Legal Document

360 U.S. 185 79 Supreme Court Reporter 1060 3 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 1163 COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY, Petitioner,v.FRANK MASHUDA COMPANY, a Partnership, Frank Mashuda, Stanley et al. Number 347. Argued April 2, 1959. Decided June 8, Rehearing Denied Oct. 12, See 80 41. [Syllabus from pages 185-186 intentionally omitted] Mr. Philip Baskin, Pittsburgh, Pa., for petitioner. Harold R. Schmidt, respondents. Justice BRENNAN delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This case presents question whether District may abstain exercising its properly invoked diversity jurisdiction in state eminent domain which exercise that would not entail possibility premature and perhaps unnecessary decision serious federal constitutional question, create hazard unsettling some delicate balance area federal-state relationships, even require to guess at resolution uncertain difficult issues law. We hold such circumstances cannot refuse discharge responsibility, imposed by Congress under 28 Code KF62 §§ 1332 1441, Annotated KF65 U5 1332, 1441 render prompt justice cases where has been invoked. 2 The Board County Commissioners Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, applicable statutes State appropriate certain property respondents, citizens Wisconsin, alleged purpose improving enlarging Greater Pittsburgh Airport. adopted required taking, thereafter petitioned Common Pleas appointment Viewers assess damages taking. A was convened awarded respondents $52,644 compensation their property. Both parties appealed this award pursuant procedure, proceeding is now pending. Subsequent time when obtained possession learned had leased Martin W. Wise, Inc., allegedly private business use. Pennsylvania substantive law clear: 'It settled be taken use power domain.' Philadelphia Clay company versus York Co., 241 Pa. 305, 308, 88 Atlantic 487; see also Winger Aires, 371 242, 89 Reporter, 2nd 521; Lance's Appeals, 55 16. On basis brought suit Western alleging 'at taking only definite plan with regard said land same defendant benefit lessee no public use,' seeking judgment ouster against damages, and, alternative, an injunction restraining further pending court damage proceeding.1 Court, although recognizing invoked, dismissed on ground it 'should interfere administration affairs political subdivision acting color condemnation proceeding.' 154 F.Supp. 628, 629. Appeals reversed, holding challenge validity as make may, must, independent different based citizenship could therefore maintained 256 Federal 241. granted certiorari because important presented discretion case. 358 872, 113, 103. 4 doctrine abstention, decline or postpone jurisditio n, extraordinary narrow exception duty adjudicate controversy before it. Abdication obligation decide can justified exceptional order repair clearly serve countervailing interest. Since justifying abstention appear we think correct should have adjudicated respondents' claim. 5 sanctioned court's postponement presenting issue might mooted posture determination pertinent See, e.g., City Meridian Southern Bell Tel. & 639, 455, 562; Government Civic Employees Organizing Committee, C.I.O. Windsor, 353 364, 77 838, 894; Leiter Minerals, Incorporated States, 352 220, 287, 267; Albertson Millard, 345 73 600, 97 L.Ed. 983; Shipman DuPre, 339 321, 70 640, 94 877; Stainback Mo Hock Ke Lok Po, 336 368, 69 606, 93 741; American Federation Labor Watson, 327 582, 66 761, 90 873; Alabama McAdory, 325 450, 65 1384, 1725; Spector Motor Service, McLaughlin, 323 101, 152, 101; Chicago Fieldcrest Dairies, 316 168, 62 986, 86 1355; Railroad Commission Texas Pullman 312 496, 61 643, 85 971. But there are questions raised 6 upheld grounds comity disrupt administrative process, Burford Sun Oil 319 315, 63 1098, 87 1424; Commonwealth Williams, 294 176, 380, 841, collection taxes, Toomer Witsell, 334 385, 392, 68 1156, 1160, 92 1460; Great Lakes Dredge Dock Huffman, 293, 1070, 1407, otherwise needless friction unnecessarily enjoining officials executing domestic policies, Public Service 341 341, 71 762, 95 1002; Hawks Hamill, 288 52, 53 240, 610. adjudication present disrupting relations. did ask apply paramount prohibit carrying out nor do they seek obvious irritant state-federal relations officials. purely factual expropriated rather than simply applying facts policy