Document: 349 U.S. 29 75 S.Ct. 544 99 L.Ed. 789 Alexander NORWOOD, Joseph F. Tunstall, and John E. Smallwood, Petitioners,v.Honorable William H. KIRKPATRICK, etc. No. 337. Argued March 4, 1955. Decided April 11, Mr. S. Lord, III, Philadelphia, Pa., for petitioners. Francis De Lone, respondent. Justice MINTON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The three petitioners, dining car employees, filed separate suits in United States District Court Eastern Pennsylvania, against Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co. They sued under Federal Employers' Liability Act, 45 U.S.C.A. § 51 et seq., injuries received upon derailment one defendant's trains near Dillon, South Carolina. defendant motions to dismiss or, alternative, transfer cases Florence Division denied granted 28 U.S.C. 1404(a), 1404(a).* 2 Since Appeals Third Circuit had held, All Freight v. Modarelli, 196 F.2d 1010, that order was not appealable, petitioners applications mandamus or prohibition district judge require him set aside his orders transfer. applications, we certiorari. 348 870, 107. 3 present identical questions law, were consolidated argument here, will be disposed this opinion. 4 granting stated if he been free construe 1404(a) as did case Naughton Pennsylvania R. Co., 85 F.Supp. 761, would have transfers because, view, it called an application stricter rule forum non conveniens recognized decisions See Gulf Oil Corp. Gilbert, 330 501, 67 839, 91 1055. But since case, supra, a broader discretion statute than doctrine conveniens. judge, therefore, followed laid down supra. We think correctly rejected narrower properly construed statute. As Judge Goodrich, speaking court, appropriately pointed out, at page 1011: 5 'The is quite different from Section 1404(a). That involves dismissal because chosen by plaintiff so completely inappropriate inconvenient better stop litigation place where brought let start all over again somewhere else. It naturally subject careful limitation only denies generally accorded privilege bringing action chooses, but makes possible lose out completely, through running limitations finally deemed appropriate. avoids latter danger. Its words should considered what they say, with preconceived derived doctrine.' 6 Maris, who Chairman Judicial Conference Committee on revision Code approved text submitted Congress, sat en banc when decided. And Parker Fourth Circuit, consultant Advisory Committee, writing court Jiffy Lubricator Inc., Stewart-Warner Corp., 177 360, 362, also understand it: 7 '* * A (forum conveniens) any other principle puts end hence final appealable. An transferring another does preserves purposes. notion mere codification existing law relating erroneous. perfectly clear purpose section Revised grant broadly power convenience parties witnesses, interest justice, whether appropriate not.' 8 Moore, Commentary (1949 ed.), p. 208. 9 When Congress adopted intended do more just codify said Ex parte Collett, 337 55—61, 69 944, 947, 93 L.Ed 1207, which entirely new section, revising well codifying. harshest result old conveniens, action, eliminated provision part excised statute, can hardly codification. consequence, believe term 'for justice,' permit courts lesser showing inconvenience. This say relevant factors changed plaintiff's choice considered, exercised broader. 10 conceded correct exercising these without regard stringent requirements then prohibition. agree evaluating evidence, find necessary detail facts reaching judgment. warranted facts. 11 unnecessary pass question proper remedy. 12 judgment affirmed. 13 Affirmed. 14 HARLAN took no consideration decision case. 15 CLARK, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE DOUGLAS concur, dissenting. 16 Under judgment, Norwood, lives Philadelphia suit damages railroad, go Carolina wishes prosecute it. Tunstall both live Washington, D.C., likewise way hope recover railroad. allegedly suffered permanent passenger train employed derailed. derailment, plaintiffs connection whatever, sufficient itself support finding negligence. Jesionowski Boston & Maine 329 452, 401, 416. Despite circumstances, deprived Norwood trial home town, Smallwood within 150 miles theirs. Court's decision, sustaining result, sends Carolina, perhaps preventing ever being prosecuted financial condition plaintiffs. 