Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Southern Railway Co. v. Miller

30 S. Ct. 450

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1910-04-04
Topic
general

Mr. Justice Day delivered the opinion of the court. The defendant in error, plaintiff below, brought suit in the City Court of Hall County, Georgia, against the Southern Railway Company, a corporation of Virginia, and certain individual citizens of Georgia, to recover damages for personal in *214 juries received by him while in the employ of the railroad company as an engineer. A recovery in the court of original jurisdiction was affirmed in the Court of Appeals of Georgia (59 S. E.

Citator

Cited by
51 opinions
SOUTHERN RY. CO.v. MILLER,217 U.S. 209(1910)
30 S.Ct. 450
SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANYv. MILLER.
ERROR TO THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
No. 122.
Argued March 3, 1910.
Decided April 4, 1910.
For the purposes of determining the removability of a cause, the case must be deemed to be such as the plaintiff has made it, in good faith, in his pleadings; and if a plaintiff in a suit for personal injuries joined with the foreign corporation one or more of its employes residents of plaintiff's State as defendants, and the state court holds that the joinder is not improper, the cause is not separable and cannot be removed into the Federal court.Alabama Great Southern R.R. v.Thompson,200 U.S. 206;Railway Co. v.Bohon,200 U.S. 221. After a case properly removable and moved into the Federal court has been voluntarily dismissed without action on the merits, the case is again at large and plaintiff may begin it again in any court of competent jurisdiction, including the state court from which the first case was removed into the Circuit Court. 59 S.E. 1115, affirmed.
THE facts are stated in the opinion.
Mr. John J. Strickland, with whomMr. Alfred P. Thomwas on the brief, for plaintiff in error:

As to the jurisdiction Whether or not a case is made in the state court, for removal, is a Federal question.Gordonv.Longest, 16 Pet. 97;B. O. Ry. Co. v.Koontz,104 U.S. 5;Goldeyv.Morning News,156 U.S. 523;B.C.R. N. Ry. v.Dunn,122 U.S. 517;Traction Co. v.Mining Co.,196 U.S. 245;Kansas City R.R. v.Daugherty,138 U.S. 298;Stonev.South Carolina,117 U.S. 430.

Though a case go to the state court of review a second time, the question will be passed on when carried to this court, if properly preserved.Stanleyv.Schwally,162 U.S. 255;ReBlake,175 U.S. 118.

Whether or not the state court has jurisdiction to try aPage 210case once removed into the Circuit Court of the United States and again sued in the state court, is a Federal question.Kernv.Huidekoper,103 U.S. 485;National S. Co. v.Tugman,106 U.S. 118.

The fact that the party, after removal, has contested the case in the state court does not, after judgment against him, constitute a waiver as to jurisdiction.Kernv.Huidekoper,103 U.S. 485;National S. Co. v.Tugman,106 U.S. 118;Goldeyv.Morning News,156 U.S. 517.

The petition filed by plaintiff in the Court of Hall County, made a separable controversy on its face and was removable.

A joint action cannot be sustained against the master and the servant where the master is sought to be held liable solely for the acts of the servant without the concurrence of the master.Waraxv.Railroad Co., 72 F. 637;Hakillv.Railroad Co., 72 F. 745;Beuttelv.Railroad Co., 26 F. 50;Fergusonv.Railroad Co., 63 F. 177;Hartshornv.Railroad Co., 77 F. 9;Helmsv.N.P.Ry., 105 F. 449;Ala. So. Ry. Co. v.Thompson,200 U.S. 206;Charmanv.Railway Co., 105 F. 449;Riserv.Railway Co., 116 F. 215.

