Document: 338 U.S. 294 70 S.Ct. 105 94 L.Ed. 100 BROWNv.WESTERN RAILWAY OF ALABAMA. No. 43. Argued Oct. 19, 1949. Decided Nov. 21, Opinion Conformed to Feb. 2, 1950. See 57 S.E.2d 454. Mr. Richard M. Maxwell, Atlanta, Ga., for petitioner. Herman Heyman, respondent. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Petitioner brought this action in a Georgia state court claiming damages from respondent railroad under Federal Employers' Liability Act. 45 U.S.C. § 51 et seq., U.S.C.A. seq. Respondent filed general demurrer complaint on ground that it failed 'set forth cause and is otherwise insufficient law.' The trial sustained dismissed action. Court Appeals affirmed, 77 Ga.App. 780, 49 833, Supreme denied certiorari. It agreed law dismissal final adjudication barring recovery any future proceeding. petition certiorari here presented question whether did set sufficient survive resulting dismissal. Certiorari was granted, 336 965, 69 939, because implications were considered important correct uniform application federal act courts. Brady v. Southern R. Co., 320 476, 64 232, 88 239. 2 First. held 'Stripped its details, shows plaintiff injured while performance his duties when he stepped large clinker lying alongside track yards. * mere presence yard cannot be said constitute an negligence. Insofar as allegations show, sole accident stepping clinker, which able see could have avoided.' reached foregoing conclusins by following rule practice construe pleading 'most strongly against pleader.' Following local construction 'In absence contrary, inference arises (the plaintiff's) vision unobscured seen avoided clinker.' 783, 835. Under same found no precise allegation particular petitioner stumbled beside tracks due respondent's 3 contended binding us. argument courts are without power detract 'substantive rights' granted Congress FELA cases, they free follow their own rules 'practice' 'procedure.' To what extent procedure may themselves dig into troublesome at best shown very case relies. Central Vermont Co. White, 238 507, 35 865, 59 1433, Ann.Cas.1916B, 252. Other cases Court1 point up impossibility laying down distinguish 'substance' Fortunately, we need not attempt do so. A long series previously decided, reason depart, makes our duty ourselves order determine has been right him Congress. This defeated forms practice. American Ry. Exp. Levee, 263 44 11, 12, 68 140. And accept court's interpretation asserting it. First National Bank Guthrie Center Anderson, 269 341, 346, 46 135, 137, 295; Davis Wechsler, 22, 24, 13, 14, 143; Covington & L. Turnpike Road Sandford, 164 578, 595 596, 17 198, 204—205, 41 560. applies less than other types. Reynolds Atlantic C.L.R. 207, 507; Anderson Atchison, T. S.F. 333 821, 854, 92 1108; cf. Lillie Thompson, 332 459, 140, 73. 4 Second. We hold should dismissed. charged had allowed 'clinkers' debris 'to collect yards along side tracks'; such made 'yards unsafe'; thus supply reasonably safe place work, but directed work 'under conditions above described'; necessary cross over all material debris'; performing 'ran around' engine 'stepped aforesaid caused fall injured'; petitioner's injuries 'directly proximately whole or part negligence defendant (a) In failing furnish with herein alleged. (b) leaving clinkers aforesaid, well knowing condition dangerous use brakemen, working therein would perform condition.' 5 out since if proven show injury kind provided recovery. These allegations, fairly construed, much more charge yeards.' They also permitted left tracks, 'well knowing' workers; compelled 'cross over' debris; doing so fell injured; violation railroad's work. Certainly these permit introduction evidence jury might infer Bailey Ry., Inc., 319 350, 353, 63 1062, 1064, 87 1444. already refused aside judgment coming where yard. Puckett, 244 571, 574, 37 703, 705, 61 1321, Ann.Cas.1918B, 69, affirming 16 551, 554, 85 S.E. 809, 811. 6 Here decided matter drawn facts alleged case. Rather itself pleadings reverse proximate Throughout appellate clearly reveals preoccupation deemed failure take proper precautions.2 But necessarily admits, contributory does preclude FELA. 7 Strict used impose unnecessary burdens upon rights authorized laws. 'Whatever springes State those who endeavoring assert confers, assertion rights, plainly made, name practice.' supra, page 14. Cf. Maty Grasselli Chemical 303 197, 58 82 745. Should fail protect federally created over-exacting requirements meticulous pleadings, desirable uniformity achieved. 