Document: 480 U.S. 1 107 S.Ct. 967 94 L.Ed.2d BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY, Petitioner,v.Alan WOODS and Cara Woods. No. 85-1088. Argued Nov. 4, 1986. Decided Feb. 24, 1987. Syllabus An Alabama statute requires an appellate court, upon affirming a money judgment without substantial modification, to impose 10% penalty on any appellant who had obtained stay of that by executing bond. The statute's purposes are penalize frivolous appeals those interposed for delay, provide appellees with additional compensation having suffer the ordeal appeal. Upon modification respondents in their federal diversity action arising from motorcycle accident, Eleventh Circuit imposed petitioner, which posted bond pending Held: mandatory affirmance has no application judgments entered courts sitting diversity. Pp.3-8 (a) Rule 38 Federal Rules Appellate Procedure affords plenary discretion award damages appellee determining appeal is frivolous. 38's discretionary mode operation conflicts operation. Furthermore, underlying 38—to compensate injured delay added expense inherent therein—are sufficiently coextensive indicate occupies field fact similar coexisting does not mean court could statutory while remaining free exercise its authority, since would improperly limit instances wished less than 10%. Pp.4-8 (b) must be applied under analysis set forth Hanna v. Plumer, 380 460, 85 1136, 14 8, it constitutional rulemaking authority regulates matters can reasonably classified as procedural, affects only process enforcing litigants' rights themselves, therefore violate Enabling Act's prohibition against affecting substantive (28 U.S.C. § 2072). P.8. Reversed. MARSHALL, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. L. Vastine Stabler, Jr., Birmingham, Ala., petitioner. James O. Haley, respondents. Justice MARSHALL This case presents issue whether, actions, apply state imposes fixed appellants obtain stays unsuccessful appeals. 2 * Respondents brought this tort recover injuries sustained accident. Petitioner removed District Court jurisdiction. A jury trial resulted $300,000 respondent Alan Woods $5,000 appeal, Appeals affirmed modification. 768 F.2d 1287 (CA11 1985). 3 then moved Appeals, pursuant Ala.Code 12-22-72 (1986), imposition State's amount judgment. challenged violative equal protection due guarantees Fourteenth Amendment "a procedural rule . inapplicable doctrine Erie Railroad Company Tompkins, 304 64, 58 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938) progeny." App. Pet. Cert. A-5. summarily granted respondents' motion assess subsequently denied petition rehearing. parties have stipulated final been paid, except $30,500 penalty, petitioner withheld proceedings 4 We certiorari consider challenges well claim. 475 1080, 106 1456, 89 714 (1986). Because we conclude imposing decline reach issues. II 5 provides relevant part: 6 "When or decree rendered money, whether debt damages, same stayed execution bond, surety, if affirms below, also enter all obligors judgment, 10 percent thereon costs court. ." (1986).1 7 As statute, then, combination three conditions will automatically trigger penalty: (1) decree, (2) requisite bond,2 (3) E.g., Chapman Rivers Construction Co., 284 Ala. 633, 644-645, 227 So.2d 403, 414-415 (1969). Montgomery Light & Water Power Co. Thombs, 204 678, 684, 87 So. 205, 211 (1920), "additional damages" defending Birmingham Bowen, 254 41, 46-47, 47 174, 179-180 (1950). 8 contends conflict Procedure, should Entitled "Damages delay," provides: "If shall determine frivolous, may just single double appellee." See 28 1912. Under Rule, "damages awarded matter justice appellant." Advisory Committee's Notes Fed.Rule App.Proc. 38, U.S.C.App., p. 492. 9 In (1965), appropriate test resolving between law Rules. initial step when fairly construed, scope "sufficiently broad" cause "direct collision" or, implicitly, "control issue" before thereby leaving room law. Walker Armco Steel Corp., 446 740, 749-750, n. 9, 100 1978, 1984-85, 64 659 (1980); Hanna, supra, U.S., at 471-472, S.Ct., 1143-44. represents valid Congress' originates Constitution bestowed Act, 2072.3 471-474, 1143-45. constraints define reasonableness. regulating indisputably priori constitutional. "which, though falling within uncertain area substance procedure, rationally capable classification either," satisfy standard. Id., 472, 1144. however, contains requirement. "abridge, enlarge modify right. 2072. cardinal purpose Congress authorizing development uniform consistent system rules governing practice procedure suggests incidentally affect do provision necessary maintain integrity rules. 464-465, 1140. Missis Publishing Corp. Murphree, 326 438, 445-446, 66 242, 246, 90 185 (1946); 19 C. Wright, A. Miller, E. Cooper, Practice 4509, pp. 145-146 (1982). Moreover, study approval given each proposed Committee, Judicial Conference, Court, requirement reported period review taking effect, see 2072, give presumptive validity both constraints. 471, 11 Applying analogous Mississippi United States Fifth concluded Affholder, Inc. Southern Rock, Inc., 746 305 (1984), conflicted thus was applicable actions.4 discussed two aspects conflict: compared limited effect penalizing every regardless merit. 308-309. 12 find Circuit's persuasive. "just order takes district court's Thus, Rule's unmistakably Alabama's statute. asserted so preclude actions.5 13 argue that, because alongside Ala.Rule 38; McAnnally Levco, 456 66, 67 (Ala.1984), likewise remain 38. argument, ignores significant possibility may, case, justification penalties lower adopts case-by-case approach identifying deterring appeals; precludes Whatever circumscriptive defining allowed satisfying standard validity. Its displacement satisfies Act. choice made drafters favor themselves. III 15 hold 16 Compare Ky.Rev.Stat. 26A.300 (1985) (mandatory second appeal); Miss.Code Ann. 11-3-23 (Supp.1986) (15% stay); Va.Code 16.1-113 (10% stay). law, providing acceptable surety amount, 125% tried 8(a)(1). Article Constitution, augmented Necessary Proper Clause I, cl. 18, empowers establish and, impliedly, litigation these courts. authorized prescribe govern "practice procedure" Though involved Civil analytical framework well, were prescribed 1, App., 466. applies regard (Supp.1986). Walters Inexco Oil 725 1014, 1016-1017 held actions. Later year, overruled Walters, expressly rejected decision, Proctor Gissendaner, 587 182 (1979) (per curiam ), now considering. F.2d, 311. discussing dealt "non-federal matter" 184. decision among adopted binding precedent following creation 1981, Bonner Prichard, 661 1206, 1209 (1981), apparent rationale present case. 37 further indication occupy Since operates victorious lost use proceeds during 37, already serves postjudgment interest 1961. addition, note provisions availability condition procurement exposure payment event unlike allow security discretion. Fed.Rules Civ.Proc. 62(d) 62(g) 8(b) 8(b). 1651.

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