Case Name: Trinidad FERRAN, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant
Court: United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1955-03-31
Citations: 17 F.R.D. 210
Docket Number: Civ. No. 8694
Parties: Trinidad FERRAN, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Rules Decisions
Volume: 17
Pages: 210–211

Head Matter:
Trinidad FERRAN, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant.
Civ. No. 8694.
United States District Court, D. Puerto Rico, San Juan Division.
March 31, 1955.
Charles Henry Julia, San Juan, P. R., for plaintiff.
Ruben Rodriguez Antongiorgi, U. S. Atty., San Juan, P. R., for defendant.

Opinion:
RUIZ-NAZARIO, District Judge.
The affidavit of the United States Attorney in support of the motion herein fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A., and, therefore, the Court cannot give any weight to the contents thereof in considering defendant's request for a summary judgment.
As the allegations of the amended complaint are so meagre in the exposition of many informative facts which, if properly alleged, would have permitted the court to determine whether or not this action falls within the exception of the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C.A. § 2671 et seq., invoked by the defendant in its motion for summary judgment, the Court is unable to hold, in the absence of further facts presenting a clearer picture of the situation that defendant is entitled to a summary judgment as a matter of law.
"A litigant has a right to a trial where there is the slightest doubt as to the facts." Doehler Metal Furniture Co. v. United States, 2 Cir., 149 F.2d 130, 135, 136; Arenas v. United States, 322 U.S. 419, 434, 64 S.Ct. 1090 88 L.Ed. 1363; Arnstein v. Porter, 2 Cir., 154 F.2d 464, 470, 471; Sarnoff v. Ciaglia, 3 Cir., 165 F.2d 167, 168. Cited with approval in Peckham v. Ronrico Corporation, 1 Cir., 171 F.2d 653, 657.
That being the rule in this jurisdiction, defendant's motion for summary judgment must be, as it is hereby, denied.
It is so ordered.