Court Opinion

ID: 9456591
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 19:57:25.706974+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:35:02.261032
License: Public Domain

LUMBARD, Chief Judge
(dissenting) :
Although Judge Friendly’s opinion seems somewhat to narrow the reach of Southern District jurisdiction for New York residents buying railroad tickets in New York, I doubt that the distinction as to whether the train is a through train is viable. I am of the view that this distinction will quickly be brushed aside, especially since through passenger trains may soon be as extinct as the dodo. Indeed, the concurring opinions of Judges Kaufman and Hays imply that they may not accept the distinction.
While it is doubtful whether what we now call “passenger traffic” is to continue beyond metropolitan areas in the future, it seems to me to be a needless and inadvisable burden on railroads to be required to bring numerous witnesses to New York to contest cases such as this. It is hardly an answer to say that the district court can always transfer the case to the district where the operative events occurred under 28 U.S..C. § 1404 (a). In practice, we all know that judges very rarely transfer such cases over the objections of plaintiffs and their counsel, regardless of the balance of convenience.
For these reasons, and the reasons set forth in my opinion which dissented from the panel opinion, reported at 439 F.2d 21, I dissent and vote to reverse the judgment and dismiss the complaint.