Document: 336 U.S. 631 69 S.Ct. 762 93 L.Ed. 931 DEFENSE SUPPLIES CORPORATION et al.v.LAWRENCE WAREHOUSE Co. al. No. 298. Argued Feb. 3, 1949. Decided April 18, Rehearing Denied May 31, See 337 921, 1151. Mr. Morton Liftin, of Washington, D.C., for petitioners. Messrs. Morris Lavine, Los Angeles, Cal., and W. R. Wallace, Jr., San Francisco, respondents. Justice MURPHY delivered the opinion Court. 1 We are asked to assess effect Defense Supplies Corporation's dissolution on an action which it was a party at time dissolution. Petitioners Corporation Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Both arms United States Government.1 2 brought against respondents in District Court Northern California, February, 1944, alleging respondents' neglig nt destruction automobile tires owned by stored Respondents denied their negligence. The Judge tried cause without jury 1945. He ordered case submitted July 16, 1945, January, 1946, found negligence judgment amount $41,975.15 costs, 67 F.Supp. 16; engrossed findings final were entered April, 1946. filed notice appeal June 14, 1946; argued Appeals Ninth Circuit October, 1947, December court affirmed below. 164 F.2d 773. In 1948, rehearing denied. 3 Then discovered that 'did not exist.' Congress had dissolved theretofore successful litigant as 1, Joint Resolution 30, 59 Stat. 310, 15 U.S.C.A. § 611 note, transferred all its assets Corporation—after trial, but before judgment, Appeals, one judge dissenting, granted second petition reconsideration; motion substitute out time; vacated favor Corporation, ordering dismissed. 9 Cir., 168 199. here certiorari, 335 857, 132, because alleged conflict with Gaynor v. Metals Reserve Co., 166 1011, Eighth Circuit. 4 Our decision rests upon interpretation statute dissolving For although our conception corporation centers legislative grant rather than spontaneous existence, see Petrogradsky M. K. Bank National City Bank, 253 N.Y. 23, 30—31, 170 N.E. 479, courts have generally treated corporation's demise much they natural litigant. Mumma Potomac 8 Pet. 281, 287, 945; Colby, 21 Wall. 609, 22 687; Pendleton Russell, 144 640, 12 743, 36 574; Oklahoma Natural Gas Oklahoma, 273 257, 47 391, 71 634. parallel has been subject universal admiration, Marcus, Suability Dissolved Corporations, 58 Harv.L.Rev. 675; is no means exact, Shayne Evening Post Publishing 70, 78, 61 115, 55 L.R.A. 777, 85 Am.St.Rep. 654; Bruun Katz Drug 351 Mo. 731, 173 S.W.2d 906. But least facet analogy seemed too clear permit change 'independent lift power'2 from Congress. Whether phrased terms adherence precedent, congressional acceptance precedent,3 or 'impossibility' proceeding 'without defendant,'4 most held works abatement pending actions.5 5 time-honored feature corporate device entity may be utterly dead purposes, yet enough life remaining litigate actions. All necessary so providing. supra; Pease Rathbun-Jones Engineering 243 273, 277, 37 283, 285, 715, Ann.Cas. 1918C, 1147. Unless statutory observed, however, consequences total attach, and, if we follow supra, cases cited, actions abate. 6 controlling set full margin.6 first section di solves several Government corporations, including Supplies, transfers authority Section provides 'no suit, action, other lawfully commenced any such corporations shall abate * court, supplemental within twelve months after' showing necessity survival, 'may allow same maintained against' Finance. question presented now whether failure deprives petitioner $42,000 judgment. 