The acts of negligence charged in plaintiff's petition, against defendants who were servants of the railway company, and the co-employes of plaintiff, were acts of nonfeasance, only, and for such acts the master only is liable to the injured party, the servants being in turn liable to the master. Blackstone, 430; 1 Am. Eng. Ency. of Law, 2d ed., 1131; 20 Am. Eng. Ency. of Law, 2d ed., 52;Bricev.Southern Ry. Co., 125 F. 959; Code of Georgia, 1895, §§ 3029, 3817, 3915, 4940, 5872, 2321;Kimbroughv.Boswell,119 Ga. 203;Reidv.Humber,49 Ga. 208;McCallav.Shaw,72 Ga. 458;Hayv.Collins,118 Ga. 248;Coxv.Strickland,120 Ga. 104;Burchv.Caden Stone Co., 93 F. 181;Shafferv.Union Brick Co., 128 F. 97;Campbellv.So. Ry. Co., 16 Am. Rep. 512;Cent. of Georgia Ry. v.Brown,113 Ga. 414; Pomroy on Code Remedies,Page 211§ 307;Cromwellv.County of Sac,94 U.S. 352;So. Ry. Co. v.Grizzle,124 Ga. 735.

The suit against the Southern Railway was based upon a statutory cause of action and the suit against the other defendants was based upon a common-law right, if any right. The two separate causes of action were blended in one count and thus made a separable controversy.Helmsv.N.P. Ry., 120 F. 389;Lavellev.Ry. Co.,40 Minn. 249;Johnsonv.Railroad Co.,43 Minn. 222;Beuttelv.Railroad Co., 26 F. 50;Ala. So. Ry. Co. v.Thompson,200 U.S. 206;Gustafsonv.Railway Co., 128 F. 85;Atlantic CoastLinev.Bailey, 151 F. 891;Railroad Co. v.Stepp, 151 F. 909;N.E.R.R. Co. v.Conroy,175 U.S. 323;Jamesv.Kelley,107 Ga. 452;Railroad Co. v.Dixon,179 U.S. 131;West At. R.R. Co. v.Exposition Mills,83 Ga. 441;Charleston W.C. Ry. Co. v.Miller,113 Ga. 15;Cavanaughv.So. Ry. Co.,120 Ga. 67;McDormantv.Hannibal St. Joseph R.R. Co.,87 Mo. 286;Addeckerv.Schrubbee,45 Iowa 315.

Eliminating from the petition all the paragraphs that refer to defendants other than the railroad company the petition still made on its face a case authorizing a recovery against the railway company and the same was therefore removable.

When the case was sued in Hall Superior Court, and removed into the Circuit Court, the cause of action as well as the case was removed and the plaintiff could not, by any act of his again bestow jurisdiction upon the state court.Kernv.Huidekoper,103 U.S. 485;Nat. S. Co. v.Tugman,106 U.S. 118;Gordonv.Longest, 16 Pet. 97;Goldeyv.Morning News,156 U.S. 523;McIverv.F.C. P.R.R.,110 Ga. 223;Webbv.Sou. Cotton Oil Co.,131 Ga. 682.Mr. Reuben R. Arnold, with whomMr. Reuben Arnoldwas on the brief, for defendant in error:

The suit was a joint one and could not be removed.RailwayPage 212Co. v.Dickson,179 U.S. 131;Powersv.Railroad Co.,169 U.S. 92;Railroad Co. v.Wangelin,132 U.S. 599.

If the plaintiff elects to bring a joint action, the defendant has no right to say that the action shall be severable.RailroadCo. v.Ide,114 U.S. 52; and this is so even though the plaintiff has misconceived his cause of action and has no right to prosecute the same jointly.Railroad Co. v.Thompson,200 U.S. 206;Railway Co. v.Bohon,200 U.S. 221.

But this action is well brought jointly against the defendants. Georgia having a statute which makes a railroad responsible to one employe for the negligence of a fellow-servant, the negligent servant is liable to his fellow-servants for injuries inflicted by such negligent servant. SeeMorrisonv.Railroad Co., 74 Pac. Rep. (Wash.) 1064;Howev.Railroad Co.,30 Wn. 569;Abelv.RailroadCo.,73 S.C. 173;Warraxv.Railroad Co., 72 F. 637;Railroad Co. v.Dickson,179 U.S. 131.

The point in the brief for plaintiffs in error that the acts of negligence charged against the employe defendants were acts of non-feasance merely, and that for such acts only the master is liable, — is untenable in negligence cases.Railway Co. v.Grizzle,124 Ga. 735;Osbornv.Morgan,130 Mass. 102;Bellv.Josselyn, 3 Gray, 309.

It was for the state court to decide whether it would permit persons to be joined who were guilty of misfeasance or nonfeasance. No Federal question is raised in this particular.

