Source: http://supreme.nolo.com/us/467/822/case.html
Timestamp: 2020-07-09 08:37:23
Document Index: 3911781

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 659', '§ 659', '§ 16', '§ 659', '§ 661', '§ 659', '§ 581']

UNITED STATES V. MORTON, 467 U. S. 822 - Volume 467 - 1984 - Full Text - US Supreme Court Center - USSC Cases - Nolo
US Supreme Court Center > Volume 467 > UNITED STATES V. MORTON, 467 U. S. 822 (1984) > Full Text
Held: The Government cannot be held liable for honoring a writ of garnishment, such as the one in question here, which is "regular on its face" and has been issued by a court with subject matter jurisdiction to issue such orders. Pp. 467 U. S. 827-836.
Respondent apparently never made any attempt to contest the garnishment itself beyond his initial protest to the Elmendorf Finance Office. [Footnote 1] Eventually, however, he in effect
The trial judge first noted that the Alabama writ was on the regular form used by the Alabama courts. Thus, he did not disagree with the Government's position that the writ was "regular on its face" within the meaning of the statute. He held, however, that the writ was not "legal process" within the meaning of § 659(f) because the statutory definition of that term requires that it be issued by a "court of competent jurisdiction." [Footnote 2] He reasoned that the portion of the divorce decree ordering respondent to make alimony and child support payments had not been issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, because the Alabama court did not have personal jurisdiction over respondent. Since respondent was not domiciled in Alabama at the time of the divorce proceedings, and since Alabama did not then have a statute authorizing personal service on nonresidents for child support
Because the holding of the Federal Circuit creates a substantial risk of imposing significant liabilities upon the United States as a result of garnishment proceedings, and because the decision below created a conflict in the Circuits, [Footnote 3] we granted the Government's petition for certiorari, 465 U.S. 1004 (1984).
In 1977, Congress amended the statute by specifying a procedure for giving notice to affected employees, directing that the normal federal pay and disbursement cycle should not be modified to comply with garnishment writs, authorizing promulgation of appropriate implementing regulations, and defining terms such as "alimony," "child support," and "legal process." It also added subparagraph (f), the provision at issue in this case. See 91 Stat. 157-162. [Footnote 4]
We assume, as does the Government, that the Alabama court lacked jurisdiction over respondent when it issued its writs of garnishment. Based on that assumption, respondent defends the judgment below by arguing that the Alabama court was not a "court of competent jurisdiction," and hence its orders could not satisfy the statutory definition of "legal process." [Footnote 5]
If we were to look at the words "competent jurisdiction" in isolation, we would concede that the statute is ambiguous. The concept of a court of "competent jurisdiction," though usually used to refer to subject matter jurisdiction, [Footnote 6] has also been used on occasion to refer to a court's jurisdiction over the defendant's person. [Footnote 7] We do not, however, construe statutory phrases in isolation; we read statutes as a whole. [Footnote 8] Thus, the words "legal process" must be read in light of the immediately following phrase -- "regular on its face." That phrase makes it clear that the term "legal process" does not require the issuing court to have personal jurisdiction.
Subject matter jurisdiction defines the court's authority to hear a given type of case, whereas personal jurisdiction protects the individual interest that is implicated when a nonresident defendant is haled into a distant and possibly inconvenient forum. See Insurance Corp. of Ireland v. Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee, 456 U. S. 694, 456 U. S. 701-703, and n. 10 (1982). The strength of this interest in a particular case cannot be ascertained from the "face" of the process; it can be
determined only by evaluating a specific aggregation of facts, as well as the possible vagaries of the law of the forum, and then determining if the relationship between the defendant -- in this case the obligor -- and the forum, or possibly the particular controversy, makes it reasonable to expect the defendant to defend the action that has been filed in the forum State. [Footnote 9] The statutory requirement that the garnishee refer only to the "face" of the process is patently inconsistent with the kind of inquiry that may be required to ascertain whether the issuing court has jurisdiction over the obligor's person. [Footnote 10]
120 Cong.Rec. 41810 (1974). [Footnote 11]
Of course, it would be impossible to inquire into personal jurisdiction based on nothing more than the court order. No such inquiry could have been intended. [Footnote 12]
The liability of private employers under similar circumstances is also illuminating. The legislative history, as well as the plain language of § 659(a), indicates that Congress intended the Government to receive the same treatment as a private employer with respect to garnishment orders. [Footnote 13] A
construction of the statute that would impose liability on the Government for honoring a writ issued by a court with subject matter jurisdiction would be inconsistent with the law applicable to private garnishees. It has long been the rule that at least when the obligor receives notice of the garnishment, the garnishee cannot be liable for honoring a writ of garnishment. See Harris v. Balk, 198 U. S. 215, 198 U. S. 226-227 (1905). For example, after imposing on all employers a duty to honor writs of garnishment, the District of Columbia Code, which Congress itself enacted, see 77 Stat. 555, provides:
D.C.Code § 16-573(c) (1981). The law in Alaska and Alabama is to similar effect, [Footnote 14] as it is in the great majority of jurisdictions. [Footnote 15] Thus, to hold the Government
Finally, the underlying purpose of § 659 is significant. The statute was enacted to remedy the plight of persons left destitute because they had no speedy and efficacious means of ensuring that their child support and alimony would be paid. [Footnote 16] Burdening the garnishment process with inquiry into
Griffin v. Griffin, 327 U. S. 220, 327 U. S. 239, n. 4 (1946) (Rutledge, J., dissenting in part). Such a result could not be more at odds with congressional intent.
