Document: 406 U.S. 706 92 S.Ct. 1936 32 L.Ed.2d 428 BRUNETTE MACHINE WORKS, LTD., Petitioner,v.KOCKUM INDUSTRIES, INC. No. 70—314. Argued March 23, 1972. Decided June 7, Syllabus Title 28 U.S.C. § 1391(d), providing that '(a)n alien may be sued in any district,' embodies the long-established rule a suit against an is wholly outside operation of all federal venue laws (whether general or special) and governs action for patent infringement alien. The District Court therefore erred holding 1400(b) (which provides brought district defendant's residence, where he has committed acts regular place business) exclusive provision governing litigation. Pp. 708—714. 442 F.2d 420, affirmed. J. Pierre Kolisch, Portland, Or., petitioner. Harry M. Cross, Jr., Seattle, Wash., respondent. Mr. Justice MARSHALL delivered opinion Court. 1 Section 1391(d) United States Judicial Code district.' '(a)ny civil judicial defendant resides, established business.' We are asked to decide which defendant. 2 Respondent Kockum Industries, Inc., Alabama corporation doing business Oregon, holds on machine removes bark from logs. claims petitioner Brunette Machine Works, Ltd., Canadian corporation, infringed by assisting two American manufacturers make sell similar machines.1 obtained service process under State's long-arm statute, Ore.Rev.Stat. 14.035, filed this Oregon. dismissed complaint ground improper venue, accepting Brunette's contention litigation, its requirements were not satisfied here.2 Appeals reversed, applies suits as others, hence subject district. 420 (1971) granted certiorari resolve conflict circuits question.3 404 982, 444, 30 366 (1971). affirm. 3 * district, appeared first time 1948, but roots go back beginning Republic. restrictions courts set forth Judiciary Act 1789: 4 '(N)o shall before either (district circuit) inhabitant States, original other than whereof inhabitant, found at serving writ. . .' Stat. 79.4 5 Because limitation cases might tried applied terms only 'an States,' aliens left unrestricted, could process. 6 provisions remained essentially unchanged until 1875 when Congress substantially revised greatly expanded scope jurisdiction. 18 470.5 In describing class restrictions, statute dropped phrase 'suit States' substituted person.' This held, however, change was stylistic substantive, did thereby bring within laws. re Hohorst, 150 653, 14 221, 37 L.Ed. 1211 (1893). 7 offered reasons Hohorst concluding First, no contemporary significance appears have attached relevant language 1875.6 Second, perhaps more important, hold statutes applicable would effect oust jurisdiction most cases, because framed with reference residence citizenship, definition citizen district.7 reasoned it should lightly assumed intended result, light fact designed, keep out courts, merely allocate appropriate convenient forum.8 8 reasoning respect continues force today. It remains true today here clearly conferred them Congress. Moreover, 79 years since decided, never given slightest indication dissatisfied longstanding view 1789 color statutes, result II 9 Petitioner argues enacting 1400(b), indicated legislative intent reject regulate limited cases. There support petitioner's argument broad prior decisions Twice before, refused apply applicability Stonite Prods. Co. v. Melvin Lloyd Co., 315 561, 62 780, 86 1026 (1942), declared what now 'the controlling proceedings.' Id., 563, S.Ct., 781. held affected 1392(a), relaxes certain restrictive rules involving multiple defendants.9 Similarly, Fourco Glass Transmirra Corp., 353 222, 77 787, 786 (1957), asserted '28 sole actions,' emphasizing character 'a special applicable, specifically, defendants particular type action,' id., 228, 229, 792 (emphasis original). 1391(c), expands purposes corporation.10 10 analysis each case rested heavily history 1400(b). Prior 1893, had been widely, though universally, regarded statutes. Chaffee Hayward, 20 How. 208, 215—216, 15 804, 851 (1858). cast doubt proposition, case, supra. already noted limitations inapplicable defendant.11 further decision, based claim infringement; said Court, part concurrent state court jurisdiction, suits, entrusted exclusively courts. 11 apparent decision even After there great confusion point lower courts.12 responded promptly, creating new occasion: heard also maintained business. 29 695 (1897), codified course law rather less then arising law.13 Over objections some legislators, who see reason treating differently federal-question litigation,14 took opportunity establish separate statute. Thus fair say, Fourco, 1897 placed themselves, legislation. 12 But sheds present case. For totally misconceives origin purpose characterize appendage analogous issue Fourco. derived replace. reflects, rather, those Since reach defendants, suppose substitute do so. Indeed, glimmer evidence points direction. reliable thought about matter 1875, drop ped expressly excluded 1897, enacted apparently quite content leave exempt others. year, exempting Reviser's Notes, provide principal guide interpretation 1948 Code, explain codify commands 'weight authority,' citing pair These control defendant, nor does law. Sandusky Foundry & De Lavaud, 251 F. 631 (ND Ohio 1918); Keating Pennsylvania 245 155 1917). III 13 conclude stating principle overriding application, making adjustment done cannot confined application otherwise fall properly regarded, restriction all, declaration laws, special. That rule, prevailed throughout controls respondent rely 1400(d) shield judgment Affirmed. Respondent's one manufacturers, Oregon pending appeal Ninth Circuit. Inc. Salem Equipment, 25870. 'reside' incorporation. discussed infra, 711 n. 10. And while alleged occurred there. Compare Circuit below Coulter Electronics, A. B. Lars Ljungberg 376 743 (CA7), cert. denied, 389 859, 88 103, 19 124 (1967). Several adopted taken Chas. Pfizer Laboratori Pro-Ter Prodotti Therapeutici, 278 F.Supp. 148 (SDNY 1967); Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. Molins Organizations, 261 436 (ED Va. 1966). wherever 'shall found' deceptively broad. grant consisted almost between parties diverse citizenship. Unlike over 'between citizens different 1332(a)(1) provided State brought, another State.' 78. litigants effectively them, jurisdictional eliminated number important changes made Act, 5, clause diversity rephrased form, 470. extended include 'arising Constitution i.e., 1331(a). rephrased, 4, 661, 224, (1893), Louisville Underwriters, 134 488, 492, 587, 588, 33 991 (1890), Shaw Quincy Mining 145 448, 935, 936, 36 768 (1892), proposition substitution 'has immaterial change.' imposed quoted text: found. 1887, authorizing found: 'inhabitant,' plaintiff resides. 24 552. A suit, necessary satisfy supra, U.S., 660, 223. Today appear §§ 1391(a) (b); they follow 1887 except added arose,' 8, infra. been, still are, occasional gaps proper. One such gap arose connection plaintiffs defendants. Venue fixed well. When reside. Smith Lyon, 133 315, 303, 635 (1890). If resided districts proper venue. 1966 acted close 80 1111, multiple-party situations. development supports intend create gaps, take away hand way other. Thus, construing reasonable prefer construction avoids leaving gap. originally 272, affords relief very small described reside same State, them. 935 (1948), provides: 'A incorporated licensed business, purposes.' See 709—710. 564—565, 781—782, (1942); conflicting collected Cong.Rec. 1901 (1897). 552 (1887), corrected, 25 434 (1888). gave claimants advantage additional alternative infringement. Ironically, far behind. authorized corporate maintains 'regular business,' 'doing 1391(c). 1966, (remarks Cong. Payne).

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