Legal Document

349 U.S. 70 75 Supreme Court Reporter 614 99 L.Ed. 897 Evelyn RICE, Petitioner,v.SIOUX CITY MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY, Inc., et al. Number 28. Argued Nov. 8, 9, 1954. Decided May 1955. On Petition for Rehearing. Mr. Lowell C. Kindig, Sioux City, Iowa, petitioner. Jesse E. Marshall, respondents. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This is an action damages brought by plaintiff, petitioner here, in District Woodbury County, to compensate her mental suffering claimed flow from defendant cemetery's refusal bury husband, a Winnebago Indian, after services had been conducted at grave site and burial party disbanded. Plaintiff founded action, so far as here relevant, on breach contract whereby undertaken afford plaintiff 'Right Sepulture' specified lot its cemetery. The sale also provided that 2 'burial privileges accrue only members Caucasian race.' 60 North Western Reporter, 2nd Series 112 3 asserted this provision was void under both Iowa United States Constitutions recognition validity would violate Fourteenth Amendment. By amendment complaint, violation Nations Charter. defense anchored clause bar action. 4 After abortive attempt remove case federal courts, D.C., 102 F.Supp. 658, defendants moved dismiss amended petition state court. motion denied, except insofar relied Charter, dismissed. Following procedure, trial court entertained motions parties requesting it adjudicate prior points law relating effect restrictive covenant. ruled not but unenforceable public policy States. Nevertheless, held 'may be upon defense' 'the or permitting stand terms defend constitute action' contrary Fifth Amendments. It again Charter irrelevant, finally 5 affirmed, reasoning decision Shelley versus Kraemer, 334 1, 68 836, 92 1161, when considered conjunction with In re Civil Rights Cases, 109 3, 18, 27 835, did require ignore such raised reform enforcing without regard clause. further provisions 'have no bearing case' none grounds based local sustained 245 147, 110, 117. We granted certiorari, 347 942, 74 938, 98 1091. 6 basis petitioner's resort primarily Amendment, through Due Process Equal Protection Clauses. Only if State deprives any person denies him enforcement right guaranteed Amendment can protection invoked. Such claim involves threshold problem whether, circumstances case, what amounted 'state action.' complicated which long has divided See, e.g., Raymond Chicago Union Traction Co., 207 20, 28 7, 52 78; Snowden Hughes, 321 64 397, 88 497; Terry Adams, 345 461, 73 809, 97 1152. also, Barrows Jackson, 346 249, 1031, 1586. Were hurdle cleared, ultimate substantive question, whether complained condemned turn present easy constitutional problem. 7 argued stark fact evently divided. 348 880, 122. accordance undeviating practice, indication given regarding division. 8 addition familiar though vexing problems law, there reference opinions courts briefs counsel dismissed summarily some general hortatory language Treaty, concerned itself exercise treaty-making power Constitution, constituted limitation rights persons otherwise reserved them Constitution. redundancy add is, course, inference division reflected diversity question. 9 our affirmance necessity Court, filed rehearing before full consideration attention now focused statute enacted since commencement litigation. Though existence time first came then seen proper focus because blanketed issues interest enlisted. bars question presented arising State. light standards governing discretionary review writ we have anew one 'there are special important reasons' granting required Rule 19, Code Annotated KF65 U5 10 Rule, formulated 30 years ago, embodies criteria, developed ever Evarts Act 1891, determines particular merits consideration, due functioning limited reviewing confined, decisively restricted creation intermediate Courts Appeals more largely confined Judiciary 1925. illustrating character reasons may deemed 'special important', refers cases 11 'Where decided substance theretofore determined court, way probably accord applicable decisions court.' 12 A 'of substance' sense that, abstractly considered, intellectually interesting solid But does sit satisfy scholarly issues. Nor benefit litigants. Magnum Import company Coty, 262 159, 163, 43 531, 532, 67 922; see Address Chief Vinson, American Bar Association, Sept. 1949, 69 Sup.Ct. v, vi; Law Institute, 10, 1934, XI Proc.Am.Law Inst. 313. 'Special imply reach beyond academic episodic. especially true where involved dimensions, comes into play Court's duty avoid unless avoidance becomes evasion. Cf. classic rules stated Brandeis Ashwander Tennessee Valley Authority, 297 288, 341, 56 466, 480, 80 688. 13 certiorari granted, according least four despite rather unique Iowa's willingness enforce covenant rendered important.' were unmindful corrective legislation implications. While cited quotation, tangential support argument, while similar passing references appear respondent's opposition merits, even suggested ground opposing grant. Its importance put identifying perspective, emerge significance sifting process annual hundreds petitions pass. Argument other forestalled intensive study attendant opinion-writing might well revealed crucial relevance statute. 14 These oversights should compounded disregard impact enactment viewed settled previously attention, concerning private provides: 15 'Section 1. Any corporation form organization organized engaging business laws wheresoever ownership, maintenance operation cemetery * churches religious established fraternal societies, incorporated cities towns political subdivisions shall subject chapter. 