479, 234, 8 Upon offered support inferences simply error dismiss try 205, 560; Atchison 1108. 9 reversed remanded further proceedings inconsistent opinion. 10 Reversed remanded. 11 DOUGLAS took consideration decision 12 FRANKFURTER, whom JACKSON joins, dissenting. 13 Insignificant appears surface, disposition depends adjustment between two judicial systems enforcement both. This, bears recalling, factor federalism needless friction. 14 Have disrespected land review? Since empowers entertain suits Act, wilfully shut cases. Second Cases (Mondou New York, N.H. H.R. Co.), 223 1, 32 169, 56 327, 38 L.R.A., N.S., 44. empowered creatures States, structures functions States devise define. imposed jurisdiction claims Act 'as valid excuse.' Douglas Haven 279 377, 388, 355, 356, 73 747. Again, dispensed civil modified common-law jury, must system finds chooses bring suit State. Minneapolis St. L.R. Bombolis, 241 211, 36 595, 60 961, Ann.Cas.1916E, 505, L.R.A.1917A, 86. After all, always available. 15 So also, varying One cherish formalities another, one responsive another procedural reforms. If litigant enforce court, heard object treated exactly plaintiffs press like arising regard form claim stated—the particularity, instance, described. law, though invoked delimits claim—defines gives goes prove stated different exacts obligations it, requirement add to, diminish, defined nor burden realization actualities litigation. Of course 'this concluded' view regarding sufficiency defense. merely means defeat substance denial Nor can guise professing prescribe how formulated. Express crucial enforced pleading, however finicky, applicable litigation qualifying basis weighting scales plaintiff. Compare Norfolk, Ferebee, 269, 781, 1303; adhere put 'unreasonable obstacles way' seeks obtain him. 25, 143. 18 decisive differences usually conveyed terms 'procedure' 'substance.' meaningless even fixed undeviating meanings. derive content serve precisely way applied them situations—when confronted problem respected State-created required Erie Tompkins, 304 64, 817, 1188, 114 A.L.R. 1487, impaired mode business. Review aspect judgments presents essentially dealt Guaranty Trust York 326 99, 65 1464, 89 2079, 160 1231, last Term Ragan Merchants Transfer Warehouse 337 530, 1233, Cohen Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp., 541, 555, 1221, 1229. rights. Neither impair respective both stating (pleading) conducting (practice). 19 light controlling considertions, I find either sought evade United unwittingly. That showed full awareness nature scope laid Court's decisions.1 fully recognized founded carrier part, 'assumption risk' rigorously excluded, damages. claimed presumptions placed proof exceeding All conscientiously apply understanding according particularity. Concretely ruled 'The negligence.' For appears, effect, there circumstances responsibility defendant. On assumptions met plaintiff's complaint, phraseology chargeable neglect offending operated carrier. read complaint. taking constrained view. By contracted hobbled getting entitled. 20 credible wanting rules, many words defendant's negligence, detailed responsible, although range open thereby affected. says effect applying stiff doctrine construing most pleader. reflect something pernicketiness seventeenth-century common pleading. Had given leave amend satisfy elegancies here. With knowledge niceties opportunity. Code 81-1301 (1933).2 He chose stand demurrer. thereafter authorizes collide law. 21 affirm judgment. Angel Bullington, 330 183, 67 657, 91 832; 1231; Garrett Moore-McCormack 317 239, 246, 239; Louis, T.R. Seale, 229 156, 157, 33 651, 652, 1129, Ann.Cas.1914C, 156; Tex.Civ.App., 148 S.W. 1099; Toledo, W.R. Slavin, 236 454, 457—458, 306, 307, 671; Ohio 536, 106 N.E. 1077. Brinkmeier Missouri P.R. 224 268, 412, 758, Seaboard Air Line Renn, 290, 567, 1006. among things said: *. avoided. he, outside intervention, look, fell.' Indeed, history Georiga legislation indicates before humane harsh allowing employees Ga.Laws 1855—56, p. 155; Augusta S.R. McElmurry, 24 Ga. 75; Bodd, Administration Workmen's Compensation 13—14 (1936). Wells John G. Butler's Builders' Supply 128 37, 40, 55, 57; Cahoon Wills, 179 195, 175 563; Note, 570, 574 (1937); Shulman, Practice Procedure 96 (1948).

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