Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

United States v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co.

309 U.S. 506

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1940-03-25
Topic
general

How later courts describe this case

  • holding that "[c]onsent alone gives jurisdiction to adjudge against a sovereign," and "[a]bsent that consent, the attempted exercise of judicial power is void."
  • holding that “[ejonsent alone gives jurisdiction to adjudge against a sovereign,” and “[ajbsent that consent, the attempted exercise of judicial power is void.”
  • holding that a Missouri court acted without jurisdiction and that its judgment, purporting to adjudicate a cross-claim against the United States and a federally recognized Indian tribe without a waiver of sovereign immunity, was void
  • holding that sovereign immunity may not be waived by the inadvertence of government officials, and there is no res judicata when jurisdiction is based on such a waiver
  • holding that a bankruptcy court was without jurisdiction to "adjudicate a cross-claim against the United States", implying supremacy more than immunity, but confusing matters by also concluding that "[t]hese Indian Nations are exempt from suit without Congressional authorization."
  • reaffirming that tribal sovereign immunity is coextensive with that of the United States; "[t]hese Indian Nations are exempt from suit without Congressional authorization."
  • concluding that Indian Tribes retain a Tribal sovereign immunity defense from suit
  • reaffirming that tribal sovereign immunity is coextensive with that of the United States; “[tjhese Indian Nations are exempt from suit without Congressional authorization.”

Citator

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Authority status
pending
Cited by
605 opinions

Headnotes

  1. Native American Law — Tribal Immunity The Indian Nations in tutelage, and the United States acting on their behalf, are exempt from suits and from cross-suits except when Congress has authorized suit and designated the courts in which it may be brought; this immunity continues even after dissolution of the tribal government. 309 U.S. at 512
  2. Native American Law — Immunity from Cross-Suits A sovereign possessing immunity from direct suit possesses a similar immunity from cross-suits; absent congressional consent, a court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate a cross-claim against the United States or the Indian Nations, and the desirability of complete settlement of all issues between parties must yield to the principle of immunity. 309 U.S. at 512
  3. Native American Law — Tribal Immunity The immunity of the United States and of the Indian Nations in tutelage from suit cannot be waived by officials; neither the failure of officials to object to the court's jurisdiction over a cross-claim nor their failure to appeal can confer jurisdiction, since suability depends upon affirmative statutory authority and consent alone gives jurisdiction to adjudge against a sovereign. 309 U.S. at 513
  4. Civil Procedure — Collateral Attack on Void Judgment A judgment entered without statutory authority over a sovereign is void, is subject to collateral attack, and cannot be given the effect of res judicata in other litigation; public policy forbids the suit unless consent is given. 309 U.S. at 512-514
  5. Civil Procedure — Collateral Attack Distinguished The rule permitting a judgment to be collaterally attacked on the ground that the sovereign's immunity was not waived is distinct from the situation addressed in Chicot County Drainage District v. Baxter State Bank, which limited its examination to the effect of a subsequent invalidation of an applicable jurisdictional statute upon an existing judgment in bankruptcy. 309 U.S. at 514
  6. Civil Procedure — Joinder Where a judgment in the District Court was entered before the effective date of the Rules of Civil Procedure, questions as to parties are governed by the Conformity Act; under Oklahoma procedure a principal in a bond, though he cannot compel his admission as a party defendant in a suit against the surety, becomes such in effect if allowed without objection to file his intervening petition. 309 U.S. at 516
  7. Native American Law — Statutory Construction of Cross-Claim Provision Under the Act of April 26, 1906, which provides that where suit is brought in any United States court in the Indian Territory by or on behalf of any of the Five Civilized Tribes to recover moneys claimed to be due and owing such Tribe, the party defendants shall have the right to set up and have adjudicated claims against the Tribe, the question who are "defendants" is a federal question to be determined by federal, not state, law. 309 U.S. at 516
UNITED STATESv. U.S. FIDELITY CO.,309 U.S. 506(1940)
60 S.Ct. 653
UNITED STATESv. UNITED STATES FIDELITY GUARANTY CO. ET AL.
CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT.
No. 569.
Argued February 27, 1940.
Decided March 25, 1940.
In a reorganization proceeding in the District Court for the Western District of Missouri under § 77B of the Bankruptcy Act, the United States filed a claim in behalf of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. The court allowed it but allowed the debtor's cross-claim for a larger amount and decreed the balance in favor of the debtor against the Nations to be "collected in the manner provided by law." The validity of the judgment to the extent that it satisfied the principal claim was conceded. In another suit in Oklahoma by the United States for the Indian Nations against the surety on a bond given by the debtor, the debtor pleaded the former judgment asres judicataand asked for a determination of accounts.Held:1. The Indian Nations and the United States acting for them are exempt from suits and also from cross suits, except when authorized, and in the courts designated, by Act of Congress. P. 512. 2. The judgment, in so far as it undertakes to fix a credit against the Indian Nations, is void and can not be given the effect ofres judicatain other litigation. P. 512. 3. The immunity from suit of the United States and of Indian Nations in tutelage can not be waived by official failure to object to the jurisdiction or to appeal from the judgment. In the absence of statutory consent to the suit, the judgment is subject to collateral attack.Chicot CountyDrainage Dist. v.Baxter State Bank,308 U.S. 371, distinguished. P. 513. 4. Where a judgment in the District Court was entered before the effective date of the Rules of Civil Procedure, questions as to parties are governed by the Conformity Act. P. 516.Semblethat under the procedure of Oklahoma a principal in a bond, though he can not compel his admission as a party defendant in a suit against the surety, becomes such, in effect, if allowed without objection to file his intervening petition. 5. Under the Act of April 26, 1906, which provided that where suit is brought in any United States court in the Indian Territory by or on behalf of any of the Five Civilized Tribes to recoverPage 507moneys claimed to be due and owing such Tribe, the party defendants shall have the right to set up and have adjudicated claims against the Tribe, and that any balance that may be found due by the Tribe shall be paid by the Treasurer of the United States out of its funds, etc., the question who are "defendants" is a federal question. P. 516.106 F.2d 804, reversed.
CERTIORARI,308 U.S. 548, to review the affirmance of a
judgment of the District Court for the Eastern District of
Oklahoma,24 F. Supp. 961, which, in reliance upon a judgment of
the District Court for the Western District of Missouri, rejected
a claim made by the United States on behalf of the Choctaw and
Chickasaw Nations and allowed against them a counter-claim of
interveners.
Solicitor General Biddle, with whomAssistant AttorneyGeneral LittellandMr. Thomas E. Harriswere on the brief, for the United States.Messrs. Bower BroaddusandJulian B. Fitefor respondents.

