Court Opinion

ID: 9661131
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 22:30:04.010474+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:53:00.227425
License: Public Domain

MADDEN, Judge
(dissenting).
The court’s decision enforces against the United States a claim founded upon a statute of the State of Kentucky. I think the United States has not consented to be sued upon such a claim. I agree with the court that the contract of carriage was subject to Kentucky law, and that the rates agreed to in the contract were illegal under Kentucky law. If the carrier had become aware of the illegality before it performed the carriage, it could have refused to perform, and the United States could not have successfully sued it for breach of contract. United States v. Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co., 8 Cir., 297 F. 575. In a sense, the United States was under a legal duty to pay the rates prescribed by Kentucky law, but it was, I think, a duty of imperfect obligation because the United States has not consented to be sued for its violation. It was of the same nature as all claims against the Government were before the establishment of this court.