Court Opinion

ID: 9653691
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 17:52:00.421402+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:00.787314
License: Public Domain

L. HAND, Chief Judge
(concurring in part).
I see no necessity for passing upon the question whether this action would lie at all, if the United States suggested that it had a counterclaim against Vambell. In that event it might have to sue twice upon the counterclaim, for nobody supposes that it can do more than use it against the plaintiff at bar as a set-off. Nor can we limit this possibility to cases where the counterclaim exceeds the main claim, for that m'ay be entirely defeated and when it is, no part of the counterclaim will have been paid in the main action. I do not mean to suggest that I have any present opinion as to whether the phrase — “under circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable” — should be held to overbear § 1346(c), relating to counterclaims. I have no such opinion, but in general I believe that courts should decide no more than is necessary to the disposal of the case before them. One never knows how differently upon another presentation the issue may appear; and, though it may be a confession of weakness, I can only say for myself that, after I have found enough on which to rest my decision, I feel a decided slackening of responsibility if I go further.