The counterclaim is not against the United States but the Tribes.United Statesv.Algoma Lumber Co.,305 U.S. 415;Folkv.United States, 233 F. 177;United Statesv.Ft.Smith Western Ry. Co., 195 F. 211.

The federal court in Missouri had jurisdiction to render an affirmative judgment against the Tribes. Act of April 26, 1906, § 18; c. 1876,34 Stat. 137, 144, considered with statutes conferring jurisdiction on the District Courts.

A transitory action in the name of the United States must be brought in the district in which the defendant resides.

Congress has consented to an affirmative judgment against the Tribes, and any right to have the claim confined in the federal courts of Oklahoma was waived by contesting the claim in Missouri. Dist'gIllinois CentralPage 508R. Co. v.Public Utilities Comm'n,245 U.S. 493. See,PeoriaPekin Union R. Co. v.United States,263 U.S. 528,535;Richardsonv.Fajardo Sugar Co.,241 U.S. 44,47.

The determination of the question of jurisdiction by the court in Missouri may not be assailed collaterally.Chicot CountyDrainage Dist. v.Baxter State Bank,308 U.S. 371;Stollv.Gottlieb,305 U.S. 165.

When the claim of the Tribes was submitted to the Missouri court the United States and the Tribes were litigants like any other suitor.Richardsonv.Fajardo Sugar Co.,241 U.S. 44;Porto Ricov.Ramos,232 U.S. 627;Folkv.United States, 233 F. 177. The Tribes as now constituted are not sovereigns immune from suit. The defense of sovereign immunity was waived.

As the court in Missouri had jurisdiction, its judgment was binding in the Oklahoma suit. Dist'gUnited Statesv.Eckford, 6 Wall. 484. When suing on behalf of the Tribes, the United States has no greater right than they.Folkv.UnitedStates, 233 F. 177;United Statesv.Ft. Smith Western Ry.Co., 195 F. 211.

The matter before the court in Missouri was one to which its jurisdiction would extend between ordinary litigants, as the suit arose under the laws and treaties of the United States, Jud. Code 24(1),28 U.S.C. § 41(1).

The case was in equity, so whether the right to counter-claim be procedural or substantive (seeThe Gloria, 286 F. 188), the defendant could interpose it and obtain an affirmative judgment. Equity Rule 30.

