Kuzma v. Witherbee, Sherman & Co.

232 F. 286, 1915 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1674
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedMay 25, 1915
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 232 F. 286 (Kuzma v. Witherbee, Sherman & Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kuzma v. Witherbee, Sherman & Co., 232 F. 286, 1915 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1674 (E.D.N.Y. 1915).

Opinion

CHATFIELD, District Judge.

[1] These actions are brought by an alien, at present living within this district, against a corporation, which has its domicile and principal place of business in the Northern district of New York. It is evident that these actions, which are for personal injuries, are not local in their nature, in the sense in which that word is used in sections 52 to 55 of the Judicial Code. The actions can only be instituted, therefore, in the district of the residence of the defendant, unless the question be waived. Galveston, etc., Railway v. Gonzales, 151 U. S. 496, 14 Sup. Ct. 401, 38 L. Ed. 248.

[2] It appears from the record that the summons in the action was served by a person other than the marshal in the Southern district of New York. This could be done only under section 52 to section 55 of the Code. Toland v. Sprague, 37 U. S. (12 Pet.) 300, 9 L. Ed. 1093; United States v. American Lumber Co. et al., 85 Fed. 827, 29 C. C. A. 431. While it has been recently held in the case of United States, to the Use of Miller et al., v. Mitchell and the Illinois Surety Company (D. C.) 223 Fed. 805 (March 29, 1915), in this district, that process in common-law actions need not be served by the United States marshal, it would seem that the plaintiff cannot profit thereby. Section 54 provides that process in actions of a local nature, in states having more than one district, may he issued for service in other districts of the same state, directed to the marshal of the district in which the defendant resides. If, as the plaintiffs contend, the present actions could be maintained as suits of a local nature, service of- the process would seem to have been improperly made.

[3] The defendant has obtained an extension of time to answer pending the determination of these motions. See Murphy v. Safe Co. (C. C.) 184 Fed. 495. He appeared specially, and the order recites that fact, as well as stating that the extension is without prejudice to the motion. The affidavit of merits under these circumstances is not a waiver of jurisdiction over the person, nor does it make the special appearance void.

• The actions, therefore, will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

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Related

Townsend v. Fletcher
9 F.R.D. 711 (N.D. Ohio, 1949)
Vitkus v. Clyde S. S. Co.
232 F. 288 (E.D. New York, 1916)

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Bluebook (online)
232 F. 286, 1915 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1674, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kuzma-v-witherbee-sherman-co-nyed-1915.