Stanley Stout and Frances Stout v. United States

229 F.2d 918, 1956 U.S. App. LEXIS 3656

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• Decided: February 6, 1956
• Docket: 23753_1
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Plaintiffs complain that the existing wheat quotas imposed under 7 U.S.C.A. § 1281 et seq. prevent them from raising sufficient grain to feed their poultry and cattle and from properly rotating their crops. They brought this action against the United States seeking to have these provisions declared unconstitutional and their enforcement enjoined, because of their discriminatory voting provisions.

Although Blattner v. United States, D.C., 127 F.Supp. 628, affirmed 3 Cir., 223 F.2d 468, which seems directly in point, is authority for dismissal on the merits under the rule stated in Wickard v. Filburn, 317 U.S. 111, 63 S.Ct. 82, 87, L.Ed. 122, we do not reach the substantive question. Neither by the Declaratory Judgments Act, 28 U.S.C.A. §§ 2201, 2202, nor otherwise has the United States consented to be sued in this type of action. Brownell v. Ketcham Wire & Mfg. Co., 9 Cir., 211 F.2d 121; Blattner v. United States, 3 Cir., 223 F.2d 468. Without such consent, it is immune to suit. Accordingly, we hold that the District Court lacked jurisdiction over the defendant, and hence the action was properly dismissed.

Affirmed.