Court Opinion

ID: 9462236
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 22:35:50.547926+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:37:29.099047
License: Public Domain

LEWIS, Chief Judge
(dissenting).
I dissent. I find no compelling reason to strain for federal jurisdiction in this case by the severance of an issue which should be much more satisfactorily considered by the state court and is actually there pending in the form of a demand for an accounting by the trustee. There are many controversies potential in the general judicial administration of a trust estate that can with surgical nicety be termed in personam but should not be allowed to be splintered off for federal consideration as a vexatious side effect in an essentially in rem action. This action is such a case and, if the federal court proceeds, it seems to me an impact upon the trust estate as such must indirectly occur. I do not believe this to be compelled or desirable. This court in Swanson v. Bates, 170 F.2d 648, did not there view each claim of plaintiff with technical analysis as to in rem purity and established the rule that if the state provided a proper forum with a pending action reaching the same issue that the federal court should not take jurisdiction. I would continue that earlier holding and apply it here.