Court Opinion

ID: 6739155
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 23:20:41.204886+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:54.191667
License: Public Domain

Bronson, J.
(specially concurring). lu my opinion, the principal and serious question involved in this case, is whether the defense pleaded is available as a direct equitable action seeking to restrain the enforcement of the sister state judgment alleged and proved.
The effect to be given a sister state judgment, under the Federal Constitutional provision, has been the subject of much litigation and a considerable variety of interpretation in the cases adjudged.
It is fairly well settled, however, that a sister state judgment in a foreign state is to be regarded, ordinarily, upon the same footing as a domestic judgment, so far as the merits of the claim or subject-matter of the suit is concerned. Story, Const. 5th ed. § 1309; M’Elmoyle v. Cohen, 13 Pet. 312, 10 L. ed. 177.
In Fauntleroy v. Lund, 210 U. S. 230, 236, 52 L. ed. 1039, 1042, 28 Sup. Ct. Rep. 641, the principle, stated by Chief Justice Marshal] in Hampton v. M’Connel, 3 Wheat. 234, 4 L. ed. 378, is restated as correct, that the judgment of the state court should have the same credit, validity, and effect in every other court in the United States, which it had in the state where it was pronounced, and that whatever pleas would be good to a suit thereon'in such state, and none others, could be pleaded in any other court in the United States.
Otherwise stated, a sister state judgment, conclusive in the state where pronounced, is conclusive everywhere. However, this does' not prevent an inquiry into the jurisdiction of the court where such judgmnt was rendered, or the right of a state to exercise authority over the persons or the subject-matter. Story, Const. 5th ed. § 1313. See note in 32 L.R.A.(N.S.) 909, 913, 917, 929.
In the instant case the pertinent question is whether equity in this state may intervene to restrain the enforcement of a sister state judgment for fraud, practised in the procurement and rendition of such judgment. The general principle has been recognized that a court of equity, either in a Federal or state court, or in a court of the state where the judgment was rendered, may enjoin through an independent action, the enforcement of a judgment upon equitable grounds. Embry v. Palmer, 107 U. S. 3, 27 L. ed. 346, 2 Sup. Ct. Rep. 25; Simon v. Southern R. Co. 236 U. S. 115, 124, 59 L. ed. 492, 498, 35 Sup. Ct. Rep. 255; Marshall v. Holmes, 141 U. S. 597, 601, 35 L. ed. 870, 874, *14912 Sup. Ct. Rep. 62; Cole v. Cunningham, 133 U. S. 102, 33 L. ed. 538, 10 Sup. Ct. Rep. 269; 23 Cyc. 1557.
In the early case of Marine Ins. Co. v. Hodgson, 7 Cranch, 332, 3 L. ed. 362, where an action was brought in equity to perpetually enjoin a judgment, Chief Justice Marshall concerning the relief that a court in equity might grant in such case stated:
“Without attempting to draw any precise line to which courts of equity will advance, and which they cannot pass, in restraining parties from availing themselves of judgments obtained at law, it may safely be said that any fact which clearly proves it to be against conscience to execute a judgment, and of which the injured party could not have availed himself in a court of law; or of which he might have availed himself at law, but was prevented by fraud or accident, unmixed with any fault or negligence in himself or his agents, will justify an application to a court of chancery.
“On the other hand it may with equal safety be laid down as a general rule that a defense cannot be set up in equity which has been fully and fairly tried at law, although it may be the opinion of that court that the defense ought to have been sustained at law.” See Marshall v. Holmes, 141 U. S. 597, 601, 35 L. ed. 870, 874, 12 Sup. Ct. Rep. 62.
In Cole v. Cunningham, 133 U. S. 107, 33 L. ed. 538, 10 Sup. Ct. Rep. 269, the principle, concerning sister state judgments, is recog-; nized upon a lengthy consideration of authorities, that a sister state: judgment, under the constitutional provisions and the congressional act therefor, shall have such faith and credit given in every court within the Hnited States as it has by law and usage in the courts of the state where rendered, but that this did not prevent the right of a state to exercise authority over the parties or the subject-matter, nor, whether the judgment was founded in, and impeachable, for, a manifest fraud.
I am satisfied, that, under the authorities quoted in the opinion of the Chief Justice, a direct, equitable action could be maintained in Texas, based upon the grounds set up in the defense in this action, to restrain the enforcement of such Texas judgment; that in this state this power may likewise be exercised by seeking directly the aid of the equity to restrain the enforcement of this judgment in this state; this judgment, in itself cannot be impeached in this state by the defense offered, for clearly it appears upon the record that the Texas court *150had jurisdiction, both over the parties and the subject-matter; that the judgment, as there rendered, so far as the judgment itself is concerned, is a valid sister state judgment until set aside by the court which pro-' nounced it. The power of this court, however, to restrain the enforcement of that judgment where it is unconscienable so to do, presents a different matter and different considerations. Such power goes to the exercise of equity, independently to restrain the party, the plaintiff in this case, from seeking in this jurisdiction to enforce his judgment where it is unconscionable .and inequitable for him so to do.
The exercise of such power by this state does not deprive the plaintiff of his Federal Constitution protection under the full faith and credit clause. Cole v. Cunningham, supra.
Under our practice, where causes of legal and equitable cognizance may be considered in the same case, I am of the opinion that as a court in equity those matters of defense pleaded by the defendant, which are directly available for the purposes of establishing fraud in the procurement and rendition of the judgment involved, are available- for purposes of .seeking directly the aid of equity to enjoin or restrain the enforcement of the sister state judgment. These matters are for the consideration of a court in equity. An opportunity should be given upon this record, to the defendant to so assert, directly, such matters pleaded in defense, properly to be considered in accordance with the principles herein stated. The trial court did not err in determining the judgment to be a valid sister state judgment. The judgment should be reversed and remanded for further proceedings, consonant with tiie principles herein stated.
Grace, J., concurs.