After dismissal in United States court, case can be brought over again in state court.

Upon the voluntary dismissal of a suit in the United States court, the jurisdiction of the United States court is ended; it no longer has control over the cause of action, as its control over the cause of action only lasted while the case was actually pending. When the case is dismissed the jurisdiction of the United States court is wholly divested and the plaintiff is just as free to bring his suit over again as he was when it was originally filed in the state court. SeeYoungv.SouthernBellPage 213Co.,55 S.E. 765;Gassmanv.Jarvis, 100 F. 146;Texas Cotton Products Co. v.Starnes, 128 F. 183, affirmed, 133 F. 1022;Mclverv.Florida c. Ry. Co.,110 Ga. 223;C., C.C. St. L.R.R. Co. v.Reese,93 Ill. App. 467;Cleveland, C.C. St. L.R.R. Co. v.Lawler,94 Ill. App. 36;Foleyv.Cudahy Packing Co.,119 Iowa 246;Rodmanv.Missouri P.R. Co.,65 Kan. 645;Swift Co. v.Hoblawetz,10 Kan. App. 48;Adams Exp. Co. v.Schofield,111 Ky. 832;Stephensonv.Ill. C.R. Co.,117 Ky. 855;DeWittv.Chesapeake O.R. Co., 25 Ky. L. Rep. 2019;Nippv.Chesapeake O.R. Co., 25 Ky. L. Rep. 2335;DanaCo. v.Blackburn, 28 Ky. L. Rep. 695;Kruegerv.ChicagoA.R. Co.,84 Mo. App. 358;Foxv.Jacob Dold Packing Co.,96 Mo. App. 173;Flemingv.Southern R. Co.,128 N.C. 80;Hooperv.Atlanta, K. N.R. Co.,106 Tenn. 28;Illinois Central R. Co. v.Bentz,108 Tenn. 670;TexasP.R. Co. v.Maddox,26 Tex. Civ. App. 297. See alsoBushv.Kentucky,107 U.S. 110.

The cases cited by plaintiff in error only go to the extent of holding that when a defendant removes a case from a state court to a Federal court, so long as that case is pending in the Federal court, the jurisdiction of the state court is completely ousted. SeeMcIverv.Railroad Co.,110 Ga. 223, distinguished.

The only case sustaining contentions of plaintiff in error, isRailroad Co. v.Fulton,59 Ohio St. 575, which was based upon a mistaken interpretation of the case ofCoxv.Railroad Co.,68 Ga. 446. SeeMcIver Case,110 Ga. 223; and theYoung Case,55 S.E. 765; note to 7 L.R.A. (N.S.) 501.
MR. JUSTICE DAY delivered the opinion of the court.
The defendant in error, plaintiff below, brought suit in the City Court of Hall County, Georgia, against the Southern Railway Company, a corporation of Virginia, and certain individual citizens of Georgia, to recover damages for personal injuries.Page 214received by him while in the employ of the railroad company as an engineer. A recovery in the court of original jurisdiction was affirmed in the Court of Appeals of Georgia (59 S.E. 1115), and the case is brought here to review certain Federal questions presented by the record. These are, first, that the state court erred in refusing to remove the case to the United States Circuit Court upon the petition of the plaintiff in error; second, as it appeared that the case had once been removed to the Federal court and was dismissed by the plaintiff, the state court should have held that the right to further prosecute in that court was lost, and the jurisdiction completely and finally transferred to the Federal court.

In order to determine these questions it is necessary to state how the case arose. Originally this suit was brought against the Southern Railway Company alone, to recover damages for injuries charged to have been inflicted, because the train upon which the plaintiff was engineer was permitted to run from the main track through an open switch on to a siding where another train was standing, when, by reason of the rules and regulations of the company in the circumstances set forth, plaintiff's train had the right of way upon the track, and, because the switch was turned the wrong way, plaintiff's train was thrown into the siding upon which the other train was standing, and in order to avoid more serious injury plaintiff jumped from his engine, and was greatly injured.

