Matthews v. Aero Mayflower Transit Co.

245 S.E.2d 407, 37 N.C. App. 59, 1978 N.C. App. LEXIS 2656
CourtCourt of Appeals of North Carolina
DecidedJune 20, 1978
DocketNo. 773DC718
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 245 S.E.2d 407 (Matthews v. Aero Mayflower Transit Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Matthews v. Aero Mayflower Transit Co., 245 S.E.2d 407, 37 N.C. App. 59, 1978 N.C. App. LEXIS 2656 (N.C. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

VAUGHN, Judge.

We conclude that there were no genuine issues as to any material fact and that defendants were entitled to judgment as a matter of law. We, therefore, affirm the entry of summary judgment.

The affidavit of J. R. Bruckman, manager of the Credit and Collection Department of Aero Mayflower Transit Co., states that “the plaintiffs’ goods were shipped in interstate commerce under the provisions of all applicable rules and regulations of the Interstate Commerce Act . . . .” Plaintiffs offered no evidence that this was not so. Indeed, they probably could not do so. The goods were shipped from Washington to North Carolina. U.S.C.A. 49 § 302(a) provides that Part II of the Interstate Commerce Act shall “apply to the transportation of passengers or property by motor carriers engaged in interstate or foreign commerce.” The weight of plaintiffs’ goods and the distance shipped were established by affidavit of the president of Security Storage, Inc. The defendants also offered into evidence copies of Tariff No. 126-A, MF — I.C.C. No. 142, certified by the Secretary of the Interstate Commerce Commission as having full force and effect in 1969 when plaintiffs shipped their goods. By this tariff, defendants were obligated to charge the full amount invoiced by them for cross-country transportation, notwithstanding the original mistake.

By U.S.C.A. 49 § 323 the carrier is prohibited from relinquishing possession of any freight until all tariff charges have [61]*61been paid. By U.S.C.A. 49 § 317(b), the carrier is prohibited from charging less for any service than the charge specified by the tariffs in effect. Together these provisions prevent any equitable considerations from justifying a retention by the shipper of any part of a lawful tariff charge. “In short, application of tariffs as published is required regardless of the intention of the parties and irrespective of the equities existing between carriers and shippers.” National Van Lines, Inc. v. United States, 355 F. 2d 326, 331 (7th Cir. 1966); see Louisville & N.R.R. v. Maxwell, 237 U.S. 94, 35 S.Ct. 494, 59 L.Ed. 853 (1915).

From the above authority, it is clear that the defendants are governed by I.C.C. regulations and are required to collect the full amount owed them under the tariffs.

Affirmed.

Judges Morris and Martin concur.

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Related

City of Wilson v. Carolina Builders of Wilson, Inc.
379 S.E.2d 712 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 1989)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
245 S.E.2d 407, 37 N.C. App. 59, 1978 N.C. App. LEXIS 2656, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/matthews-v-aero-mayflower-transit-co-ncctapp-1978.