Legal Document

434 U.S. 35 98 Supreme Court Reporter 88 54 United States Reports Lawyer’s Edition 2d Series KF101.8 U54 218 CITIZENS AND SOUTHERN NATIONAL BANK, Petitioner,v.Nick BOUGAS. Number 76-398. Argued Oct. 3, 1977. Decided Nov. 8, Syllabus r 12 Code KF62 § 94, which provides that actions against a national bank may be brought in any federal district court within the "established" or state county city is "located" having jurisdiction such cases, venue for suit need not where bank's charter was issued but conducts its business at an authorized branch. Pp. 38-45. 138 Ga.App. 706, 227 South Eastern Reporter, 2nd 434, affirmed. William C. Humphreys, Jr., Atlanta, Ga., petitioner; Daniel baron Hodgson, on brief. Michael Judge Kovacich, Decatur, respondent. Mr. Justice BLACKMUN delivered opinion of Court. 1 This case presents issue state-court transitory cause action bank. The filed branch and different specified charter. 2 governing statute Rev.Stat. 5198, 94: 3 "Actions proceedings association under this chapter had Territorial held established, State, county, municipal said located similar cases." 4 dispute obviously centers word as it employed statute.1 5 * Petitioner Citizens Southern National Bank banking association. It received from Comptroller Currency May 2, 1927. "place operations . are to carried on,"2 described "City Savannah, County Chatham State Georgia." App. 13. For some time now, however, has done only Savannah also branches, under, 36, other Georgia counties. Tr. Oral Arg. 4. One these branches Decatur De Kalb County. See versus & Nat. Bank, 422 86, 92 n. 4, 95 2099, 2104-05, 45 41 (1975). adjoins Fulton County; Atlanta lies both. 6 In late June 1975 respondent Bougas sued petitioner His complaint He sought actual punitive damages alleged conversion $25,000 savings certificate deposited by him collateral his son's note signed surety. 7 accompanied answer with motion dismiss respondent's "on grounds improper lack over Defendant." 9. asserted "in issued," is, petitioner, Ibid. denied motion. Pet. Certiorari A5. Appeals granted application interlocutory appeal, due course (1976).3 We certiorari, 429 1071, 97 807, 50 789 (1977), order resolve apparent conflict, hereinafter noted, among courts their construction when defendant conducting outside county. 8 Two issues suggested parties: (1) Where "located," meaning purposes court, county? (2) event, does conduct constitute waiver, presumptive, restriction 94 otherwise imposes? decide adversely first do reach question waiver. II 9 prior occasion consider 94. now settled statute's provision concerning courts, despite presence what might regarded permissive language, "is permissive, mandatory, and, therefore, 'that banks those located.' "4 Associates Obstetrics, 425 460, 461, 96 1632, 1633, 48 (1976), quoting Mercantile Langdeau, 371 555, 561, 83 520, 523, 523 (1963). Radzanower Touche Ross Co., 426 148, 152, 1989, 1992, 540 (1976); Cope Anderson, 331 467, 67 1340, 1343, 91 L.Ed. 1602 (1947). provision, been privilege personal bank, subject Charlotte Morgan, 132 141, 145, 10 37, 38, 33 282 (1889); U.S., 12, S.Ct., 523. our view, language command itself equate designated organization formal insists Court's reference Langdeau effect ruling would recognize jurisdictional requirements "would render altogether meaningless congressional enactment permitting home county," id., 560, "implicitly entails conclusion cannot wherein operates banks." Brief 17. This, overstates holding did concern all. starting point, conclusion, resolution present case.5 III 11 Atlantic lower appear unanimous encompasses place E. g., Leonardi Chase 81 Federal 19, 21-22 (CA2), cert. denied, 298 677, 56 941, 80 1398 (1936); Northside Iron Metal company Dobson Johnson, Inc., 480 798, 799-800 (CA5 1973). 7A Michie, Banks Banking, ch. 15, 220a(4) (1973 ed.); Moore, Lucas, Haw. Hawai‘i KFH45 A2 Fink, D. Wecksteen, Wicker, Moore's Practice ¶ 0.144[2.-1] (1977). rule, without scholarly criticism. Steinberg, Waiver Venue Act: Preferential Treatment Banks, 62 Iowa L.Rev. 129 Comment, Restricted Suits Against Banks: A Procedural Anachronism, 15 Wm. Mary 179 (1973); Note, An Assault Sanctuary 34 Geo.Wash.L.Rev. 765 (1966); ALI, Study Division Jurisdiction Between Courts 77, 412-413 (1969). Ronson Corporation Liquifin Aktiengesellschaft, 483 852, 855 (CA3 concerned case, aspect venue, we have no here review rulings. 13 decided cases less than three diverse interpretations 1. Several rulings words functionally synonymous. Absent restrict Ebeling Continental Illinois Trust 272 Cal.App.2d 724, 726-727, 77 Cal.Rptr. 612, 614 (1969); Gregor Schaefer Sons, Incorporated Watson, 26 A.D.2d 659, N.Y.S.2d 790, 791 Prince Franklin Misc.2d 855, 310 390, 391 (Sup.Ct.1970). 220b ed.).6 14 2. contrast, decisions hold purposes, said, maintains doing general business, even though, federal-court Security Mills, Asheville, Wachovia 281 N.C. 525, 532, 189 266, 271 (1972); Holson Gosnell, 264 S.C. 619, 623, 216 539, 541 (1975), 423 1048, 774, 46 636 Central Superior Court, 30 Cal.App.3d 962, 971, 106 912, 918 (1973). litigation so interpreted Ga.App., 709, 436. 3. Still conclude establishing charter, presumptively waives least arising out activity Lapinsohn Lewis Charles, 212 Pa.Super. 185, 193-195, 240 90, 94-95, sub nom. First Camden Lapinsohn, 393 952, 89 376, 21 363 (1968); Mills supra (alternative ground). Vann 324 So.2d (Fla.App.1975), Exchange Rotocast Plastics Products, 341 787, (Fla.App.1977). 