Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/228/702/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 05:00:01+00:00

Document:
When the state court has overruled an objection that the federal right was not clearly presented, the objection is not open in this Court.
Quaere whether plaintiff can sue upon a statute of one jurisdiction when the action can be maintained only on that of another.
In a suit for personal injuries resulting in the death of plaintiff's intestate, plaintiff sued an interstate carrier on two counts, one for pecuniary loss to next of kin and the other for injury and pain sustained by the intestate before death. There was a recovery on both counts which the supreme court of the state sustained on the ground that the Employers' Liability Act was only supplementary, and the judgment could be upheld under the state law.
In a suit for personal injuries against an interstate railway carrier, plaintiff, not defendant, has the election how the suit shall be brought.
The Federal Employers' Liability Act supersedes state laws in the matters with which it deals, including liability of carriers while engaged in commerce between the states for defects of cars.
In case of death of an injured employee, the only action under the Federal Employers' Liability Act of 1908 is one for the benefit of the next of kin; there can be no recovery for the pain suffered before death.
not having a retroactive, effect does not apply where the death occurred prior to the amendment.
The facts, which involve the construction of the Employers' Liability Act of 1908 and the extent to which it superseded state statutes, are stated in the opinion.
not based upon that act, and held that the Act of Congress was only supplementary, and that the judgment could be upheld under the state law. 98 Ark. 240.
The plaintiff contends that the claim of right under the law of the United States, and against that under the law of the state, was not presented with clearness enough to save it. But, as the supreme court held the question sufficiently raised and decided it, that objection is not open here. San Jose Land & Water Co. v. San Jose Ranch Co., 189 U. S. 177, 189 U. S. 180; Eau Claire Nat. Bank v. Jackman, 204 U. S. 522, 204 U. S. 533.
The same answer may be given to the suggestion that the defendant is estopped having pleaded contributory negligence, and thus having relied upon the state law. Moreover, the plaintiff, not the defendant, had the election how the suit should be brought, and, as he relied upon the state law, the defendant had no choice if it was to defend upon the facts. Whether the defendant could have defeated the first count also on the ground that the plaintiff was suing upon a statute of one jurisdiction, whereas the action could be maintained only on that of another, need not be decided, since the defendant asks reversal of only so much of the judgment as rests on the second count. Hence, it is unnecessary to consider whether the principle of Union Pacific Ry. Co. v. Wyler, 158 U. S. 285; or that of Missouri, Kansas & Texas Ry. Co. v. Wulf, 226 U. S. 570, 226 U. S. 577, should be applied. See further Troxell v. Delaware, Lackawanna & Western R. Co., 227 U. S. 434, 227 U. S. 442; Northern Pacific Ry. Co. v. Slaght, 205 U. S. 122, 205 U. S. 131; United States v. Dalcour, 203 U. S. 408, 203 U. S. 423.
the liability of carriers, while engaged in commerce between the states, for defects in cars. Section 1. In the case of death, the only action is one for the benefit of the next of kin. § 1. Michigan Central R. Co. v. Vreeland, 227 U. S. 59, 227 U. S. 67-68; American R. Co. v. Didricksen, 227 U. S. 145, 227 U. S. 149; Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. McGinnis, 228 U. S. 173, 228 U. S. 175. Therefore, the ruling of the state court was wrong. The amendment of April 5, 1910, c. 143, § 2, 36 Stat. 291, in like manner allows but one recovery, although it provides for survival of the right of the injured person. The amendment, however, does not apply to this case, as the death occurred in August, 1909.

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