Legal Document

330 U.S. 386 67 Supreme Court Reporter 810 91 L.Ed. 967 TESTA et al.v.KATT. Number 431. Argued Feb. 14, 1947. Decided March 10, George T. Washington, Acting Solicitor General, of D.C., for petitioners. Mr. Paul M. Segal, respondent. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion Court. 1 Section 205(e)1 Emergency Price Control Act provides that a buyer goods above prescribed ceiling price may sue seller 'in any court competent jurisdiction' not more than three times amount overcharge plus costs and reasonable attorney's fee. 205(c)2 federal district courts shall have jurisdiction such suits 'concurrently with State Territorial courts.' Such suit under § 205(e) must be brought or county in which defendant resides has place business * *.' 2 The respondent was automobile Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island. In 1944 he sold an to petitioner Testa, who also $1100, $210 price. later filed this against District Providence. Recovery sought 205(e). awarded judgment treble damages petitioner. On appeal Superior Court, where trial de novo, again judgment, but only fees. Pending from Administrator allowed intervene. appeal, reversed, 71 R.I. 472, 47 Atlantic Reporter, 2nd Series 312. It interpreted 'a penal statute international sense.' held action violation could maintained State. rested its holding on earlier decision Robinson versus Norato, 1945, 256, 43 467, 468, 162 American Law Reports 362 it had reasoned that: A state need enforce laws government is 'foreign sense'; treated by Island as sense; United States 'foreign' 'private international' distinguished 'public hence courts, though their adequate similar 'penal' statutes, Whether decline these grounds question great importance. For reason, because Court's alleged conflict previous Mondou New York, N.H. & H.R. Co., 223 1, 32 169, 56 327, 38 L.R.A.,N.S., 44, we granted certiorari. 329 703, 122.3 3 purposes case, assume, without deciding, international,' other sense. So far whether properly declined try action, makes no difference into categories chose Congress passed. cannot accept basic premise h obligation valid law another foreign country. broad assumption flies face fact Union constitute nation. disregards purpose effect Article VI, Constitution provides: 'This Constitution, Laws made Pursuance thereof; all Treaties made, Authority States, supreme Land; Judges every bound thereby, Thing Contrary notwithstanding.' 4 assumed, supremacy clause considered, responsibilities sister are identical laws. represents erroneous evaluation statutes prior decisions historic setting. Those establish do bear same relation they countries. first convened after adopted conferred upon important civil laws,4 succeeding Congresses states over crimes actions penalties forfeitures.5 5 Enforcement did go unchallenged. Violent public controversies existed throughout part Nineteenth Century until 1860's concerning extent constitutional Federal Government. During period there were instances broadly questioned power duty exercise Government require them so.6 But fundamental issues been resolved war, took occasion 1876 review phase controversy relationship Claflin Houseman, 93 130, 23 833. unanimous case strongly buttressed references persuasive reasoning. repudiated can considered emanating sovereign. Its teaching passed pursuant land, binding alike states, people, 'any-thing contrary notwithstanding.'7 asserted lessened reason form cast remedy provide. And stated 'If act gives penalty party aggrieved, specifying enforcement, why should enforced, if provided otherwise some Congress, proper court.' at page 137, see Bank York Trust 296 463, 479, 343, 348, 80 331. 6 thus answered most arguments theretofore advanced since decision, remaining areas doubt steadily narrowed.8 There statements cases concerned give full faith credit proceedings suggested theory pronounced opinion.9 when supra, presented testing laws, found solution principles announced opinion. 