7 First. agree time. substitution during year after Finance's below March 2, 1948. do think intended gesture futility when stated twelve-month period substitution. Second. read provision conditioning action's continuance: unless became litigant, abated. It therefore jurisdiction enter entered. disagree. states categorically abate.' Following command, made substituting If substituted year, course, end parties left statu quo; there nothing show substituted, cannot continue name. abate, fail why should make additional language proviso. And since allowed conclude valid 10 though LeCrone McAdoo, 217, 40 510, 64 869; Payne Industrial Board, 258 613, 42 462, 66 790; ex rel. Claussen Curran, 276 590, 48 206, 72 720, dictated contrary result. They not. demonstrate validity interpretation. construed substantially under scrutiny now,7 only 'at end' this given expired—that review merits. did suggest judgments improperly. simply dismissed writs error.8 1925 amended. abate,' omitted; new unmistakably conditional substitution.9 called interpret statute, went further LeCrone. below, remanded direction dismiss supra. 11 Three conclusions plus interpretations nearly identical language. merits cause, expired. addition, entered, one-year period. finally robbed vitality appellate proceedings. latter conclusion adheres familiar rule erased subsequent page 646, 745, 574. A.L.R. 1385, n. 1. There good sense departing principle ended purposes. even stayed—a fact does appear record us—the stay would perfecting appeal. position object could perfect jurisdiction, remedied defect held, above, likewise far concerned. that, affect power aside erroneous Appeals. supervisory little value injustice caused stand uncorrected. constricted. case, indicates that. Walling Reuter 321 671, 676, 826, 828, 88 1001, conclusive argument. 13 erred depriving Court, vacate remand directions Finance, real interest, Rule 17(a), Federal Rules Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A.; Heisen Smith, 138 Cal. 216, 219, P. 180, 94 39, then bring 81(b); Mitchell St. Maxent's Lessee, 237, 242—243, 18 326; Freeman, Judgments (5th, ed.), 1091, p. 2268; Town Fletcher Hickman, 165 F. 403; Thomas Thomas, 14 Cal.2d 355, 358, P.2d 810. Scire facias revival, while often considered merely continuation original Payne, 147 687, 690, 442, 443, 332, separate purpose, setting statute. Browne, Manzaneres & Chavez, 181 68, 514, 45 752.10 Vacated remanded. U.S.C. 601 seq., seq.; footnote 6, infra. L. Hand, J., another context, Helvering Proctor, 140 87 89, 155 845. infra, example. Peora Coal Ashcraft, 123 W.Va. 586, 595, 17 S.E.2d 444. problem distinct survival causes action. Fix Philadelphia Barge 290 530, 54 270, 78 481. 'Resolved Senate House Representatives America assembled, That, notwithstanding law, functions, powers, duties, hereinafter designated, hereby transferred, together documents, books account, records, assets, liabilities every kind nature, performed, exercised, administered manner extent originally vested designated dissolved: Plant Company, Rubber created pursuant Act 25, 1940 (54 572), Disaster Loan February 11, 1937 (50 19), joint resolution applies. 'Sec. 2. assume liabilities, arising contract otherwise, resolution. No reason enactment resolution, filled date enactment, obtain determination questions involved, 3. This take 1945.' 310. 'Be enacted That head Department Bureau officer his official capacity, relation discharge death, expiration term office, retirement, resignation, removal but, event, petion filed, thereafter, thereof settlement successor office *.' 30 822. McAdoo resigned Secretary Treasury November 22, 1918. resignation effective took office. New York Times, Nov. 1918, col. 8. Carter Glass Dec. 17, writ 1920. John Barton Director General Railroads 1921. Who Was (Chicago, 1943), 946. Board 1922. where, pendency States, Columbia, Canal Zone, Territory insular possession dies, resigns, otherwise ceases hold competent wherein pending, instance tribunal, continued officer, six death separation satisfactorily shown substantial need continuing maintaining obtaining adjudication involved.' 43 936, 941. view makes unnecessary decide principles estoppel might foreclose attack substitute. Compare Habich Folger, 20 307; Ann.Cas.1918C, 1147; Nor determine entry nunc pro tunc order properly avoided construction. Jackson Smietanka, 272 970, Overman, 103 62, 26 369; Quon Poy Johnson, 352, 359, 346, 348, 680; Shakman Credit System, 92 Wis. 366, 377—378, N.W. 528, 32 383, 53 920; State Waldo Me. 470.

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