Legal Document

346 U.S. 338 74 Supreme Court Reporter 83 98 L.Ed. 39 OLBERDING et alv.ILLINOIS CENT. R. CO., Incorporated Number 27. Argued Oct. 15, 1953. Decided Nov. 9, Mr. William L. Mitchell, Evansville, Ind., for petitioners. James G. Wheeler, Paducah, Ky., respondent. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered the opinion of Court. 1 For present purposes facts may be briefly stated. The railroad brought suit in United States District Western Kentucky against Olberding, owner a truck, which, while on temporary business Kentucky, collided with an overpass railroad, causing subsequent derailment. Jurisdiction was based diversity citizenship, plaintiff being Illinois corporation and Olberding citizen Indiana. apprised action through service process Secretary State Frankfort, according to Non-resident Motorist Statute.1 He entered special appearance moved that case dismissed ground improper venue. motion overruled went trial, resulting verdict plaintiff. Appeals Sixth Circuit affirmed, 201 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series 582. Its ruling venue, situation here presented, is direct conflict First Martin versus Fishbach Trucking Co., 183 53, which Third has recently agreed, McCoy Siler, 205 498. To resolve conflict, we granted certiorari. 345 950, 73 867. 2 This horse soon curried. Congress, conferring jurisdiction district courts cases solely been explicit confine such suits 'the judicial where all plaintiffs or defendants reside.' 28 Code KF62 § 1391(a), Annotated KF65 U5 1391(a). not qualification upon power court adjudicate, but limitation designed convenience litigants, and, as such, waived by them. plaintiff, bringing other than authorized statute, relinquished his right object But unless defendant also consented used district, he invoke protection Congress afforded him. requirement venue specific unambiguous; it one those vague principles interest some overriding policy, given 'liberal' construction. 3 It claimed either corporate individual 'resident' Kentucky. sole reason why allowed bring this federal consent sued state attributed defendant. And attribution then made basis waiver rights under provision. Concededly did fact consent. impliedly consented, so argument runs, simply driving automobile highways familiar statute holding non-resident motorists amenable accidents caused their negligent operations within State. 4 true order ease new decisions are fitted into pre-existing modes analysis there fictive talk effect can subjected state's 'impliedly' there. In point fact, however, these does rest at all. See Scott, over Nonresident Motorists, Harv.L.Rev. 563. protest high heaven unwillingness avails him not. liability rests inroad decision Pennoyer Neff, 95 714, 24 565, many aspects our social scene. potentialities damage motorist, population mobile ours, whom injures must have opportunities redress provided only opportunity defend himself. We held fair rule law between resident injured party (for whose statutes primarily intended) requirements due therefore met. Hess Pawloski, 274 352, 47 632, 71 1091. conclude from who never anything altogether immaterial, actually agreed thus surely move world Alice Wonderland. motorist comes can, consistent Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment, approppriate nothing whatever do 5 conclusion entirely loyal reasoning Neirbo company Bethlehem Corp., 308 165, 60 153, 84 167. There defendant, Delaware corporation, New York Southern York, found what now 1391(a) satisfied because had designated agent 'upon summons served York.' page 175, 158, constituted 'actual consent' iess 'part bargain enjoys freedom York'. Ibid. further held, following Ex parte Schollenberger, 96 369, 377, 853, extended sitting both state. Of course doctrine would equally apply situations validly require designation condition carrying activities its borders, made. Kane Jersey, 242 160, 37 30, 61 222. no required made, hence applicability. judgment 6 Reversed. 7 DOUGLAS concurs result. 8 REED, MINTON joins, dissenting. 9 unfortunate uniformity availability, important field torts out-of-state motorists, causes me dissent views Under 167, different applied motor committed foreign corporations doing own car From & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions assume driven therein immune bars seeking damages, allegation diversity, nonresident operator having place accident vehicle involved. 10 No question raised constitutionality secure presence respond damages. form generally approved our-of-state wrongdoers operation, subject attack lack process.1 single issue decided waive 1391(a): 11 'A civil wherein founded citizenship may, except otherwise law, 12 provision substantially same when decided. clause read: 13 '* * citizens States, shall residence defendant.' 14 since state, pages 171, 156, led subjection litigation leads should likewise held. lengthened radius individual's activities. upheld constitutional states compel wrongs, use automobile, happening. done benefiting privilege Courts consistently ruled appointment venue.2 15 see difference substance signing paper acceptance, car, using statute. each Both Corporation my opinion, objection determined 'formal implied appointment' 'is substantial' Clause. 357, 633, 1091.3 if achieve like desirable result, trial logical place, location incident gives rise cause action. 16 affirm judgment. Ky.Rev.Stat.1953, §§ 188.020—188.030. 1091, provides operates makes any arising out operation. set up procedure serving State, turn notify registered mail. On hand, consideration 222, specifically register annually formally designate might served. Penalties were roads without complying requirements. involved far pertinent 'The acceptance privileges conferred section three four, evidence operating thereunder, operation public way commonwealth said sections, deemed equivalent registrar successor office, lawful attorney processes proceeding him, growing collision way, signification agreement legal force validity personally.' Mass.Acts 1923, chapter 431, 2. 'of secretary proceedings state.' McKinney's N.Y.Consol.Laws, 23, General Law, 210. reads: 'Any accepts laws nonresidents operate vehicles them operated shall, make instituted occurring involved.' Ky.Rev.Stat. 1948, 188.020. Falter Southwest Wheel D.C., 109 F.Supp. 556; Archambeau Emerson, 108 28; Jacobson Schuman, 105 483; Kostamo Brorby, 806; Burnett Swenson, 524; Thurman Consolidated School Dist., 94 616; Urso Scales, 90 653; Steele Dennis, 62 73; Krueger Hider, 48 708. Contra: Waters Plyborn, 93 651. Cf. Knott Furman, Cir., 163 199. Massachusetts, Eastern Virginia, injuries received during hotel fire. military reservation. written officer filed corporation. Venue challenged Fourth provisions '3. If appointed Commonwealth herein, Virginia thereby hereinafter forth.' Va.Code Supp.1946, 3846a. language certainly analogous Kenutucky n. 1, supra.

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