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thereto; 39 contempts; 40 the manner of taking exceptions, and reserving objections for review during a trial; 41 bills of exceptions; 42 the determination as to what constitutes a final judgment which is reviewable; 48 the computation of time within which to sue out writs of error; 44 the practice in suing out writs of error and the proceedings upon them,45 including the power of the court of review in respect to the judgment to be entered upon a reversal.46 "Such proceedings are governed entirely by the acts of Congress, 'the common law, and the ancient English statutes."' 47

A Federal court is not bound to follow a State statute providing that the case must be dismissed unless proceedings are therein taken within one year after a reversal by the State Supreme Court.48

The Revised Statutes provide "The several circuit and district courts may, from time to time, and in any manner not inconsistent with any law of the United States, or with any rule prescribed by the Supreme Court under the preceding section, make rules and orders directing the returning of writs and processes, the filing of pleadings, the taking of rules, the entering

in determining who is the successful party, the Federal courts should follow the State statutes and decisions. Scatcherd v. Love, C. C. A., 166 Fed. 53. See § 408, supra. As to security for costs, see Henning v. W. U. Tel. Co., 40 Fed. 658; O'Brien v. Hearn, 125 Fed. 95; supra, § 425.

39 Supra, § 427; Kaill v. Board of Directors, C. C. A., 194 Fed. 73. 40 Supra, §§ 428-436.

41 Chicago Great Western R. Co. v. Le Valley, C. C. A., 233 Fed. 384. 42 Consumers Cotton Oil Co. v. Ashburn, C. C. A., 81 Fed. 331, 333; infra, § 479.

43 Chicago Great Western R. Co. v. Le Valley, C. C. A., 233 Fed. 384. 44 Siegelshoffer v. Penn License Co., C. C. A., 248 Fed. 226.

45 Western Dredging Co. v. Heldmaier, 116 Fed. 179; Francisco v. Chicago & A. R. Co., C. C. A., 149 Fed. 354; Richmond & D. R. Co. v. McKee, C. C. A., 50 Fed. 906; McClellan v. Pyeatt, C. C. A., 50 Fed. 686; Kentucky L. & A. Ins. Co. v. Hamilton, C. C. A., 63 Fed. 93; infra, chapter XXXVI on Writs of Error and Appeals; Farmer v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 205 Fed. 319; McBride v. Neal, C. C. A., 214 Fed. 966; Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Aldridge, 219 Fed.

836.

46 Farmer v. Atlantic Coastline R. Co., 205 Fed. 319, 323.

47 Camp v. Gress, C. C. A., 250 U. S. 308, 318.

48 Manitowoc Malting Co. V. Feuchtwanger, 196 Fed. 506.

and making up of judgments by default, and other matters in vacation, and otherwise regulate their own practice as may be necessary or convenient for the advancement of justice and the prevention of delays in proceedings." 49 This authorized those courts to direct that writs, issued from them, shall be returned within a different time than that prescribed by the State laws.50 It has been held that as to the following matters the District Courts will, in civil actions at common law, follow the statutes of the respective states where they are held: form of writ, except the teste and signature,52 indorsement of writ,58 indorsement of summons; 54 the return of process; 55 but not when the court otherwise directs; 56 right of assignee to sue in his own name; 57 personal service of writ and process on individuals 58 and on corporations,59 at least if domestic corpo

49 U. S. R. S., § 918, Comp. St. § 1544.

50 Gokey v. Boston & Maine R. Co., 130 Fed. 992; aff'd Boston & Maine Railroad v. Gokey, 210 U. S. 155, 52 L. ed. 1002. U. S. v. U. S. F. & G. Co., C. C. A., 186 Fed. 477. 51 Brown v. C. & O. C. Co., 4 Fed. 770. See Baltimore & O. R. Co. v. Hamilton, 16 Fed. 181. It has been held that a suit in the United States Circuit Court for the penalty provided by the Act of 1885, ch. 164, §3, for violation of the provisions of the act relating to alien contracts for labor, may be properly begun by capias in accordance with the State law. U. S. v. Banister, 70 Fed. 44. But see Shepard v. Adams, 168 U. S. 618, 42 L. ed. 602.

