Interstate Commerce Commission v. Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad

537 F.2d 77

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: April 19, 1976
• Docket: Nos. 75-1787 to 75-1789
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

The Interstate Commerce Commission (Commission) instituted this action pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 1(20) against the defendants, the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad Company (B & A) and its President, Elmer J. Jubb, seeking injunctive relief against B & A for the alleged illegal abandonment of a segment of its railroad running from Clifford Junction in Baltimore City to a point approximately six miles south. Alco-Gravure, Inc. (Aleo), a former customer of B & A, was permitted to intervene, and filed its amended complaint with a prayer for damages against B & A based upon common law principles as well as 49 U.S.C. §§ 1(4) and 1(11). In addition to its contest on the merits, B & A filed a motion to stay the action pending the disposition of its application to the Commission under 49 U.S.C. § 1(18) for a certificate permitting abandonment.

Following a hearing the district judge filed an opinion containing his findings of fact and conclusions of law in which he held that B & A's failure to provide rail service on the segment in question constituted an unlawful abandonment within the meaning of Section 1(18) and granted injunctive relief requiring B & A to proceed with the repairs necessary to restore such rail service. With respect to Alco’s claim for damages, the district judge concluded that its pursuit of damages in the Commission proceeding constituted an election of remedies under 49 U.S.C. § 9, precluding its assertion of damages in the district court.

Upon consideration of the record, the briefs and oral argument, we affirm upon the opinion of the district judge. I.C.C. v. Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad Company, 398 F.Supp. 454 (D.C.Md.1975).

AFFIRMED.