Greene v. Klinger

10 F. 689
CourtUnited States Circuit Court
DecidedFebruary 15, 1882
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 10 F. 689 (Greene v. Klinger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Circuit Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Greene v. Klinger, 10 F. 689 (uscirct 1882).

Opinion

Pabdee, O. J.

The above cases have been up and heard three times on motions to remand to the state court from which they were removed:

First. Before Judge Duval at the October term, 1879, who denied the motion, giving elaborate reasons. The statement of the case, the grounds of motion, and the reasons of Judge Duval, are reported in 10 Cent. Law J. 47. Second. Before Judge Woods, then circuit judge, at the October term, 1880, who also denied the motion, but who afterwards expressed himself as dissatisfied with his decision and suggested a reargument. Third. Before me at this term.

Since the decision of' Judge Woods, the points involved have been passed upon by the supreme court in the case of Barney v. Latham, 103 U. S. 205, with Judge Woods (now Justice Woods) on the bench and not dissenting.

In that case it was decided that under the second clause of the second section of the act of March 3, 1875, when in.any suit mentioned [690]*690therein there is a controversy wholly between citizens of different states which can he fully determined as between them, then either one or more of the plaintiffs or the defendants actually interested in such controversy may, on complying with the requirements of the statute, remove the entire suit.

In these cases under consideration it appears that at the time of application for removal the plaintiffs and all of the defendants, except Morgan C. Hamilton, were citizens of the state of Texas, and that defendant Hamilton was a citizen of New York. It further appears that the suits were actions of trespass to try title to real estate wherein defendant Morgan C. Hamilton is the grantor and warantor of title to all the other defendants.

Section 4788 of the Revised Statutes of the state provides that—

“ When a party is sued, for lands the real owner or warrantor may make himself or may he made a party defendant in the suit, and shall he entitled to make such defence as if he had been the original defendant in the action.”

Section 4811 of the same provides that—

“Any final judgment rendered in any action for the recovery of real estate, hereafter commenced, shall be conclusive as to the title or right of possession established in such action upon the party against whom it is recovered,” etc.

Now, as Hamilton was a party entitled to defend and liable to be included by the judgment rendered, there must have been a controversy between him and other parties to the suit. It is easy to see that that controversy was as 'to whether Hamilton had acquired from his grantor a just title as owner of the property sued for, and was bound to warrant and defend this title of the other defendants. That controversy was between him and citizens of a different state, as all the other parties were citizens of Texas. It was wholly between him and citizens of a different state, as no other defendant appears to have been interested in the controversy except adversely to him. It seems, also, to be clear that the controversy between Hamilton and citizens of a different state was one which could be fully determined as between them. It further is shown that there was a controversy between Hamilton and the other defendants, all citizens of a different state from Hamilton, because it appears that under the statute Hamilton was brought into the case and made a party defendant on the motion of the other defendants.

Counsel very earnestly insists that the plaintiff has no controversy with Hamilton, and asks no judgment nor relief against him. This [691]*691may be trae, and yet not affect the question, as we have seen in Barney v. Latham that if the proper controversy exists, and the proper stops are taken, the entire suit may be removed.

The ease as it stands now only differs in condition from the way it was presented to Judge Duval, whose decision I have referred to, in so far as Hamilton’s position as a grantor and warrantor differs from what it would be as landlord to the other defendants. Counsel for mover concurs fully in the correctness of the decision rendered by Judge Duval.

An examination of section 4789, Rev. Code of Texas, shows that exactly the same rights are given the landlord in suits for lands as in the same kind of suits are given to owners and warrantors by section 4788 of the same Code hereinbefore cited, and I am unable to see any substantial distinction that can be drawn between the cases. Whore the tenant is sued and the landlord is brought in, the whole burden falls on the landlord; and if the plaintiff recovers, while the tenant is evicted, the landlord is bound for his damages. Where the grantee is sued and the warrantor is brought in, the whole burden falls on the warrantor; and if the plaintiff recovers while the grantee is- evicted, the warrantor is bound for his damages. In the one case the tenant may recover for his improvements precisely as the grantee may in the other.

The other questions raised on the motion to remand are finally settled by the decision of Judge Duval, supra. See Cole Silver Mining Co. v. Virginia Co. 1 Sawy. 685.

It is proper to state that counsel have brought and reargued this motion to remand on the suggestion of Judge Woods, and that, therefore, while the motion is denied, the costs made will follow the judgment in the case as finally determined.

Let judgment be entered denying the motion, without costs.

[692]*692NOTE.

Suits Removable. The suits which are removable under this section are suits of a civil nature, at law or in equity, and it does not extend to criminal cases.

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Nelson v. Camp Mfg. Co.
44 F. Supp. 554 (D. South Carolina, 1942)
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The Oceana
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Greene v. Klingler
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
10 F. 689, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/greene-v-klinger-uscirct-1882.