The trend of modern authorities is to differentiate between the authority to render a judgment and the authority to order its enforcement.The Gloria, 286 F. 188;The Newbattle, 10 Prob. Div. 33;United Statesv.Nuestra Senora De Regla,108 U.S. 92;The Paquete Habana,189 U.S. 453;United Statesv.TheThekla,266 U.S. 328;Page 509Guaranty Trust Co. v.United States,304 U.S. 126;Dexter and Carpenterv.Kunglig Jarnvagsstyrellsen,43 F.2d 705;Russiav.Bankers' Trust Co.,4 F. Supp. 417, affirmedUnited Statesv.National City Bank of New York,83 F.2d 236, cert. den.299 U.S. 563.

When the judgment was rendered in Missouri the claim theretofore existing was merged in it.Wycoffv.Epworth HotelCo.,146 Mo. App. 554.

The interveners came in as party defendants, without objection, and their claim was properly allowed under the Act of 1906.
MR. JUSTICE REED delivered the opinion of the Court.
This certiorari brings two questions here for review: (1) Is a former judgment against the United States on a cross-claim, which was entered without statutory authority, fixing a balance of indebtedness to be collected as provided by law, res judicata in this litigation for collection of the balance; and (2) as the controverted former judgment was entered against the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, appearing by the United States, does the jurisdictional act of April 26, 1906, authorizing adjudication of cross demands by defendants in suits on behalf of these Nations, permit the former credit, obtained by the principal in a bond guaranteed by the sole original defendant here, to be set up in the present suit.

Certiorari was granted1because of probable conflict, on the first question, between the judgment below andAdamsv.United States2and because of the importance of clarifying the meaning of the language inUnited Statesv.Eckford3relating to the judicial ascertainmentPage 510of the indebtedness of the Government on striking a balance against the United States where cross-claims are involved. A somewhat similar question arises inUnited Statesv.Shaw.4The second question was taken because its solution is involved in certain phases of this litigation.

The United States, acting for the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, leased some coal lands to the Kansas and Texas Coal Company, with the respondent United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company acting as surety on a bond guaranteeing payment of the lease royalties. By various assignments the leases became the property of the Central Coal and Coke Company, as substituted lessee, the Guaranty Company remaining as surety. The Central Coal and Coke Company went into receivership in the Western District of Missouri, and the United States filed a claim for the Indian Nations for royalties due under the leases. Answering this claim, the Central Coal and Coke Company denied that any royalties were owing and claimed credits against the Nations for $11,060.90. By order of the court, reorganization of the Coal Company under § 77B of the Bankruptcy Act was instituted and the trustee took possession from the receivers. In the reorganization proceedings the claim of the Nations was allowed for $2,000, the debtor's cross-claim was allowed for $11,060.90, and the court on February 19, 1936, decreed a balance of $9,060.90 in favor of the debtor, to be "collected in the manner provided by law." No review of this judgment of the Missouri district court was ever sought.

On December 24, 1935, the United States, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Indian Nations, filed the present suit in the Eastern District of Oklahoma against the Guaranty Company, as surety on the royalty bond, for the same royalties involved in the Missouri proceedings.Page 511After the judgment of the Missouri district court, the Guaranty Company pleaded that judgment as a bar to recovery by the United States. The trustee of Central Coal and Coke Company, and the Central Coal and Coke Corporation, which had taken over certain interests in the assets of the Coal Company, alleged by a petition for leave to intervene, and, upon its allowance without objection, by an intervening petition, that they were necessary and proper parties because each had an interest in the judgment of the Missouri court; they pleaded the Missouri judgment as determinative and pleaded the merits of the counterclaims by setting up the facts which supported the judgment; they asked for a decree that the Missouri judgment was valid, for a determination of accounts between themselves and the Indian Nations, and for all other proper relief. Replying to the answer of the surety and the petition of the interveners, the United States pleaded that the Missouri judgment was void as to the interveners' cross-claims because the court was "without jurisdiction to render the judgment" against the United States and denied the cross-claims on the merits. The district court concluded that the Missouri judgment barred the claim against the surety and entitled the interveners to a judgment against the Indian Nations in the amount of the balance found by the Missouri court. This judgment the Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed.5

A. — By concession of the Government the validity of so much of the Missouri judgment as satisfies the Indian Nations' claim against the lessee is accepted. This concession is upon the theory that a defendant may, without statutory authority, recoup on a counterclaim an amount equal to the principal claim.6Page 512