take citizen's State's except 7 It true returning invalid sense since longer land. interference, if called interference all, justify exactly contest one prfe ctly clear challenged purposes, proceedings appeal Viewers. Appeals' instructs us procedure applied chosen forum: 'These (Pennsylvania) authorities establish propriety, necessity, testing courts awarded.' page 243. Again stated: 'the involved need not, cannot, action * *.' Ibid. We, course, usually accept found Propper Clark, 337 472, 1333, 1480; Tungus Skovgaard, 588, 596, 503, 508, 524, hesitancy doing so here indication conclusion correct.2 triable separately but Respondents, bears repetition, very effect will adjudication. Instead bringing court, exercised right § institute equivalent citizenship. Certainly considerations satisfied acts toward manner court. 8 suggested, however, avoiding any involving domain, though, case, fact concerns more justifies involves other related sovereignty. Surely mystically 'sovereign prerogative' regulate fishing waters, 1460, intrastate trucking rates, Utilities California 355 534, 78 446, 470, city's bonds without referendum, Meredith Winter Haven, 320 228, 64 7, 9, license motor vehicles, Atchison, T. S.F.R. 357 77, 1063, 1174, host governmental activities carried subdivisions into Courts despite suggestions those stayed hand prior 9 Furthermore, adjudicating many years, suggestion tha th ere entailed cases, approved precisely kind asked early 1878,3 Boom Patterson, 98 403, 25 206. There petitioner, corporation authorized utilize moved condemn respondent's Commissioners, provided relevant statute, trial de novo. At point, respondent removed while 'an sovereign *,' held removal proper correctly involved. concluded: 'But notwithstanding appertains sovereignty, attaches conditions exercise, inquiry observed matter judicial cognizance. If form between parties, subject ordinary incidents civil suit, derogates respect sovereignty State.' U.S., 406. rationale subsequently uphold suits diverse though procedures available practice, Searl School 124 197, 460, 31 415, condemning authority property, Pacific Removal Cases, 115 1, 17—23, 1113, 1121—1124, 29 319. 10 practice challenges his times. East Tennessee, Va. Ga. Telegraph 112 306, 746; Clinton Missouri P.R. 122 469, 1268, 30 1214; Upshur Rich, 135 467, 475—477, 651, 653—654, 34 196 (dictum); Martin's Adm'r Baltimore Ohio 151 673, 683, 14 533, 537, 38 311 Madisonville Traction St. Bernard Mining 239, 251, 49 462; Mason Fort Dodge Boynton, 204 570, 27 51 629; Road Imp. Dist. Lafayette Ark. Louis Southwestern 257 547, 42 250, 364 Cincinnati Vester, 281 439, 50 360, 74 950. Cf. Risty Chicago, R.I. 270 378, 46 236, 641. Trial become common courts.4 Indeed, Rule 71A Rules Civil Procedure, U.S.C.A., 1951, provides detailed specifically provides, subsection (k), 'The herein prescribed governs actions state, makes provision jury, jury commission both, shall followed.' perfectly clear, Notes Advisory Committee pertaining it,5 Rule, intended including land, tried confirmed Court's Stude, 346 574, 290, 317. Although remove he plaintiff proceeding, recognized accordance obtain 11 courts, both after promulgation procedures, resulted misapplication law, inconvenience, States. thorough investigation dmai n courts,6 trying necessarily reflects unobjectionable. 12 Aside complete absence necessitate conflict policy, certain. All necessary dispose determine whether, fact, propriety follows fortiori established principle abstaining course questions. 1174; 470; 1460. 13 undesirability refusal demonstrated Respondents consumed considerable expense pursuing claim unlawfully taken. To them accomplish nothing still another lawsuit, added delay all parties. particular hardship who, besides incurring expense, suffer prolonged unlawful denial ultimately prevail lessee. exacts severe penalty attempt rights access deny 'that promptness elements justice.' Forsyth Hammond, 166 506, 513, 17 665, 668, 41 1095. Two contentions disposed quickly. argues over thus rule applies assumed res, undertake enter incompatible disposition made first short answer contention does rem apparent lies Viewers' proceeding. 