52 Infra, § 455.

58 Brown v. Pond, 5 Fed. 31, 37. But see $455, infra.

54 U. S. v. Rose, 14 Fed. 681. 55 Gokey v. Boston & M. R. Co., 130 Fed. 992; aff'd as Boston & Maine Railroad v. Gokey, 210 U. S. 155, 52 L. ed. 1002.

56 U. S. R. S., § 918; Gokey v. Boston & M. R. Co., 130 Fed. 992;

aff'd as Boston & Maine Railroad v. Gokey, 210 U. S. 155, 52 L. ed. 1002; infra, § 455.

57 Edmunds v. Illinois C. R. Co., 80 Fed. 78, where the cause of action arose under a Federal statute, the Interstate Commerce Act. Where there is no State statute, the suit must be brought in the name of the assignor. Nederland L. I. Co. v. Hall, 84 Fed. 278; Shaffer v. Federal Cement Co., 225 Fed. 893; infra, §§ 454b, 454c.

58 Shampeau v. Connecticut R. L. Co., 37 Fed. 771; Wilson v. Fine, 37 Fed. 789; Amy v. Watertown, 130 U. S. 301, 32 L. ed. 946. See supra, §§ 163-166. So held as to the form of a return of service. Trimble v. Erie El. M. Co., 89 Fed. 51; Wilson v. Hurst, Peters C. C. 441; U. S. v. Lotridge, 1 McLean, 246.

59 Re Louisville Underwriters, 134 U. S. 488, 493, 33 L. ed. 991, 994; Miller's Adm'r v. Norfolk & W. R. Co., 41 Fed. 431; McCormick H. Mach. Co. v. Walthers, 134 U. S. 41, 33 L. ed. 833; Société Foncière v. Milliken, 135 U. S. 304, 34 L. ed. 208. See supra, §§ 164-164d.

rations; 60 joinder of parties; 61 joinder of causes of action; 62 joinder of defenses; 63 form of pleading; 64 verification of plead-ing; 65 time,66 and manner 67 of service of pleading and amendment of pleading,68 except as to defeets of form; 69 matters that may be proved under the general denial; 70 set off and counterclaim of cause of action at common law; 71 interpleader; 72 notice of trial or of argument; 73.time of filing referee's report; 74 time of bringing a case on for trial and of entry of judgment for insufficiency of answer; 75 discontinuance; 76 compulsory dismis

60 Amy v. Watertown, 130 U. S. 30, 32 L. ed. 946.

61 Perry v. Mechanics' Mut. Ins. Co., 11 Fed. 478; Delaware Co. Com'rs v. Diebold S. Co., 133 U. S. 473, 488, 33 L. ed. 674, 680; infra, $ 454b. Nonjoinder of husband in action by wife, although the woman is an alien. Morning Journal Ass'n v. Smith, C. C. A., 56 Fed. 141.

62 Castro v. De Uriarte, 12 Fed. 250.

But see O'Connell v. Reed, C. C. A., 56 Fed. 531; Bowden v. Burnham, C. C. A., 59 Fed. 752; Holt v. Bergevin, 60 Fed. 1.

63 Cole v. Carson, C. C. A., 153 Fed. 278; Leonard v. Merchants' Coal Co., C. C. A., 162 Fed. 885.

64 U. S. v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 153 Fed. 918.

65 West v. Home Ins. Co., 18 Fed. 622; Cottier v. Stimson, 18 Fed. 689.

66 Ricard V. Inhabitants New Providence, 5 Fed. 433. But not necessarily as to the return day. Ewing v. Burnham, 74 Fed. 384.