17 thought justified interpretation 1948 Code, provides: 18 'For may civil division might brought.' torn history our judicial development, direction utterly meaningless. How great must inconvenience before could feel ordering transfer? 'in justice' so? difficult imagine baffled reactions judiciary mandate accompanied some explanation, preceded experience dealing pleas decline injustice. Compare gropings remainder federal confronted blank pages presented celebrated 301 Taft-Hartley, 185. Association Westinghouse Salaried Employees Electric 346 437, 488. 19 But, fortunately, command explanation. Reviser's Notes state: 20 'Subsection (a) drafted accordance permitting convenient forum, even though venue proper. example need such provision, see Baltimore Ohio Kepner, 1941, 314 44, 62 6, 86 28, Act New York, although accident occurred employee resided Ohio. subsection requires determine further, justice so.' 21 courts, their are thus adrift uncharted sea, according personal notions justice. explicitly referred body Anglo-American known certainly developed time passage Code. Indeed, shortly introduced handed two setting forth considerations govern exercise judge's discretion. 1055; Koster (American) Lumbermens Mutual Casualty 518, 828, 1067. These opinions clearly evinced attitude matters approached, standard applied: 22 'It often not, 'vex,' 'harass,' 'oppress' inflicting expense trouble own right pursue unless balance strongly favor defendant, rarely disturbed.' 508, 843. 23 'Where there dispute, good reason why tried has choice. He presumed advantages jurisdiction except either (1) establish oppressiveness vexation proportion convenience, shown slight nonexistent, (2) make affecting court's administrative legal problems. In balancing conveniences, real normally outweigh shown.' U.S., 524, 831. 24 There direct reference hearings Senate considering Hearings Subcommittee Judiciary H.R. 3214, 80th Cong., 2d Sess. 73—74. 25 basic issue light opinions, (of Supreme particularization), expands range yet unstated degree, removes guiding precedents. Courts divided issue. With cited majority, compare Ford Motor Ryan, Cir., 182 329; Nicol Koscinski, 188 537; Wiren Laws, 90 U.S.App.D.C. 105, 194 873. Amalgamated Ass'n St., Elec. Ry. Coach Emp. America, etc., Southern Bus Lines, 172 946, 948. merely restatement, very generalized form, particular equivalents recur literature subject.1 repeat refer Ordinarily, considerations, standing alone, afford cogent grounds continue prevailing rule. much 55, 56, posed issue: 26 'In decide provisions render applicable actions Act.' (Emphasis supplied.) 27 held cases. now argued response providing rather dismissal, permissible Court, adopting goes far toward assigning forums, prerogative previously rested plaintiff. doing, majority ignores legislative background arising Act. FRLA amended 1910 residence cause arose, shall doing business commencing' action. 36 Stat. 291, amended, 56. congressional manifested precluded 285; Miles Illinois Central 315 698, 827, 1129. Agitation limit FELA culminated attempted Jennings Bill, 1639, 1st Sess.; bill passed House narrow margin, Cong.Rec. 9193—9194, die Senate. characterized its leaders noncontroversial codification, 62, overturn Kepner FELA. applying cases, Collett: 30 repeal petitioner intention, demonstrated failure list meticulously prepared schedule statutes repealed. cannot us effectuates implied repeal. inapplicability derives decision. chose remove gloss via statute.' Id., 60—61, 947. 31 Removal 'judicial gloss' suits, along asserted Pope 345 379, 383, 73 749, 751, 97 1094: 32 'We heretofore provides forum. Parte 1949, 959, 1207.' 33 Again Kerotest Mfg. C-O-Two Fire Equipment 342 180, 186, 72 219, 222, 96 200, said: 34 'And manufacturer joined unwilling available relief provided 869, 937, 1404(a).' 35 late 1953, Justices JACKSON, BLACK, MINTON, dissenting Wells Simonds Abrasive 514, 522, 856, 860, 1211, made statement: '28 authorizes certain state witnesses parties, interests adopt principles 1207. broad imprecise involve docket. 1055.' 