Document: 446 U.S. 1 100 S.Ct. 1460 64 L.Ed.2d CURTISS-WRIGHT CORPORATION, Petitioner,v.GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. No. 79-105. Argued Jan. 14, 1980. Decided April 22, Syllabus Petitioner brought a diversity action in Federal District Court against respondent, seeking damages and reformation with regard to certain series of contracts between the parties. Various claims were asserted, including $19 million claim for amounts due on already performed. Respondent filed counterclaims. The facts as most counterclaims are dispute, but sole dispute petitioner's balance concerns application release clause each contracts. granted summary judgment petitioner million, plus prejudgment interest at statutory rate 6%, notwithstanding clause. then moved certification this final under Rule Civil Procedure 54(b), which provides that when more than one is presented an action, whether or counterclaim, district court may direct entry fewer all upon express determination there no just reason delay. motion directed after determining was "no delay" finding, inter alia, would not result unnecessary appellate review; finally adjudicated separate from any other counterclaims; nature such have decide same issues once even if subsequent appeals; suffer severe financial loss nonpayment because current rates higher rates; solvency parties significant factor since appeared be financially sound. Dismissing case want appealable order, Appeals held had abused its discretion by granting 54(b) certification, possibility setoff required status quo maintained unless could show harsh unusual circumstances showing been made. Held: did abuse 54(b). Pp. 7-13. (a) In deciding reasons delay appeal individual judgments setting this, must take into account interests sound judicial administration well equities involved. Hence, it proper here consider factors review separable others remaining determined appeals. mere presence nonfrivolous does render inappropriate. 8-9. (b) Appeals' holding absent reflects misinterpretation standard certifications misperception function cases. 9-10. (c) court's exercise judged administration. Under standard, although appeals scrutinize evaluation interrelationship so prevent piecemeal appeals, juridical met, discretionary should given substantial deference, disturb assessment only can say judge's conclusion clearly unreasonable. 10-11. (d) question before came down get benefit difference market debts admittedly owing adjudged while unrelated litigated. While amount respondent owed insignificant factor, took both litigants sound, able satisfy entered. 11-12. 3 Cir., 597 F.2d 35, vacated remanded. Ralph N. Del Deo, Bernardsville, N.J., petitioner. Isaac Groner, Washington, D.C., respondent. Mr. CHIEF JUSTICE BURGER delivered opinion Court. allows dealing multiple parties; do so, make We certiorari order examine use procedural device. 444 823, 43, 62 30 (1979). 2 * From 1968 1972, General Electric Co. entered 21 Curtiss-Wright Corp. manufacture components designed nuclear powered naval vessels. These total value $215 million. 1976, United States New Jersey, complaint asserted based alleged fraud, misrepresentation, breach contract Electric. It also sought outstanding 4 counterclaimed $1.9 costs allegedly incurred "extraordinary efforts" provided during performance enabled avoid default. sought, way recover $52 unjustly enriched these efforts." 5 underlying dispute. As Curtiss-Wright's due, however, contained agreements, states "Seller . agree[s] condition precedent payment, Buyer Government released liabilities, obligations arising virtue order." App. 103a. When contended long remained pending, provision constituted bar recovery undisputed balance. 6 rejected contention otherwise claim. Applying York law agreed bound, entitled payment ruled 6% per annum. 7 Court's orders 54(b),1 provides: 8 "When relief claim, cross-claim, third-party involved, direction judgment. absence direction, form decision, however designated, adjudicates rights liabilities shall terminate parties, decision subject revision time adjudicating parties." 9 expressly made pursuant 10 written statement supporting certify final. acknowledged matter course, remedy reserved infrequent overload courts interlocutory nature. essential inquiry stated "whether, balancing competing factors, finality ordered advance justice litigants." 11 went identify relevant it. found separate, distinct, independent involved; mooted future developments case; 12 Turning considerations litigants, daily rate, situation compounded large money observed complex could, without mean "would span many months, years." 