67 Wilson v. Fine, 38 Fed. 789. 68 Rosenbach v. Dreyfuss, 1 Fed. 391. But see U. S. R. S., § 954; Erstein v. Rothschild, 22 Fed. 61; supra, §§ 208, 211, and infra, § 454. 69 Manitowoc Malting Co. V. Muechtwanger, 169 Fed. 983. See §§ 208, 211, supra.

70 Yocum v. Parker, C. C. A., 130 Fed. 770; infra, § 454e.

71 Partridge v. Felix Mut. L. I. Co., 15 Wall, 573, 21 L. ed. 229; Dushane v. Benedict, 120 U. S. 630, 30 L. ed. 810; Charnley v. Sibley, C. C. A., 73 Fed. 980. Contra, Jewett Car Co. v. Kirkpatrick, 107 Fed. 622, holding to the contrary of the cases in the Supreme Court that no affirmative judgment can be awarded upon a counterclaim. But not of equitable set-off. Scott v. Armstrong, 146 U. S. 499, 36 L. ed. 1059.

72 Harris v. Hess, 10 Fed. 263. In the absence of statute, interpleader or the bringing in of a new party cannot be ordered at common law. Bertha Z. & M. Co. v. Clarico, 61 Fed. 132, 136. For the practice in equity, see supra, § 157. Huxley v. Pennsylvania Warehousing & S. D. Co., C. C. A., 184 Fed. 705.

73 Rosenbach v. Dreyfuss, 2 Fed. 23. But see Osborne v. Detroit, 28 Fed. 385.

74 Parker v. Ogdensburg & L. C. R. Co., 79 Fed. 817.

75 Springs v. James, 172 Fed. 626.

76 Nussbaum v. Northern Ins. Co., 40 Fed. 337; Gassman v. Jarvis, 94 Fed. 603. Where the State statute permitted a plaintiff to dismiss, without prejudice, before the final

79

sal or non-suit; 77 form of a verdict; 78 manner of entering and recording judgment, including provisions for the entry of judgment against one or more defendants; assessment of damages after judgment by default; 80 the right to open judgment by default; 81 but in the Second Circuit a default was opened in a case where this would not have been permitted by the State practice; 82 and it has been held that a Federal court at common law can not set aside, after the term of entry, a judgment by default, although the State practice authorizes such an order; practice upon application to open a default; 4 suspension of judgment pending writ of error.85

84

In following a State statute, the Federal courts usually read the word "county" as "judicial district." 86 A State stat

submission of the case to the jury, it was held to be error to refuse to allow the plaintiff to do this before a peremptory instruction for the defendant, although the motion was not made until after the judge had said that he would sustain the defendant's motion for a verdict. Knight v. Illinois Cent. R. Co., C. C. A., 180 Fed. 368. See infra, § 473g.

77 Central Transp. Co. v. Pullman's Palace Car Co., 139 U. S. 24, 29, 39, 11 Sup. Ct. 478, 481, 35 L. ed. 55.

78 Glenn v. Sumner, 132 U. S. 152, 156, 10 Sup. Ct. 41, 33 L. ed. 301; Knight v. Illinois Cent. R. Co., C. C. A., 180 Fed. 368, 372.

79 Sawin v. Kenny, 93 U. S. 289, 23 L. ed. 926; Knight v. Illinois Cent. R. Co., C. C. A., 180 Fed. 368, 372.

80 Loewe v. Union Savings Bank, 226 Fed. 294.

81 Brown v. Phila. W. & Br. Co., C. C. D. Delaware, 9 Fed. 183; Wylie Permanent Camping Co. v. Lynch, C. C. A., 195 Fed. 386, 388, 392, 402. But see infra, § 481.

