Court Opinion

ID: 9637344
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 15:04:00.603671+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:55.502846
License: Public Domain

HOOD,
Associate Judge (concurring).
I concur with the majority, but believe that the new trial ordered should be limited specifically and definitely to appellant’s claim for damages for breach of contract. In his complaint he claimed damages of $3,000 and such claim lies within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court. However, the complaint did not stop there. It went further and sought an injunction on behalf of appellant and persons similarly situated. In his brief here appellant says his action was brought on his own behalf and in behalf of others similarly situated, that his action met the legal requirements of a class action, and that the chief objective of the action is the securing of injunctive relief. If the action is a true class action then the jurisdictional amount is the aggregation of the claims of the class and would exceed the jurisdictional limit of the trial court.1
Furthermore, it is my understanding that the United States Court of Appeals in United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America v. General Electric Co., 97 U.S.App.D.C. 306, 231 F.2d 259, ruled that the injunctive relief here sought is available to neither the union nor appellant. I understand that case to hold that if appellant has any claim that is judicially enforceable, his claim is strictly one for damages for breach of contract; and that since it appeared that his claim did not exceed $3,000, it is one within the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court. It is my view that before a new trial is had appellant should be required to amend his complaint to make it clear that his claim is merely one for damages not exceeding $3,000, and if he fails to do so his complaint should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

. Moore’s Federal Practice (2d ed.) § 23:-13 ; Barron & Holtzoff, Federal Practice . and Procedure, § 569.