hand causes arising without Causes were discriminated against. Here applies all wherever may arise. affirmed. Affirmed. 11 CLARK, having heard oral argument, took part consideration decision case. 12 JACKSON, whom BLACK MINTON join, dissenting. unable accept results follow reasoning Petitioner's decedent, resident Alabama, State bursting emery alleged defective. corporation. Finding impossible serve process defendant States Her conferred wrongfully causing This she did, complaint dismissed that, since sitting Pennsylvania, year and, hence, barred. I believe Court, should liability 14 relies line began Erie R. Co. Tompkins, 304 64, 58 817, 82 1188. A careful reading will show far at all, authority plaintiff's defendant's position. injury occurred New York. Although trial sat York, decide law, is, injury, state, holding, if applied here, would require case adjudged even another That opinion, Brandeis, searched vain hint result depended York conflicts, paid respect mention. Tompkins torts improvise state's applicable assumed discussion because pursuant what probably best-settled tort cases. stated Holmes, follows: (I)t person recovers committed obligation incurred accompanies elsewhere, only measure maximum recovery.' Western Union Telegraph Brown, 234 542, 547, 34 955, 956, 1457. See also Slater Mexican Co., 194 120, 126, 24 581, 582, 48 900; Cardozo, Loucks Standard Oil 224 N.Y. 99, 120 N.E. 198. existence justice recognized adoption policy law. Tort Claims Act makes basic test Government's private 'would liable claimant accordance act omission occurred.' 60 Stat. 812, 843, 28 U.S.C.A. § 1346(b). 16 Klaxon Stentor Electric Mfg. 313 487, 1020, 85 1477, cited language seem make questions depend forum. But contract considerations prevail dictum touches 17 Most these actuated laudable undiscriminating yen uniformity Thus, 'Otherwise accident citizenship constantly disturb equal administration coordinate side side.' page 496, 1021, citing case; Court's refers 'crucial factor' 'the state.' 18 essence Constitution uniformities just observed system. whole purpose need requiring credit differ disparity type evil aimed namely, same event judged laws, depending available. Application prevents arose whatever pursued. 19 decision, contrast position, enable shopping favorable forums. Suppose plaintiff might obtained service several states—an assumption extravagant many national corporations. Under could choose varieties theory, elected sue (if choice), take her. now get long one; thereby revive expired law? logic indicate. life then determined fortuitous circumstances states. Another very practical indicates unworkability doctrine sole determines U.S.C. 1404(a) authorizes transfers civil convenience witnesses parties, interests justice. principles non conveniens. Ex parte Collett, 337 55, 69 944, 93 1207. These broad imprecise involve court's docket. Gulf Corp. Gilbert, 330 501, 839, 1055. Are understand parties bonus venue? If tried burden proof, contributory negligence, damages, limitations, admission evidence, doctrines, Guaranty Trust 326 109, 65 1464, 1469, 89 2079, via conveniens route opens up possibilities conflict, confusion injustice greater anything Swift Tyson, 1, 865, ever held. 21 grace Congress, Chicago 398, 422, seems me supposed, before Commonwealth close questioned, think, entertained wrong. Neither nor Ragan Merchants Transfer & Warehouse 530, 1233, 1520, indicate contrary pertinence resort present. They issues between improvised settled 22 Whether carry general into more difficult light precedents. 177. 23 Early drew sharp distinction procedure. classified statutes procedural hence excluded operation atmosphere times. Many legislatures adopted comprehensive equitable, common-law Following example early Field Code, infrequently incorporated codes procedure thus legislatures. days, conform local procedure, although often independent supra. Today relationship completely inverted. subservient law; is. But, riddled 'substantive' 'procedural,' rests. Even recent single bundle taken whole. 'Since created carries defenses court. accrues comes end declares. *' 533, 1235, 1520. America 1687. 25 argument concerning causes, ago pattern Lord Campbell Act. contained statute. Waite valid leads result. For unanimous wrote: create new legal liability, enforcement, months, otherwise. time operates itself created, remedy alone. Time made right, lost disregarded. statutes, therefore treated Harrisburg, 119 199, 214, 140, 147, 30 358. 26 Subsequently, Holmes twice wrote effect. Davis Mills, 451, 454, 692, 693, 1067, said: 27 source defendant, generally speaking, entitled benefit conditions creates. Railroad, 581 (48 900). true proposition qualified fact ordinary belonging lex fori, affecting only, possible escape qualification reasonable distinction, willing treat standing like cutting down sued. limits enforced, using words condition not. And Atlantic Coast Line Burnette, 239 201, 36 75, 76, 226, 29 irrespective paramount, relied limit creates, naturally disinclined press farther. three inseparable accrued defendants. validity whose ox gores. 38, 412, employed premise unity hold longer prescribed legislation short saying 'This provision setting necessarily implies maintained, years.' 31 Supreme question, saying, action, disclosed averment proof.' Parker Fies Sons, 243 Ala. 348, 350, So.2d 13, 15. literature conflicts.* 32 Columbia considered documented trying Wrongful Death Nebraska Judge Proctor, admitting 'considerable authority' contrary, 'However, opposing takes rights purely nature, so-called filing deemed attached sue. As such, being right.' Lewis Reconstruction Finance Corporation, U.S.App.D.C. 339, 177 F.2d 654, 655. Cf. Young States, 87 145, 184 587, A.L.R.2d 1458. Wilson Massengill, Cir., 124 666, certiorari denied 316 686, 62 1274, 86 1758; Maki George Cooke 663, 146 A.L.R. 1352, 1758. 33 think better us giveth taketh away. 'A representative maintain recover jury assess competent elsewhere act, omission, negligence persons, corporation, his servants agents, whereby testator intestate caused, caused Such shall abate revived against representative; prosecution, conviction, acquittal negligence; recovered payment debts liabilities intestate, distributed, according distributions. intestate.' Ala.Code, 1940, Tit. 123. Purdon's Pa.Stat.Ann., 1931, 12, 1603. D.C.1951, 102 F.Supp. 519. 195 814. Quinn Simonds Abrasive 199 416. 344 815, 57. 'Full public Acts, Records, judicial Proceedings every State.' U.S.Const., Art. IV, cl. 1. dissenting Black, 625, 1374, (1934). Cristilly Warner, 1913, Conn. 461, 88 A. 711, 51 L.R.A., N.S., 415, overruled ground, Daury Ferraro, 1928, 108 386, 143 630, 1323; Louisville Nashville Burkhart, 154 Ky. 92, 157 S.W. L.R.A.,N.S., 687 (dictum); Negaubauer Great Northern 1904, 92 Minn. 184, 99 N.W. 620. Contra: White Govatos, 1939, Terry 349, 40 Del. A.2d 524; Tieffenbrun Flannery, 1930, 198 N.C. 397, 151 S.E. 857, 68 210; Rosenzweig Heller, 302 Pa. 279, 153 346. Comment b, 605 Laws Pursuance thereof; Treaties made, Authority Law Land; Judges thereby, Thing Contrary notwithstanding.' VI, 2. Goodrich, (3d ed.), 86, citations; Blume George, Limitations Courts, 49 Mich.L.Rev. 937.

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