The first suit, being against the Southern Railway Company alone, was removed to the United States Circuit Court, the transcript of record was duly filed, and the company answered. Thereafter the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the case, and later began the present case against the Southern Railway Company for the same injury and joined Cox, Voil and Hurst as parties defendant. These parties were, respectively, the conductor of the train with which plaintiff's train collided, the engineer and front brakeman of said train. The negligence charged was that the brakeman negligently failed to turn the switch back to the main line after his train went into the siding;Page 215that Cox, the conductor, was in control and management of the train, and under the duty of seeing that the switch was turned to the main line; and that Voil, the engineer, after he got his engine into the siding with the exercise of ordinary care should have known that the switch was turned wrong, and yet failed to take any steps to report the situation or to have it remedied. It was further alleged that the individual defendants, in causing the switch to be unlocked and turned from the main line, were guilty of negligence, which was the negligence of the railroad company, inasmuch as they represented the company in the operation of the train which collided with the plaintiff's train. It is also alleged that the individual defendants should have flagged the plaintiff's train if for any reason the switch remained turned to the side track.

The petition for removal contained no charge that the attempt to join the defendants was for the purpose of fraudulently avoiding the jurisdiction of the United States court, or with a view to defeat a removal thereto. The case here presented is one in which the record discloses there was an attempt to join, in good faith, the railway company and the individual defendants as for a joint liability in tort.

Under the practice in Georgia the case went to the Court of Appeals of that State on the question of the right to remove the case to the Federal court. The decision of the Court of Appeals upon that question is reported in 1. Ga. App. 616; 57 S.E. 1020. In that case the court dealt with the right under the law of Georgia to join the individual defendants with the railroad company, and held that the objections to joinder were untenable, and that there was no separable controversy, either at common law or under the statutes of Georgia. In an opinion by the chief judge it was held that the acts of negligence charged against the individual defendants involved both acts of omission and commission, and were not merely matters of non-feasance, for which the agents would not be jointly liable with the principal. The court further held that the objection that the liability of the railroad companyPage 216was statutory and that of the other defendants at common law made no difference in the right to join the defendants, and that, under the statute law of Georgia, the acts of negligence set out in the declaration against the individual defendants may have amounted to criminal negligence, in which event both the railroad company and the individual defendants were jointly liable to the plaintiff under the law of the State. In view of the conclusions which the learned court reached it further held that the case was ruled byAlabama Great Southern R.R. Co. v.Thompson,200 U.S. 206. We agree with that conclusion. In that case it was held that, for the purposes of determining the removability of a cause the case must be deemed to be such as the plaintiff has made it in good faith in his pleadings. See alsoRailway Co. v.Bohon,200 U.S. 221. There was no error in the refusal to remove the case.

A further objection is made that inasmuch as the suit was once removed from the state court to the Federal court and therein dismissed, there was no right to begin the case again in the state court. This argument is predicated upon the statement in a number of cases in this court, to the effect that where the petition for removal and bond has been filed the state court loses jurisdiction of the case, and subsequent proceedings therein are void and of no effect. But this is far from holding that a Federal court obtains jurisdiction of a suit thus removed in such wise that it can never again be brought in a state court, although there has been no judgment upon the merits in the Federal court, and the case has been dismissed therein without any other disposition than is involved in a voluntary dismissal with the consent of the court.

While it is true that a compliance with the act of Congress entitling the party to remove the case may operate to end the jurisdiction of the state court, notwithstanding it refuses to allow such removal, it by no means follows that the state court may not acquire jurisdiction in some proper way of the same cause of action after the case has been dismissed without final judgment in a Federal court. By complying with the removalPage 217act the state court lost its jurisdiction, and upon the filing of the record in the Federal court that court acquired jurisdiction. It thereby had the authority to hear, determine and render a judgment in that case to the exclusion of every other court. But where the court permitted a dismissal of the action by the plaintiff it thereby lost the jurisdiction which it had thus acquired.

We know of no principle which would permit the Federal court under such circumstances, and after the dismissal of the suit, to continue its jurisdiction over the case in such wise that no other court could ever entertain it. After the voluntary dismissal in the Federal court the case was again at large, and the plaintiff was at liberty to begin it again in any court of competent jurisdiction.

We find no error in the judgment of the Court of Appeals of Georgia, and the same is affirmed.Affirmed.