Document: 379 U.S. 674 85 S.Ct. 626 13 L.Ed.2d 596 STATE OF TEXAS, Plaintiff,v.STATE NEW JERSEY et al. No. 13, Original. Argued Nov. 9, 1964. Decided Feb. 1, 1965. W. O. Shultz, Asst. Atty. Gen., Austin, Tex., for plaintiff. Charles J. Kehoe, Trenton, N.J., defendant, State of New Jersey. Fred M. Burns, Tallahassee, Fla., intervenor, Florida. Ralph Oman, Topeka, Kan., Life Ins. Ass'n America, as amicus curiae. Joseph H. Resnick, Philadelphia, Pa., Pennsylvania. Augustus S. Ballard, Sun Oil Co. Mr. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion Court. 1 Invoking this Court's original jurisdiction under Art. III, § 2, Constitution,1 Texas brought action against Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Company an injunction declaration rights to settle a controversy which has take title certain abandoned intangible personal property through escheat, procedure with ancient origins2 whereby sovereign may acquire if after number years no rightful owner appears. The in question here consists various small debts totaling $26,461.653 periods approximately seven 40 prior bringing owed 1,730 creditors who have never appeared collect them. amounts owed, most them resulting from failure claim or cash checks, are either evidenced on books Sun's two offices owing persons whose last known address was Texas, both.4 says that should be treated situated so permit escheat it. Jersey claims right same because is incorporated Pennsylvania power part all ground principal business were State. disclaimed any interest itself, asks only protected possibility double liability. Since we held Western Union Tel. v. Com. 368 71, 82 199, 7 139, Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment prevents more than one escheating given item property, granted leave file complaint Sun, 371 873, 83 144, 9 113 referred case Honorable Walter A. Huxman sit Special Master evidence make appropriate reports, 372 926, 869, 732.5 Florida permitted intervene since it claimed portion escheatable obligations 373 948, 1677.6 filed his report, each exceptions it, now ready our decision. We agree Master's recommendation proper disposition property. 2 With respect tangible real personal, always been unquestioned rule jurisdictions located escheat. But such debt person entitled collect, not physical matter can map. creditor live State, debtor another, matters further complicated if, before us, corporation connections many States had several others present unknown. separately without constitutional provide interstate there applicable federal statute, becomes responsibility exercise adopt will allowed 3 Four different possible rules urged upon us by respective parties case. relying numerous recent decisions state courts dealing choice law private litigation,7 significant 'contacts' exclusive test best every involved here. Cf. Mullane Central Hanover Bank & Trust Co., 339 306, 70 652, 94 L.Ed. 865; Atkinson Superior Court, 49 Cal.2d 338, 316 P.2d 960, appeals dismissed cert. denied sub nom. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. Atkinson, 357 569, 78 1381, 1546. proposes, believe, would serve permanent turmoil settled once clear govern types like these refer confidence. issue whether defendant sufficient contact him subject its courts, need exclusive. Compare McGee International 355 220, 223; supra; Shoe Washington, 326 310, 66 154, 90 95.8 Court supra, cannot constitutionally escheated faced very problem deciding State's superior others. applied field really workable at all—it simply phrase suggesting examine circumstances surrounding particular own peculiar facts then try difficult, often quite subjective, decision those pennies dollars seems stronger another's. Under doctrine likely easily convince hope priority—as shown Texas' argument single category assets Some addresses spite fact Texas. uncertainty require effect decide basis devise new apply ever-developing categories facts, might end create much threaten expensive litigation find they lose expenses gain escheats.9 4 hold domicile dobtor—in incorporation. This plan obvious virtues clarity ease application. does, determined primarily principles fairness, too greatly exhalt minor factor incurred over country happened incorporate itself. 