B. — We are of the view, however, that the Missouri judgment is void in so far as it undertakes to fix a credit against the Indian Nations. InUnited Statesv.Shaw7we hold that cross-claims against the United States are justiciable only in those courts where Congress has consented to their consideration. Proceedings upon them are governed by the same rules as direct suits. In the Missouri proceedings in corporate reorganization, the United States, by the Superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes for the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, filed a claim on behalf of the Indian Nations. This it is authorized to do.8No statutory authority granted jurisdiction to the Missouri Court to adjudicate a cross-claim against the United States.9The public policy which exempted the dependent as well as the dominant sovereignties from suit without consent10continues this immunity even after dissolution of the tribal government. These Indian Nations are exempt from suit without Congressional authorization.11It is as though the immunity which was theirs as sovereigns passed to the United States for their benefit, as their tribal properties did.Page 513Possessing this immunity from direct suit, we are of the opinion it possesses a similar immunity from cross-suits. This seems necessarily to follow if the public policy which protects a quasi-sovereignty from judicial attack is to be made effective. The Congress has made provision for cross-suits against the Indian Nations by defendants.12This provision, however, is applicable only to "any United States court in the Indian Territory." Against this conclusion respondents urge that as the right to file the claim against the debtor was transitory, the right to set up the cross-claim properly followed the main proceeding.13The desirability for complete settlement of all issues between parties must, we think, yield to the principle of immunity. The sovereignty possessing immunity should not be compelled to defend against cross-actions away from its own territory or in courts not of its own choice, merely because its debtor was unavailable except outside the jurisdiction of the sovereign's consent. This reasoning is particularly applicable to Indian Nations with their unusual governmental organization and peculiar problems.

But, it is said that there was a waiver of immunity by a failure to object to the jurisdiction of the Missouri District Court over the cross-claim. It is a corollary to immunity from suit on the part of the United States and the Indian Nations in tutelage that this immunity cannot be waived by officials. If the contrary were true, it would subject the Government to suit in any court in the discretion of its responsible officers. This is not permissible.14Page 514

The reasons for the conclusion that this immunity may not be waived govern likewise the question of res judicata. As no appeal was taken from this Missouri judgment, it is subject to collateral attack only if void. It has heretofore been shown that the suability of the United States and the Indian Nations, whether directly or by cross-action, depends upon affirmative statutory authority. Consent alone gives jurisdiction to adjudge against a sovereign. Absent that consent, the attempted exercise of judicial power is void. The failure of officials to seek review cannot give force to this exercise of judicial power. Public policy forbids the suit unless consent is given, as clearly as public policy makes jurisdiction exclusive by declaration of the legislative body.15Chicot CountyDrainage Districtv.Baxter State Bank16is inapplicable where the issue is the waiver of immunity.

In theChicot Countycase no inflexible rule as to collateral objection in general to judgments was declared. We explicitly limited our examination to the effect of a subsequent invalidation of the applicable jurisdictional statute upon an existing judgment in bankruptcy.17To this extent the case definitely extended the area of adjudications that may not be the subject of collateral attack. No examination was made of the susceptibility to such objection of numerous groups of judgments concerning status,18extra-territorial action of courts,19or strictly jurisdictional and quasi-jurisdictional facts.20No solution was attempted of the legal results of a collision between the desirable principle that rights may be adequatelyPage 515vindicated through a single trial of an issue and the sovereign right of immunity from suit. We are of the opinion, however, that without legislative action the doctrine of immunity should prevail.

C. — The conclusion that the Missouri judgment is void determines this review. There is left in the case, however, an issue which requires brief reference to the second question upon which certiorari was granted. The intervening petition set up the facts supporting the claim of the interveners against the Indian Nations. An issue was made and the evidence of the Missouri controversy stipulated for consideration in the present case. As the district court determined that the Missouri judgment was valid, no finding or conclusion appeared in the judgment of the district court upon the merits. Respondents made no objection to this omission but call attention to it in their brief. On a new trial this issue obviously will be important.

It is the contention of the Government that the cross-claim cannot be liquidated in this proceeding for the reason that by the statute under which this suit is brought, the right to set up a cross-claim is limited to "party defendants."21Respondents' reply that as they were admitted as interveners without objection, as they have an interest in cross-claims arising from the same transactions which form the basis of the principal suit, and as one of them is a principal liable for any judgment againstPage 516the defendant surety, they are to all intents and purposes defendants under § 18 of the Act of April 26, 1906.