16 These inconsistent approaches all appropriately interpretive therefore look legislative history see light afford. IV 17 reviewed history, far 558-562, 522-524. There noted: (a) "Unquestionably Congress authority prescribe manner circumstances [national] could sue courts," 559, 522. (b) "roots" problem "reach back to" Act 1863, Statutes-at-Large 665. 558, (c) Section 59 1863 Act, 681, spoke suits "within established" made mention (d) replaced shortly 1864, 99, 106, which, 57, "carried forward former added" " 'suits state, located, cases,' (e) "Congress intended alone will," ibid. (f) Although 57 omitted Title (National Banks) Revised Statutes 1873, (the Judiciary) contained provisions, 563 Fifteenth, "granting residence," And (g) February 18, 1875, 80, 18 Stat., pt. Page 320, added 5198 1873 "provisions substantially identical 1864 Act,"7 thus, "for second precise brought," 560-561, conclusions drawn Langdeau's 94's were obvious ones already "[N]ational located," "the must given mandatory reading," 562, 524. say, however—and say—that pivotal context, mean restricted What specifically prevailed, plea privilege, permitted receivership proceeding allegedly defrauded insurance pending. way hampers consideration problem. 19 can little question, argues, 14, passed, activities one particular location. That Act's provisions (as 22 requires today) shall city, town, village" operations, 101, "usual transacted office house certificate," 102 (cf. 81), indicated much. (other, perhaps, originally existing branches) engage until 1927, McFadden 44 1224, passed; moreover, allowed "establish" if law, limits village situated," 1228. 1933 approved, upon conditions, beyond named 189-190. 20 argues since "location," namely, "there statutory basis interpreting 'located' multi-county reference." 15. says presume "that anticipated sixty years advent formulated accordingly." travel analytically determining intent. suffices stress contemplate today's system, replete Act; there sure indicators intent respect system then exist; indeed, 1933, whatsoever charter.8 Throughout early period, led same ultimate result. Nevertheless, two different. concede judicial district, associates "established," geographical area delineates "located." Whatever reason behind distinction words, exist, it. fact, coalesce terms "national 23 enduring rigidity about untoward interruption result compelled production records distant litigation. 38; 561-562, largely evaporates coincides location branch.9 diminished improvements data processing transportation.10 V 24 Finally, share petitioner's proposition that, still another reason, although different, dichotomous meanings. notes appearance "any" "the" suggests potential plurality, whereas definite article modifies nouns singular denote unique status. asserts grammatical concluded plurality places substituted "the," plural rather ones. 25 dissection face possible argumentation. But proffer anything more that. certainly persuasive itself, experience inexactitude perhaps often inevitable—see, example, Buckley Valeo, 424 1, 659 Chemehuevi Tribe Indians FPC, 420 395, 1066, 43 279 (1975)—does convince us much weight attached use respectively, judgment 27 Affirmed. 28 STEWART, concurring. 29 opinion, disclaimer, read imply approval view includes ante, 39-41, 44, 45. N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions serious doubt correctly decided,* event remains open here. Today draw contrast between understanding join appears statutes banks: 1394 provides: "Any civil enjoin Currency, relating associations, prosecuted located." 1348 reads: "The original commenced States, direction officer thereof, association, wind up affairs established held, receiver acting direction, provided chapter. "All associations shall, them, deemed citizens they respectively Williams, 252 504, 40 372, 64 690 (1920), Herrmann Edwards, 238 107, 839, 1224 (1915), comments respective statutes. reads part: persons uniting form hands, make certificate, state: "Second. discount deposit on, designating Territory, District, village." Georgia, justice dissenting, certiorari. A8. Petitioner's reconsideration justices dissenting. Id., A9. long ago perceived "local-action exception" rule. Casey Adams, 66, 67-68, 52 (1880). 461-462, Michigan Robertson, 372 591, 593, 914, 915, 961 exception, Adams acknowledges, 67, 52, apply ordinary action. 561 11, At oral argument acknowledged determinative issue." number essentially same. Lawyers 799 1973); Fisher 538 1284, 1286-1287 (CA7 1976), 1062, 786, 778 (1977); Hill, 1019, 1020 (CA9 1970). ed.). necessarily None dealt operating addition was: "That suits, actions, title circuit, territorial Third Impac, Ltd., 432 312, 316-318, 2307, 2310-11, 53 368 325-327, 2315-2316 (dissenting opinion). failure change approved demonstrates 15-16, 28. find persuasive; offers nothing considered 1927 1933. argue, course, should evaporate before us. stated above, disturb consistent venue. interpretation will inconvenience unfairly burden violation policy. adopts part convenience parties. Olberding R. 346 338, 340, 74 83, 85, 39 (1953) (interpreting 1391(a)). Litigation inconveniences real degree. Respondent chose file there. permanent there, taking advantage commerce community. Its attorneys offices adjoining County, metropolitan area. inconvenient chartering, 200 miles away. relied primarily Circuit decision chartered New York Puerto Rico, operated taxation shares, City Domenech, 71 13, corporate limited incorporation. 0.141[4], 1352 (2d ed. 1977). Neither analogy Second Circuit's conclusion. Subsequent amplified Leonardi's reasoning. 1019 (CA9), cited therein.

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