13 Although Electric's consequent weighed court, they outweighed case. Accordingly, certification. stay bond pending appeal. 14 A divided panel Third Circuit controlled Allis-Chalmers v. Philadelphia Co., 521 360 (1975), where stated: 15 "In circumstances, we believe set-off plaintiff, weighs heavily grant certification." Id., 366 (footnote omitted). 16 Allis-Chalmers, defined those "involving solvency, economic duress, etc." 366, n. 14. 17 Circuit's view, resolution litigation. dictated "that remain non-frivolous circumstances." 36 (1979) (per curiam ). inability might seem harsh, noted said forced pay now later prevailed Ibid. 18 concluded dismissed order; vacate finality. petition rehearing suggestion en banc denied. 599 1259 Four judges dissented denial, observing conflict Bank Pueblo Hartford Accident & Indemnity 529 490 (CA10 1976). reverse. II 19 Nearly quarter century ago, Sears, Roebuck Mackey, 351 427, 76 895, L.Ed. 1297 (1956), outlined steps followed making determinations first determine "final judgment." "judgment" sense cognizable relief, "final" "an ultimate disposition course action." U.S., 436, S.Ct., 900. 20 Once having finality, go Not immediately appealable, some unresolved claims. act "dispatcher." 435, 899. left "appropriate time" ready This exercised "in administration." 437, Thus, administrative Consideration former necessary assure effectively "preserves historic federal policy appeals." 438, 901. therefore Judge appeals.2 22 Here saw adjudicated. contrary strongly influenced existence claims, If did, lose much utility. Cold Metal Process Engineering Foundry 445, 904, 1311 explained counterclaims, compulsory permissive, present special problems determinations; evaluated differently 452, 908. Like their significance purposes turns sought. Here, severable terms factual legal conclude otherwise. 23 What objectionable about Judge's circumstances; 24 relied Advisory Committee Rules Procedure, error derives reading description commentary construction. amended 1946, Notes accompanied suggested amendment indicated entire lawsuit generally appropriate unit review, "and rule needed power afford provide simple, definite, workable rule." 28 U.S.C.App., p. 484; F.R.D. 433, 473 (1946). However accurate cases qualifying treatment, phrase "infrequent case" isolation neither nor entirely reliable benchmark review. There indication ever intended drafters such. 25 good court. At time, "[w]ith equally reason, remains reviewable Appeals." 901 (emphasis added). "interest Ibid., Admittedly presents always easily resolved, role reweigh reassess sure conclusions derived weighings assessments juridically supported record. 26 thus two aspects reviewing must, reviewed single units. But "the likely familiar justifiable delay." supra, trial 27 Plainly, require requests routinely. That implicit commending them Because "is, vested primarily" courts, 900-901, number possible situations large, reluctant either fix sanction narrow guidelines follow. satisfied, record reasonable. One considered interest. correctly points out adjustment within province legislature, fact existing differential irrelevant purposes. certifiable, litigant who has successfully reduced his stands surely "just 29 issue liquidated paid "many years" rest litigation expected continue period time. earlier merits contested debt eventually paid. 164a-172a. contest over effect timing isolated strictly central weighing favor created especially survived dismiss failure state 173a-174a. condition, 31 enough, duress insolvency qualify 36. threat insolvency, alone weigh qualifying; very cast doubt capacity produce part prevail Such self-defeating. 32 Nor dispositive factor; position impair ability collect judgment, capable paying most, found, party will become insolvent renders neutral 33 close, task contending peculiarly judge, explore facets noted, deference intimate knowledge reasonable one. justifying delay, 54(b).3 34 vacated, remanded proceedings consistent opinion. 35 ordered. second An denied yet resolved. suggest necessarily improper. would, find sufficiently important nonetheless For example, face appeal, perhaps offset finding certified facilitate settlement remainder See 450, n.5, 907, (1956). note 62(h) certifying enforcement until entering judgments. "may prescribe conditions secure thereof whose entered." Rule, assume protect losing deposit directing Clerk purchase high yield government hold outcome way, valid affect involved determination, preventing instant case, respondent's bond,

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