7 precise rights arising Employers' Liability Act, 36 Statutes-at-Large 291, 45 Code Annotated KF65 U5 51 seq., 'be right, jurisdiction, local occasion. *' 46, 177, 44. Connecticut decided not. Except feature, factors reasoning strikingly here involved. entertain action. contention enforcement congressionally created right policy follows: 8 'The suggestion harmony State, therefore free quite inadmissible, presupposes what legal contemplation does exist. When exertion confided act, spoke people thereby established all. That much emanated own legislature, respected accordingly state.' 57, 178, 9 here, deems penal, accepted 'valid excuse.' Cf. Douglas 279 377, 388, 49 355, 356, 73 747.10 prevailing state. Thus, chiefly relied precedents, 'refuse Stat conceptions impolicy want wisdom having called play lawful powers.' Minneapolis St. L.R. company Bombolis, 241 211, 222, 595, 598, 60 961, L.R.A.1917A, 86, Ann.Cas.1916E, 505. 10 relies cites required judgments based claims out statutes.11 those holdings relevance raises question. Nor consider Compare Wisconsin Pelican insurance 127 265, 1370, 239, Commonwealth Massachusetts Missouri, 308 20, 39, 84 1. whatever consideration entitled field relevant, bring before us our instant problem courts. Our concerns deny growing law. 11 conceded type claim would enforced State's double Fair Labor Standards 29 201 seq.12 Thus appropriate adjudicate action.13 Under circumstances refuse petitioners' claim. See McKnett Louis S.F.R. 292 230, 54 690, 78 1227; compare Herb Pitcairn, 324 117, 65 459, 89 789; Id., 325 77, 954, 1483. reversed cause remanded inconsistent 12 Reversed. '(e) If person selling commodity violates regulation, order, schedule prescribing maximum prices, buys use consumption course trade may, within one year date occurrence violation, except hereinafter provided, account overcharge. liable fees determined court, whichever following sums greater: (1) overcharge, overcharges, discretion determine, (2) less $25 nor $50, determine: Any subsection either Administrator, be, jurisdiction. 34 amended, 58 632, 640, 50 U.S.C.App., Supp. V, 925(e), U.S.C.A.Appendix, 925(e). criminal and, concurrently section 205 32, 925(c), 925(c). Pursuant practice, remitted record then entered accordance asked Joslin City 262 668, 673, 684, 687, 1167. Judiciary 1789, 73, 77 (suits aliens torts committed treaties; States). 376, 378 (1794) (fines, forfeitures License Tax Wines Spirits); 373, 375 (the Carriage Act); 452 (penalty purchasing guns Indians); 733, 740 (1799) (criminal postal laws). Warren, Criminal Courts, Harv.L.Rev. 545; Barnett, Delegation Jurisdiction Selected Essays Constitutional 1202 (1938). e.g., Martin Hunter's Lessee, Wheat. 304, 334—337, 97; Bailey, Pet. 238, 259, 260, 113; Prigg Pennsylvania, 16 539, 615, 1060; Fox Ohio, How. 410, 438, 213; Lathrop, 17 Johns., 1819, N.Y., 4. 580—584. U.S.Const. 2. Ex parte Siebold, 100 371, 392—394, 25 717. Tennessee Davis, 257, 648; L.R.A., N.S., 44; Ann.Cas. 1916E, 505; Baltimore O.R.R. Kepner, 314 62 6, 86 28, 136 1222; Miles Illinois C.R. 315 698, 827, 1129, 146 1104; 121—123, 461, 462, n. infra. observed origin concept expressed country Chief Marshall Antelope, 66, 123, 268, Courts execute lies English Folliott Ogden, H.Bl. 124 (1789), aff'd., Ogden Folliott, T.R. 726 (1790), Bro.P.C. 111. refused Revolutionary confiscating property loyal British subjects ground enemy. 'of well spoken policy, reached result surely.' Leflar Extrastate Penal Claims, 46 193, 195 (1932). Griffin McCoach, 313 498, 61 1023, 85 1481, 134 1462; Hines Lowrey, 305 85, 59 31, 83 56. Huntington Attrill, 657, 13 224, 1123; Anglo-American Provision Davis 191 24 92, 48 225; Kenney Lodge, 252 411, 40 64 638, 716. Newman Fuller R.I., 345. Gen.Laws R.I.1938, chapter 500, 28; 525, 7; 631,

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