Case Name: DOUGHERTY v. PAYNE, Director General of Railroads
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1921-06-09
Citations: 276 F. 451
Docket Number: No. 1123
Parties: DOUGHERTY v. PAYNE, Director General of Railroads.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 276
Pages: 451–451

Head Matter:
DOUGHERTY v. PAYNE, Director General of Railroads.
(District Court, S. D. Florida.
June 9, 1921.)
No. 1123.
Railroads New, vol. 6A Key-No. Series — Director General not suable for malicious prosecution.
An action for malicious prosecution cannot be maintained against the Director General of Railroads, as such, for an act of one of the employees of a railroad system under his control.
At Law. Action by Pearl Dougherty against John Barton Payne, Director General of Railroads. On motion for leave to file amended declaration.
Denied.
Butler & Boyer, of Jacksonville, Fla., for plaintiff.
John E. & Julian Hartridge, of Jacksonville, Ela., for defendant.

Opinion:
CALL, District Judge.
This cause comes on for a hearing upon the motion for leave to file an amended declaration. Heretofore, on May 27th insti, a demurrer was sustained to the declaration.
The fifth ground of the demurrer raised the question whether an action for malicious prosecution could be brought against the Director General of Railroads, as such officer, for the actions of one of the employees of a railroad system under his control. A careful study of the acts of Congress covering the governmental control of transportation systems seems to me to answer this question in the negative. Such being my view, no purpose would be subserved in granting the motion to amend, and it will therefore be denied.