As this judgment was entered before the effective date of the Civil Rules, procedure as to parties was governed by the Conformity Act.22Apparently under Oklahoma law the principal in the bond could not compel its admission as a party defendant.23As the Government did not object to the order filing the intervening petition, we assume it properly filed and that the trustee for the Coal Company was actually a defendant. The name used is immaterial.

Whether the Coal Company was such a defendant as was meant by § 18 raises other questions. Since they depend upon an interpretation of the federal statute they are to be determined by federal, not Oklahoma, law.24As the extent and character of the interest of the assignee Coal Corporation in the unliquidated claims of the Company do not appear from the record, we do not pass upon the question of whether the Company defendant has any cross-claim against the Indian Nations, after satisfaction of the Indian Nations' claim against it or whether, if there is such a claim owned jointly with the Corporation, it is a claim the Company may enforce as defendant under § 18.

The cause is reversed and remanded to the district court for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.Reversed.

MR. JUSTICE McREYNOLDS took no part in the decision of this case.Page 517
  1. Page 509308 U.S. 548. ↩
  2. Page 509 3 Ct. Cls. 312. ↩
  3. Page 509 6 Wall. 484. ↩
  4. Page 510Ante, p. 495. ↩
  5. Page 511106 F.2d 804. ↩
  6. Page 511Bullv.United States,295 U.S. 247,261. ↩
  7. Page 512Ante, p. 495. ↩
  8. Page 512Heckmanv.United States,224 U.S. 413,442;Mullenv.United States,224 U.S. 448,451;United Statesv.Rickert,188 U.S. 432. These cases discuss, also, the relationship between the United States and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. See alsoUnited Statesv.Choctaw etc. Nations,179 U.S. 494,532;Choctaw Nationv.United States,119 U.S. 1,28.

    Act of June 7, 1897,30 Stat. 62, 83; Atoka Agreement,30 Stat. 495, 505; Act of March 3, 1901,31 Stat. 1447; Act of April 26, 1906,34 Stat. 137, 144. Under § 28 of the Act of April 26, 1906, the tribal existence of the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations is continued as modified by that and other acts. ↩
  9. Page 512 Cf.United Statesv.Algoma Lumber Co.,305 U.S. 415. ↩
  10. Page 512 Cf.Cherokee Nationv.Georgia, 5 Pet. 1. ↩
  11. Page 512Turnerv.United States,248 U.S. 354,358;Adamsv.Murphy, 165 F. 304, 308;Thebov.Choctaw Tribe of Indians, 66 F. 372. ↩
  12. Page 513 Act of April 26, 1906, § 18,34 Stat. 137, 144, 148. ↩
  13. Page 513 Cf.Fidelity Ins., Trust and S.D. Co. v.Mechanics' Sav.Bank, 97 F. 297, 303. ↩
  14. Page 513Minnesotav.United States,305 U.S. 382,388and cases cited;Munrov.United States,303 U.S. 36,41;Finnv.United States,123 U.S. 227,232. ↩
  15. Page 514Kalbv.Feuerstein,308 U.S. 433. ↩
  16. Page 514308 U.S. 371. ↩
  17. Page 514 See the last paragraph of the opening statement and the first paragraph of divisionSecond.308 U.S. 374,376. ↩
  18. Page 514Andrewsv.Andrews,188 U.S. 14. ↩
  19. Page 514Fallv.Eastin,215 U.S. 1. ↩
  20. Page 514Noblev.Union River Logging R. Co.,147 U.S. 165; cf.Johnsonv.Zerbst,304 U.S. 458. ↩
  21. Page 51534 Stat. 137, § 18:

    . . . . .

    "Where suit is now pending, or may hereafter be filed in any United States court in the Indian Territory, by or on behalf of any one or more of the Five Civilized Tribes to recover moneys claimed to be due and owing to such tribe, the party defendants to such suit shall have the right to set up and have adjudicated any claim it may have against such tribe; and any balance that may be found due by any tribe or tribes shall be paid by the Treasurer of the United States out of any funds of such tribe or tribes upon the filing of the decree of the court with him." ↩
  22. Page 516 R.S. 914;Sawinv.Kenny,93 U.S. 289;United Mine Workersv.Coronado Co.,259 U.S. 344,382. ↩
  23. Page 516Fidelity Deposit Co. v.Sherman Machine Iron Works,62 Okla. 29. ↩
  24. Page 516Board of County Commissionersv.United States,308 U.S. 343, andDeitrickv.Greaney, ante, p. 190. ↩