16 'Sec. 8. unlawful chapter deny privilege interment remains deceased solely race color person. contract, agreement, deed, covenant, restriction charter entered into, by-law, rule regulation adopted force, either subsequent effective date chapter, authorizing, requiring hereby declared null conflict state. 17 9. person, firm violating shall, conviction, punishable fine less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor hundred ($100.00). 18 12. Nothing contained affect pending 19 'Approved April 21, 1953.' Laws 1953, 84; Ann. §§ 566A.1 566A.11. 20 As result Act, statutory penalties applicable, position entitled recover civil See Humburd Crawford, 128 743, 105 Northwestern KF135 N69 330; Brown Judge Haw. Hawai‘i Reports KFH45 A2 Bell 146 89, 123 231, 124 901, L.R.A.,N.S., 407; Amos Prom, D.C.N.D.Iowa, 117 615. 21 Had properly thereby focus, assumed isolated hardly rought instance.1 adjudication claims pressed promotive very social considerations evidently inspired Legislature provide against kind discrimination complaint made. hand, hesitate pass judgment unconstitutional found, already rectified possible error. unnecessarily discourage remedial condonation incident. Moreover, evident difficulties suggest absence compelling reason, risk inconclusive divisive disposition illumine completely outmode dispute. 22 factors among many must weighed 'sound judicial discretion' requires. taken opportunity explain their relevance, normally, obvious view volume business, accompanies dismissal improvidently apt illustration kinds considerations, those listed illustrative exhaustive, preclude surface appearance importance. 23 therefore order November 15, 1954, affirming equally vacated granted. There nothing about argument. sixty occasion accompanied dismissal.2 different unusual. impressive practice proves hesitated advanced stage appears deliberation, induced new appropriate adjudication. words Taft, speaking unanimous Court: 24 'If much effort alleged enabled us dispose answer consistent involving principles settlement public, distinguished parties, real embarrassing authority between Circuit Appeals.' Layne & Bowler Corporation Well Works, 261 387, 393, 422, 423, 712. 25 Writ 26 ordered. HARLAN took part case. 29 BLACK, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE DOUGLAS join, dissenting. think unusual justify Our objections dismissals stronger when, do agree dismissal. serious questions denial equal Those remain undecided. dismisses every who suit prosecute like this. Apparently leaves everyone free vindicate raises prompted take originally. cannot justified merely whose unconstitutionally denied. Columbia Sweeney, 310 631, 1082, 84 1402, denied 'in tax laid repealed importance.' Rimer, 220 547, 31 596, 55 578; Furness, Withy Yang-Tsze insurance Ass'n, 242 430, 37 141, 61 409; Tyrrell Columbia, 243 361, 557; Houston Oil Texas Goodrich, 440, 38 140, 62 385; 712; Southern Power Carolina Public Service 263 508, 44 164, 413; Keller Adams-Campbell 264 314, 356, 705; Davis Currie, 266 182, 45 88, 234; Erie R. Kirkendall, 185, 33, 236; California Edison Herminghaus, 275 486, 48 27, 72 387; Mellon McKinley, 492, 34, 390; Missouri-Kansas-Texas Texas, 494, 82, 391; Ellison Koswig, 276 598, 625, 320, 724; Johnson Thornburgh, 601, 322, 725; Carter Eli, 277 573, 435, 994; Standard Pipe Line Commissioners Index Sulphur Drainage Dist., 278 558, 49 17, 504; Seaboard Air (New York, St. L.R. Granfell) 576, 95, 515; Empire Gas Fuel Saunders, 581, 184, 518; Virginian Kirk, 582, Wallace Motor Products Corp., 279 589, 522; Sutter Midland 280 521, 50 65, 590; Anglo London-Paris Nat. Bank San Francisco Consolidated Tucson, 526, 87, 593; Gulf, Mobile N.R. Williams, 86, Wisconsin Electric Dumore 282 813, 51 214, 728; Adam New York Trust 814, Director Lands Philippine Islands Villa-Abrille, 283 785, 1413; Sanchez Borras, 798, 490, 1421; Elgin, Joliet E.R. Churchill, 284 138, 76 508; Red River Bayou Des Glaises Levee Dist. Louisiana, 592, 198, 510; Lang States, 286 523, 495, 1267; Franklin-American Louis 533, 642, 1274; Louisville Nashville Parker, 287 569, 53 94, 77 501; Sevier Commission Wallowa Bank, 575, 120, Fort Smith Suburban Kansas City 288 587, 85, 513; Boynton Hutchinson 292 54 639, 78 1464; Lynch People ex rel. Pierson, 293 52, 16, 79 191; Hunt Casualty 530, 207, 639; Fox Film Muller, 294 696, 444, 1234; Automobile Association Glick, 697, 550, 1235; Moor N.O.R. 101, 372, 509; Neill, 302 645, 58 118, 82 Aetna Illinois Central 652, 269, 505; Tax Ohio Wilbur, 304 544, 1036, 1518; Goodman 305 578, 59 363, 83 364; Goins 306 622, 783, 1027; McGoldrick Gulf 309 2, 375, 536; Utilities Potter, 312 662, 804, 85 1109; Harris Zion's Savings 313 541, 840, 1509; Jones Opelika, 315 782, 630, 86 1189; Gorman Washington University, 316 98, 962, 1300; McCullough Kammerer 323 327, 65 297, 89 273; McCarthy Bruner, 673, 126, 547; White Ragen, 324 760, 978, 1348; Woods Nierstheimer, 328 211, 66 996, 90 1177; Phyle Duffy, 431, 1131, 1494; Hedgebeth Carolina, 806, 1185, 1739; Superior Lillefloren, 335 906, 410, 93 440; Loftus Illinois, 337 935, 1511, 1741; Parker Los Angeles 338 161, 94 144; Hammerstein California, 341 491, 71 820, 95 1135; Stembridge Georgia, 343 834, 96 1130; Edelman 344 357, 293, Bentsen Blackwell, 925, 528, 1078; 932, 354. list comprehensive. argument become clear these numerous instances turned out illusory; others, wanting could rested non-federal ground; number, became manifest litigants issue immediate significance.

Classification Label: 8