Case Name: Pennsylvania R. Co. and others v. Allegheny Valley R. Co. and others
Court: United States Circuit Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1885-01-07
Citations: 25 F. 113
Docket Number: 
Parties: Pennsylvania R. Co. and others v. Allegheny Valley R. Co. and others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 25
Pages: 113–113

Head Matter:
Pennsylvania R. Co. and others v. Allegheny Valley R. Co. and others.
Circuit Court, W. D. Pennsylvania.
January 7, 1885.
Removal oe Cause—Motion to Remand—Collusive Joinder ov Parties.
It, is good practice to raise in limine, by petition to remand, tlie question of tlie alleged collusive joinder of a party for tlie purpose of creating a case removable to the circuit court; and tlie right so to raise the question is not waived by reason of a prior unsuccessful motion to remand on jurisdictional grounds supposed to appear on the face of the record.
Sur Petition to Bemand Suit, etc.
Wayne MacVeagh, for the motion. ,
George Sidras, Jr., and D. T. Watson, contra.

Opinion:
Acheson, J.
As tlie fifth section of the act of congress of March 3, 1S75, makes it the duty of the circuit court to remand a suit removed thereto from a state court, if at any time it shall appear to the satisfaction of the circuit court that the parties to such suit have been improporly-or collusively made or joined, either as plaintiffs or defendants, for the purpose of creating a case removable under the act, it seems to me to be good practice to raise the question of the alleged improper or collusive joinder of a party for such purpose in limine, by petition to remand, as has been done here. And there was no waiver of the right so to raise the question by reason of the prior motion to remand on jurisdictional grounds supposed to appear upon the face of the record.
The plaintiffs' petition charges that E. W. Boss was improperly and collusively made a defendant, for the purpose of creating a case removable into this court. If this be so, this court is concerned to know tho fact as soon as possible, and the plaintiffs shall now have the fullest opportunity to establish the truth of their allegation by testimony taken in accordance with the rules and practice in equity causes.
Mr. Boss has filed'an answer to said petition in denial thereof. That answer strikes me to be fairly responsive to the averments of the petition, and exceptions to it have not been filed. Hence, at present, I see no good reason for making the order I am asked to do requiring Mr. Boss to come from his home, in the state of New York, to Pittsburgh, and submit to an oral examination before the clerk of this court. Leave, however, is granted the plaintiffs (if they desire so to do) to supplement their said petition by interrogatories addressed to Mr. Boss, to be answered by him under oath.