Potter v. Engler

153 N.W. 1088, 130 Minn. 510, 1915 Minn. LEXIS 612

• Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota
• Decided: August 6, 1915
• Docket: Nos. 19,248—(162)
• Status: Published

Opinion

Schaller, J.

Plaintiffs, who are Chippewa Indians, appeal from an order refusing a temporary injunction to prevent defendants from cutting and removing timber from Indian lands in Koochiching county. The legal title to the lands is in the United States of America. The timber was sold to defendant E. A. Engler under the provisions of certain acts of Congress by the United States for the benefit of the Indians. The proceeds of such sales are, under the acts of Congress, held by the United States as trustee for the Indians.

Bids were advertised for and at the opening thereof defendant Engler appeared to be the highest bidder. Subsequently, by agreement between defendant and tbe United States, defendant Engler increased the amount of bis bid,' and thereupon tbe timber was awarded to bim.

Thereafter defendant Engler and defendant Engler Lumber Co. acting for and with bim, made preparations to cut and did cut some of tbe timber claimed to have been purchased by Engler.

This suit is brought by plaintiffs, tbe beneficiaries, against defendants to enjoin defendants from continuing to cut such timber.

1. Tbe United States is not made a party and has not consented to become a party to tbe suit. It is argued that, as between plaintiffs and defendants, it is not necessary that tbe United States be a party, because tbe interests involved are those of tbe beneficiaries only. This we cannot concede. Defendants could not avoid tbe contract even if they desired. Tbe contract between defendant Engler and tbe United States is valid and binding, and the United States could undoubtedly enforce it. Unless tbe United States becomes a party to this action so as to be bound by tbe result thereof, we might have a case of tbe courts enjoining defendant Engler from doing an act for the failure to perform which tbe United States could afterward mulct bim in damages.

It is conceded that the United States is tbe only party which could lawfully sell or dispose of tbe timber in question. Tbe United States assumed to sell tbe timber to defendant and entered into a contract to that effect. Tbe purchase price must be paid to tbe United States. Part of it has already been deposited.

The authorities seem to bear out the view that an action of this nature cannot be maintained, unless the United States, which is a party to the contract, and the trustee for the proceeds thereof, also becomes a party to the action. Oregon v. Hitchcock, 202 U. S. 60, 26 Sup. Ct. 568, 50 L. ed. 935; Naganab v. Hitchcock, 202 U. S. 473, 26 Sup. Ct. 667, 50 L. ed. 1113; McKay v. Kalyton, 204 U. S. 458, 27 Sup. Ct. 346, 51 L. ed. 567; Goldberg v. Daniels, 231 U. S. 218, 34 Sup. Ct. 84, 58 L. ed. 191; Disbrow Mnfg. Co. v. Creamery Package Mnfg. Co. 115 Minn. 434, 132 N. W. 913.

Tbe validity of this contract cannot be litigated unless tbe parties to tbe contract become parties to tbe action. We, therefore, bold, as a matter of law, that the United States not being a party to this suit, it cannot be maintained.

2. The granting of a temporary injunction is a matter that is discretionary with the trial court, and, unless that discretion is abused, the action of the trial court will be sustained. Holmes v. Park Rapids Lumber Co. 108 Minn. 196, 121 N. W. 877; 2 Dunnell, Minn. Digest, § 4490, and cases cited.

The record includes many affidavits and exhibits filed on behalf of both parties and bearing on questions of fact in issue between them. The court, in passing upon the application for a temporary injunction, necessarily has passed on these questions of fact adversely to plaintiffs. An examination of the record does not convince us that the district court abused its discretion in denying the temporary injunction, and we cannot so'hold.

Order affirmed.