'damage' personam what must pay appropriates; contemplate control res 15 urges barred 2283, 2283. That section provides: 16 'A grant stay expressly Act Congress, aid jurisdiction, protect effectuate judgments.' County's theory reconveying judicata proceedings. determie t due mooted. firmly language s has, substance, force enacted March 1793,7 merely litigating thereby moot Kline Burke Construction 260 226, 43 79, 67 governing principle. In breach contract. initiated issue. ruled issued requested statute similar 2283 injunction, contract decisive stated generally seeks personal judgment, cause precluded.' 230, 81. enacting expressed intention modify Thus reason expand plain wording bars injunctions designed ouster. They abandoned County. bar relief 18 Affirmed. 19 CLARK, whom BLACK, FRANKFURTER, HARLAN join, dissenting. 20 says peculiar judge abused here, presently previously filed N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions reveals abuse discretion. disruption processes permit application modern businesslike requires my dissent. 21 took acquire owned enlargement greater effort done, entire Instead, appeared contested objection whatever validity. anaward demanded novo Pleas. thereupon entered upon began improvement. year later attacking suit.1 litigate sole holds abeyance original well therefor. 22 split; being amount remains alone. Admittedly latter. As result, two lawsuits hands, half remainder pends finally prevails three years incident appeal, go back try damages. loses nevertheless start again new amendment old one. plans, shown record, indicate obliged situated adjacent entrance airport proposed enlargement. latter inevitably lead additional delay, occasioned today. 23 describes merry-go-round technical preventing 'added (and) (respondents') Obviously just opposite true. removing waiting filing delayed years,2 bid fair extend period least ruling hand, proceed persisted—as right—in separate easily consolidated therefor trial. This, done state. points up fallacy 'considerations (Federal) court.' is, indeed, poor way administer justice, especially 24 short, say 'exceptional circumstances' majority speaks present. An 'order interest,' namely, orderly Pennsylvania's courts. consideration, bottoms split jurisdictions proposition 'abandoned County.' reality situation already abstained urging hear so, result unseemly race forums head-on collision moving ejectment former Still, since, says, injunctions,' spectacle stopped 'needless policies.' 1941, 500, view these circumstances, show reverse reinstate judge. prayer injunctive oral argument amply supported authorities. E.g., Spann Joint Boards Directors, 381 338, 113 281; Pioneer Coal Cherrytree D.R. 272 43, 116 45; 487. Standard Pa.Practice, chapter 71, 231, 233, 235. this. Suydam Broadnax, Pet. 67, 357; President, Directors Union Bank Tennessee Jolly's Adm'rs, How. 472; Hyde Stone, 170, 874, issues, will, were peculiarly within competence regulate. principles Gaines Fuentes, 710, 524. concerned 'to annul (a will) muniment title, limit operation decree admitting probate.' 20. originally that, wills contested, if, scheme developed State, arose controversy. These articulated Chicot Sherwood, 148 529, 695, 37 546. often determinations concerning wills, Ellis Davis, 109 485, 327, 1006; Hess Reynolds, 73, 377, 927, itself claimed decedent's escheat, McClellan Carland, 217 268, 501, 54 762. Wabash Duncan, Cir., 170 38; Franzen M. 278 KF105 F3 370; re Bensel, 206 369; Broadmoor Land Curr, 142 421; South Dakota Cent. 141 578; Parcels Real Estate Located Madison Iowa, D.C., 159 140; Williams Live Stock Delaware, L. W.R. 285 795; Deepwater Pocahontas Lumber C.C., 152 824; Terminal baron Q.R. 119 209; Kirby N.W.R. 106 551; Sugar Creek, P.B. P.C.R. McKell, 75 34; Kansas T.R. Interstate 3; Mineral Range Detroit Lake Superior Copper 515; Hutchinson, 129. Kaw Valley Drainage Wyandotte Kan. Metropolitan Water 186 315; Fishblatt City, 174 196; Adams Woburn, 192; Hennegan, 249. Moore's Practice (2d ed.) 71A.11; Nichols Eminent Domain (3d 27.8(2). Note Subdivision Rules, printed 71A. note supra; 120; Yale L.J. 600. retained substantially unchanged 1793, Statutes-at-Large 334—335. For discussion origin history, Toucey New Life insurance 314 118, 139, 100. obviously frivolous. urge leasing itscon tractor strip 150 acres condemned amounts abandonment 'public use.' record shows lease contractor small storage concentration supplies performance duties improvement reveal proceeded improvements not. approves, muchneeded years. improvement, obtaining final title frivolous

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