82 Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron

Co. v. Kever, C. C. A., 2 Ct., 260 Fed. 534, 541; certiorari denied 250 U. S. 665, 40 Sup. Ct. 213, 64 L. ed. But see the strong dissenting opinion of Manton J. As the author was of counsel in the case below, he forbears the expression of his own opinion. Contra Wylie Permanent Camping Co. v. Lynch, C. C. A., 195 Fed. 386, 388, 392, 402.

83 U. S. v. One Trunk, 155 Fed. 651. See Bronson v. Schulten, 104 U. S. 410, 26 L. ed. 797; Phillips v. Negley, 117 U. S. 665, 29 L. ed. 1013; Rio Grande Irrigation Co. v. Gildersleeve, 174 U. S. 603, 609, 43 L. ed. 1103, 1105; infra, § 481. Contra, Hamburg-Bremen Fire Ins. Co. v. Pelzer Mfg. Co., C. C. A., 76 Fed. 479, 481; Travelers' Protective Ass 'n v. Gilbert, 55 L.R.A. 538, 111 Fed. 269, 276.

84 Brown v. Phila. W. & Br. Co., 9 Fed. 183.

85 U. S. v. Sturgis, 14 Fed. 810.

86 Lung Chung v. No. Pac. Ry. Co., 19 Fed. 254, 257; Treadwell v. Seymour, 41 Fed. 579; Miller's Adm'r v. Norfolk & W. R. Co., 41 Fed. 431.

ute authorizing an action to be brought in a firm name was not followed in an action at common law in the Federal court there held.87 A State statute allowing an association consisting of seven or more to sue and be sued in the name of one of its officers, was followed at common law in the Federal court sitting in such State,88 but not in a Federal court sitting in another State.89 A State statute providing that a county can be sued only in a specified court; 90 or that a foreign corporation cannot sue until it has complied with certain statutory requirements,91 or that an action cannot be brought upon a judgment without leave of the court that rendered it,92 or that a special appearance for the purpose of objection to the jurisdiction is equivalent to a general appearance, 93 or regulating the practice in applying for, and giving the right in certain cases to pestponements of trials or to continuances,94 is not binding on a Federal court. The fact that the State practice permits an original application by a municipal bondholder for a mandamus does not deprive a Federal court of jurisdiction over an action by him to recover a judgment which can only be enforced by such a writ.95 It has been held that a motion to dismiss an action at common law as frivolous may be made at any time.96 Exemptions from service of process have been discussed in the chapter on subpœnas.9 97

§ 454. Common law pleading. In general. In actions at common law in civil causes, the District Courts of the United

87 Adams v. May, 27 Fed. 907. 88 Hoey v. Coleman, 46 Fed. 221, 225. See supra, § 48.

89 Chapman v. Barney, 129 U. S. 677, 682, 32 L. ed. 800, 801. See supra, § 48.

90 Cowles V. Mercer County, 7 Wall. 118, 19 L. ed. 86; Lincoln County v. Luning, 133 U. S. 529, 33 L. ed. 766; Chicot County v. Sherwood, 148 U. S. 529, 37 L. ed. 546.

91 Bank of British N. A. v. Barling, 44 Fed. 641; aff'd as Barling v. British Bank of N. A., C. C. A., 50 Fed. 260,

92 Phelps v. O'Brien Co., 2 Dill. 318; Union Tr. Co. v. Rochester & P. R. Co., 29 Fed. 609; supra, § 83.

93 So. Pac. Co. v. Denton, 146 U. S. 202, 209, 36 L. ed. 943, 945. Cf. Mexican C. Ry. Co. v. Pinckney, 149 U. S. 194, 37 L. ed. 699.

94 Texas & Pac. Ry. Co. v. Nelson, C. C. A., 50 Fed. 418; infra, § 473a. 95 Shepard v. Tulare, 94 Fed. 1. 96 O'Connell v. Mason, C. C. A., 132 Fed. 245; Webb v. Fisher, 109 Tenn. 701, 60 L.R.A. 791, 72 S. W. 110.

97 Supra, § 167.

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