As part of the 1977 amendment, Congress authorized the promulgation of "regulations for the implementation of the provisions of section 659," 42 U.S.C. § 661(a). In the last sentence of § 659(f), Congress indicated that the United States could not be held liable for honoring a writ of garnishment so long as payment is made in accordance with these regulations. Because Congress explicitly delegated authority to construe the statute by regulation, in this case we must give the regulations legislative and hence controlling weight unless they are arbitrary, capricious, or plainly contrary to the statute. [Footnote 17] Moreover, implementing regulations which simplify a disbursing officer's task in deciding whether to honor a writ of garnishment are entitled to special deference, since that was the precise objective of Congress when it delegated authority to issue regulations. [Footnote 18]
specified situations, none of which involves the issuing court's lack of jurisdiction over the employee. [Footnote 19] They then state:
§ 581.305(f). [Footnote 20]
Thus, the regulations definitively resolve the question before us. [Footnote 21] They cannot possibly be considered "clearly inconsistent"
with the statute or "arbitrary," since the terms "legal process" and "court of competent jurisdiction" are at east ambiguous, [Footnote 22] and they further congressional intent to facilitate speedy enforcement of garnishment orders and to minimize the burden on the Government.
This is, however, the only ground on which respondent attacks the enforcement of the writs of garnishment. Thus, no question is raised concerning the sufficiency of the notice and opportunity to contest the garnishment that respondent received prior to the execution of the writs, see generally Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co., 457 U. S. 922 (1982); North Georgia Finishing, Inc. v. Di-Chem, Inc., 419 U. S. 601 (1975); Fuentes v. Shevin, 407 U. S. 67 (1972); Sniadach v. Family Finance Corp., 395 U. S. 337 (1969); and in particular no question is raised as to whether respondent was afforded an adequate opportunity to contest the jurisdiction of the court issuing the writ in the jurisdiction where the writ was enforced, see generally Vanderbilt v. Vanderbilt, 354 U. S. 416 (1957); May v. Anderson, 345 U. S. 528 (1953); Estin v. Estin, 334 U. S. 541, 334 U. S. 548-549 (1948); Griffin v. Griffin, 327 U. S. 220 (1946).
Id. at 95 U. S. 733.
See, e.g., Stafford v. Briggs, 444 U. S. 527, 444 U. S. 535 (1980); Philbrook v. Glodgett, 421 U. S. 707, 421 U. S. 713 (1975); Chemehuevi Tribe of Indians v. FPC, 420 U. S. 395, 420 U. S. 403 (1975); Chemical Workers v. Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., 404 U. S. 157, 404 U. S. 185 (1971).
See, e.g., Keeton v. Hustler Magazine, Inc., 465 U. S. 770, 465 U. S. 775-776 (1984); World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U. S. 286, 444 U. S. 292 (1980); Shaffer v. Heitner, 433 U. S. 186, 433 U. S. 203-204 (1977).
See Schweiker v. Gray Panthers, 453 U. S. 34, 453 U. S. 44 (1981); Batterton v. Francis, 432 U. S. 416, 432 U. S. 425-426 (1977).
See supra at 467 U. S. 828.
Powered by Justia US Supreme Court Center: UNITED STATES V. MORTON, 467 U. S. 822 (1984)