Document: 112 S.Ct. 2184 504 U.S. 648 119 L.Ed.2d 432 BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY, Petitioner,v.William D. FORD and Thomas L. Johnson. No. 91-779. Argued April 20, 1992. Decided June 12, Syllabus Respondents sued petitioner, their employer, under the Federal Employers' Liability Act in state court Yellowstone County, Montana. That denied petitioner's motions to change venue Hill where petitioner claimed have its principal place of business The State Supreme Court affirmed, ruling that Montana's rules—which permit a plaintiff sue corporation incorporated only county business, but suit any against corporation, like is elsewhere—do not work discrimination violating Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Held: distinction treatment contained rules does offend Those neither deprive fundamental right nor classify along suspect lines race or religion, are valid because they can be understood as rationally furthering legitimate interest: adjustment disparate interests parties lawsuit trial. Montana could reasonably determine convenience corporate defendant litigating home office outweighs plaintiff's interest suing his choice. Petitioner has shown rules' hinging on incorporation rather than domicile makes them so under- overinclusive irrational. Besides, being domiciled outside Montana, would benefit from rule turning domicile, therefore cannot complain incorporation. Power Manufacturing Co. v. Saunders, 274 490, 47 678, 71 L.Ed. 1165, distinguished. Pp. 2185-2188. --- Mont. ----, 819 P.2d 169 (1991), affirmed. SOUTER, J., delivered opinion for unanimous Court. Betty Jo Christian, Washington, D.C., petitioner. Joel I. Klein, respondents. Justice SOUTER 1 elsewhere. This case presents question whether offends Clause Amendment, Const. Amdt. 14, § 1. We hold it not. 2 William Ford Johnson were employed by Burlington Northern Railroad Company, owing existence laws Delaware having Fort Worth, Texas. raised claim (FELA), 35 Stat. 65, amended, 45 U.S.C. §§ 51-60, brought trial alleging injuries sustained while working at Burlington's premises Sheridan, Wyoming. In each case, moved State. motion, interlocutory appeals. 3 consolidated two cases affirmed decisions court. (1991). Under rules, said, foreign may counties. Id., P.2d, 171. rejected argument State's worked explained, subject merely rational-basis review, id., 173, which was satisfied, least these cases, consonance with federal policy, embodied FELA, facilitating recovery injured railroad workers, ---- - 173-174. did even discriminate Burlington, since District sits among other places. 175. granted certiorari, 502 964, 117 130 (1992), and, although our reasoning differs Court, now affirm.* 4 A statute provides "the proper all civil actions defendants reside commencement action." Mont.Code Ann. 25-2-118(1) But, "if none state, designates complaint." 25-2-118(2). long held "reside state" purposes unless incorporation, see, e.g., Haug R. Co., 236 368, 371, 770 517, 519 (1989); Foley General Motors Corp., 159 469, 472-473, 499 774, 776 (1972); Hanlon Great 83 15, 21, 268 P. 547, 549 (1928); Pue Pacific 78 40, 43, 252 313, 315 (1926), resides Mapston Joint School 8, 227 521, 523, 740 676, 677 (1987); Platt Sears, Roebuck & 222 184, 187, 721 336, 338 (1986). combination, exceptions here relevant, domestic company just one 56 claims 5 Amendment forbids "deny person within jurisdiction equal protection laws." Const., Because do deny fail ends. See, United States Sperry 493 52, 64, 110 387, 396, 107 290 Dallas Stanglin, 490 19, 25, 109 1591, 1595, 104 18 (1989). 6 Venue generally reflect equity expediency resolving Citizens Southern National Bank Bougas, 434 35, 44, n. 10, 98 88, 94, 54 218 (1977); Denver R.G.W.R. Trainmen, 387 556, 560, 87 1746, 1748, 954 (1967); Van Dusen Barrack, 376 612, 623, 84 805, 812, 11 945 (1964); F. James G. Hazard, Civil Procedure (3d ed. 1985). forum preferable party undesirable another, such warring concern. Cf. Retirement Bd. Fritz, 449 166, 178, 101 453, 461, 66 368 (1980). striking balance between them, number choices, survive scrutiny, passable standard tolerating some play joints governmental machinery. See Bain Peanut Texas Pinson, 282 499, 501, 51 228, 229, 75 482 (1931). Thus, we no doubt act constitutional prerogatives if give much weight plaintiffs allow counties choice circumstances. It equally clear might temper an "any county" extent reasonable assessment defendants' justified. 7 Here, decided any-county should way single-county arguably ground subjected tactical advantage forcing far defendant's residence. At same time, weighed who differently, most nonresident inconvenience will great defend in, say, Billings Havre. 498, 681, 1165 (1927) (Holmes, dissenting). thus too slight outweigh 8 not, indeed, seriously contend decision constitutionally flawed applied individual defendants. Nor argue unconstitutional when without fixed claim, however, country, also qualify "principal business" corporation. 9 fails. determined greater significance corporation's litigation offices; corporations unlikely offices Montana; probably keep headquarters this record, assumptions G.D. Searle Cohn, 455 404, 410, 102 1137, 1142, 250 (1982); Metropolitan Casualty Ins. Brownell, 294 580, 585, 55 538, 540, 79 1070 (1935). And upon premised policy judgment, find unimpeachable, containing sufficiently significant 10 Of course implemented judgment precision had turned location But hardly enough make "rational distinctions made substantially less mathematical exactitude." New Orleans Dukes, 427 297, 303, 96 2513, 2517, 49 511 (1976); see Hughes Alexandria Scrap 426 794, 814, 2488, 2500, 220 Lindsley Natural Carbonic Gas 61, 78, 31 337, 340, 369 (1911). thought readily verifiable former invite wasteful side shows litigation, obviating worth loss precision. These possibilities, course, put cry away point discharging burden showing overinclusiveness longer said implement judgment. supra, U.S., 584, S.Ct., 540. elsewhere, scheme based position using surrogate domicile. Roberts Schaefer Emmerson, 271 50, 53-55, 46 375, 376-377, 70 827 (1926); cf. Raines, 362 17, 80 519, 522, 524 (1960). left controls case. considered Arkansas' restricted those maintained 491-492, 678-679, exposed county, 492, 679. lacked rational basis deprived laws. 494, statutory provision challenged authorized Arkansas, ibid., Arkansas. contrast, special tailored significantly Montana's, assumption Saunders still good law, American Motorists Starnes, 425 637, 645, 6, 1800, 1805, 48 263 (1976), holding invalidate rules. 12 sum, interest. accordingly 13 Affirmed. * below final 28 1257(a). 642, 3, 1803, (1976).

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