5 In some respects where located, persuasive, probably foremost giving benefits economy laws company activities made come into existence. On other hand, but rather liability, strange convert liability asset when decides Case Tax Foreign-Held Bonds, 15 Wall. 300, 320, 21 179. Moreover, application suggests raise sometimes difficult company's 'main office' 'principal place business' whatever designated located. Similar uncertainties result attempt determine created allow Any leaving case-by-case adopted unless none available yet still fair. think proposed Master, based suggested Florida, is. 6 creditor, debtor,10 fairness among requires accorded creditor's debtor's records.11 Such solution line group cases purposes areas law.12 Adoption involves factual simple easy resolve, leaves legal decided. It takes account instead perhaps behind uncashed check negotiated left cash, sole claimant; words, recognizes creditor. recommended tend distribute escheats proportion commercial their residents. And using standard address, technical concepts residence domicile, administration simplified. well vanished lived time obligation arose situations exception, errors thus created, indeed could called errors, large extent cancel out. therefore records.13 questions what done (1) whom record all, (2) does first situation—where address—that corporate provided another later proof within borders. Although mentioned second situation above, is, not, question, recover provision both cut off only, retaining itself until comes forward problems, arise comparative infrequency, conductive needed certainty 8 realize resolved otherwise, controlled statutory provisions past decisions, nor entirely logic. fundamentally equity. believe fairest, apply, long run generally acceptable States. submit decree applying announced opinion. ordered. 10 Decree accordingly. 11 STEWART, dissenting. 12 I adhere view incorporation 'escheat' whereabouts See 80, 204, 139 (separate memorandum). sovereign's recognized extending limits territorial jurisdiction. Intangible spatial existence, another. traditionally thought lodged domiciliary obligation. hypothesis unknown; known. thrice ruled disappeared, Standard 341 428, 71 822, 95 1078; Anderson Nat. Luckett, 321 233, 64 599, 88 692; Security Savings People Statae California, 263 282, 44 108, 68 301. Today overrules three cases. do so. Adherence precedent me far better know not. 'The judicial Power shall extend * Controversies between 'In Cases Party, supreme Jurisdiction.' 28 U.S.C. 1251(a) (1958 ed.) provides relevant part: Supreme of: '(1) All controversies *.' Enever, Bona Vacantia Law England; Note, 61 Col.L.Rev. 1319. amount originally reported Treasurer $37,853.37, payments owners subsequently found reduced unclaimed amount. consisted following: Amounts attempted pay elsewhere, indicated: (a) checks payable employees wages reimbursable expenses: (b) suppliers goods services; (c) lessors oil- gas-producing land royalty payments; (d) 'mineral proceeds,' fractional mineral interests offices. throughout payment Texas: shareholders dividends common stock; refunds payroll deductions former employees; obligations; undelivered stock certificates dividends. motion bill also prayed temporary injunctions restraining taking steps voluntarily agreed act pending determination case, denied. 370 929, 1575, 804. Illinois, sought urge depend indebtedness created. Leave 973, 1108, 140. E.g., Schmidt Driscoll Hotel, Inc., 249 Minn. 376, N.W.2d 365; Auten Auten, 308 N.Y. 155, 124 N.E.2d 99; Haumschild Continental Casualty Wis.2d 130, 814. Clay Insurance Office, Ltd., 377 179, 84 1197, 229; Watson Employers Liability Assurance Corp., 348 66, 75 166, 99 74; cf. Richards United States, 369 585, 492; Vanston Bondholders Protective Committee Green, 329 156, 67 237, 91 162. Nor, concerned legislature regulate affecting court Osborn Ozlin, 310 53, 60 758, 1074. argues least royalties, rents, proceeds derived income fixed situs enough justify treating exception general concerning intangibles. point stresses essentially variation old concept 'mobilia sequuntur personam,' according owner. Blodgett Silberman, 277 10, 48 410, 413, 72 749. inquiry important sums money involved, records debtor, available, last-known address. See, e.g., Baldwin Missouri, 281 586, 50 436, 74 1056; Farmers' Loan Minnesota, 280 98, 371; 410. However, unpaid garnish wherever found. Harris Balk, 198 215, 25 625, 1023. York Dunlevy, 241 518, 36 613, 1140. Connecticut Mutual Moore, 333 541, 682, 92 863. As pointed out 77—78, 202—203, allowing decided conflicting 443, 831, National

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