37 None mentioned majority. each implicit embodies conveniens; uniform understanding members language paraphrase Instead, applies variation refused same session inserted into nothing remotely connected enactment indicate conveniens—particularly articulated then-recent cases—they meant Bill anything like Still adopts modification provision. 38 Much fact record opposition adoption This, true, explained Notes, Congress' refusal lulled false feeling security. statements disturbed 'the defendant' 'rarely' together defeat evidence intention seriously interfering connection, note emphasis 64, 949, difference between 1404(a); narrowed considerably larger 39 uphold change Congress. agree. discussion area, mean apply rules courts. unmistakable. Our duty interpret expand enlarge Changes type branch. extended procedure generally, (i.e., dismissal), give check recast underlying fancy. 40 Concluding prior tenets apply, embracing standards Koster, help differently instant applied those decisions. Without detailing here involved, brought. usual approach, virtually suffice, itself, preclude retain trial. Barrett, 413; Braucher, supar, 916—917, 919; Dainow, 880. After all, situation envisaged involving foreign nonresident parties. Blair, 34; Foster, 53. Apparently stands squarely behind proposition hear injury suit, bona fide resident, spare expense. Williamson North-Eastern Scotland, long noted distinctive doctrines area.2 Forum impact country, and, fact, regarded extreme depriving forum.3 adopted, explicit injured party district—at least applied. 41 admitted Oil, Court; felt bound contrary Appeals. indicated otherwise follow consider controlling. reverse opportunity standards. 42 considerable importance administration lower inadequacy appeal, settled future. Every appellate implicitly recognizes necessity settling issues section. Even relief, expressing view remedy, gone discuss merits presented. re Josephson, 218 174; Freight, 1010; cf. 360. reserving issue, follows course. note, circumstances less compelling these. supra; Davis, 185 766; Shapiro Bonanza Hotel 777; Chicago, R.I. P.R. Igoe, 212 378; 43 I determined particularly answer majority's contention unduly curtail desirable reform simply dispute 'forum shopping,' whittling away privileges benefits working men battle scope rights fought Congress—as Bill—and 44 further acted upon, private Committee. distinguished participants went beyond Collett. If so, communicated responsibility rests. 527, 833 ('convenience ends justice'); 530, 834 ('interests 507, 842 Canada Malting Paterson Steamships, 285 413, 423, 52 415, 76 837 ('decline, jurisdiction, aliens nonresidents'); National Shawmut Bank City Waterville, Mass. 252, 189 N.E. 92, 95 ('ends Universal Adjustment Midland Bank, 281 303, 313, 184 152, 158, 87 A.L.R. 1407 Great Western Miller, Mich. 305, ('inconveniences danger injustice'); Jackson Sons Lumbermen's N.H. 341, 343, 168 A. 895, 896 La Societe du Gaz de Paris Anonyme Navigation 'Les Armateurs Francais,' (1926) Sess.Cas. (H.L.) 13, 16, 18, ('the Logan (1906) K.B. 141, 149, ('inconvenience' 'injustice'); (4th Ser.) 596, 598 justice'). terminology covered Doctrine Non Conveniens, Cal.L.Rec. 380; Conveniens Law, Col.L.Rev. 1; Inconvenient Forum, 60 Harv.L.Rev. 908; Inappropriate Ill.L.Rev. 867; Place Trial Interstate Application Intrastate Methods Adjustment, 41. Commentators, endorsing wider use critical 884, n. 73, up basis reasoning, 21, 100. reasoning Gore Steel 1954, N.J. 301, 104 A.2d 670, consistent decided after relying involved nonresidents. dicta effect 315, 159, read context court: resident assignee claim corporation. Merchants' Shippers' Ins. A/S Den Norske Afrika Og Australie Line, 65 392. American Express Rouw 173 Ark. 810, 294 S.W. 401; Gamburg Ray, 167 La. 865, 120 So. 480; Arizona Commercial Mining Iron Cap Copper 119 Me. 213, 110 429; Peters Equitable Life Assur. 143, 81 964; Tri-State Transit Mondy, Miss. 714, So.2d 920; Gregonis Coal 235 N.Y. 139 223, la Bouillerie Vienne, 300 60, 89 N.E.2d 15; O'Neill Cunard White Star, 160 446; Saudades, 820. objection creates unreasonable burden interstate commerce, lack near-conclusiveness nevertheless 'high significance.' International Milling Columbia Transportation 292 511, 520, 54 797, 78 1396.

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