Case Name: COFFIN v. PHILADELPHIA, W. & B. R. CO.
Court: United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1902-10-11
Citations: 118 F. 688
Docket Number: 
Parties: COFFIN v. PHILADELPHIA, W. & B. R. CO.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 118
Pages: 688–688

Head Matter:
COFFIN v. PHILADELPHIA, W. & B. R. CO.
(Circuit Court, S. D. New York.
October 11, 1902.)
1. Removal of Causes—Motion to Remand—Amount in Controversy.
An action for personal injuries commenced in a state court by service of summons, and removed by defendant before the filing of a complaint, will not be remanded because the complaint subsequently filed prays for damages in less than the jurisdictional amount. .
On Motion to Remand to State Court.
John J. Crawford, for the motion..
Robinson, Biddle & Ward, opposed.

Opinion:
LACOMBE, Circuit Judge.
This action was begun in the state court by service of summons without complaint on September 3, 1902, On September 19th defendant removed the cause to this court, its petition "averring that the matter in dispute was in excess of $2,000. The complaint has since been served. It sets out a cause of action against defendant for personal injuries resulting from a collision, and asks damages to the amount of $2,000. Under similar circumstances it was held in Zinkeisen v. Hufschmidt, Fed. Cas. No. 18,214, that a motion to remand should be denied. It would seem, however, that such a ruling deprives the plaintiff of his undoubted right to elect for what amount of damages he will sue. If he is content to ask for a measure of relief so small that the federal courts cannot take jurisdiction, in order to keep the cause in the state court, there is no good reason why he should not do so. In this circuit, with its overcrowded calendars, the removal of controversies which can be tried in the state courts is a practice to be discouraged.
Motion denied.