United States v. Southern California Edison Co.

229 F. Supp. 268, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9699
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. California
DecidedMay 13, 1964
DocketNo. 62-737-EC
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 229 F. Supp. 268 (United States v. Southern California Edison Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Southern California Edison Co., 229 F. Supp. 268, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9699 (S.D. Cal. 1964).

Opinion

CRARY, District Judge.

The government seeks damages in the sum of $9,876.64 allegedly resulting from the “Glendora fire” which occurred September 5, 1960, and defendant counterclaims for damages in the amount of $40,-000.00 alleged to have resulted to it from the “Woodwardia fire” as of October 13, 1959. The action was filed May 31, 1962.

Plaintiff now moves to dismiss the counterclaim of defendant on the grounds:

1. It is barred by the statute of limitations [28 U.S.C. § 2401].
[269]*2692. That the defendant is not entitled to relief by way of recoupment, set-off or affirmative relief.

The court concludes that defendant is not barred by the two-year statute of limitations to seek damages by way of recoupment or affirmative relief if the counterclaim originates out of the same transaction or circumstances. United States v. Southern Pacific Company, 210 F.Supp. 760 (D.C.N.D.Cal. Nov. 1962), where the court states at pages 762-763:

“The court holds that counter claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act are to be allowed when the claim of the United States originates out of the same circumstances and is of the same nature as the counter claim; and that if the United States waits until the two year period has expired and then brings an action for damages it impliedly waives the right to assert the statute of limitations against a defendant interposing a counter claim.”

In United States v. Capital Transit Co., 108 F.Supp. 348 (D.C.Dist.Col. Nov. 1952), the court observes, at pages 349-350:

“When the United States Government commenced this action it seems to me it conceded that the action should be fully litigated, and it therefore accepted whatever liability the Courts might decide to be reasonably incident to the collision. As indicated before the damages sought to be recovered in the counterclaim in the case at bar flowed from the same accident as a result of which plaintiff is seeking its recovery.
“The Court concludes that when the United States comes into Court and seeks to recover damages to its vehicle sustained in a collision, that it cannot preclude the defendant from asserting a counterclaim for damages arising out of the same accident because the Statute of Limitations has run for the bringing of such action by the defendant. It is the Court’s opinion that the United States in bringing such an action submits itself to the jurisdiction of the Court for the determination of all issues that might arise from the accident between the parties involved.”

Although there are some earlier cases holding contrary to the above cited authorities, it appears that they are overruled as to this point by the Supreme Court of the United States in United States v. Yellow Cab Company, 340 U. S. 543, 71 S.Ct. 399, 95 L.Ed. 523.

The defendant stipulates that the “Woodwardia fire” (October, 1959) did not originate out of the same circumstances, transaction or subject matter as the “Glendora fire” (September, 1960) but urges that damages allegedly resulting to it from the “Woodwardia fire” may be used by way of recoupment or set-off in the circumstances though it be held defendant is not entitled to affirmative relief in an amount in excess thereof.

Defendant asserts that this right is established by the rule as stated in United States v. Pollard, 124 F.Supp. 495 (N.D. Cal.1954). The court states, at page 497:

“I need not decide whether this 'cross-complaint’ would come within the principle of recoupment allowed in U. S. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., supra [309 U.S. 506, 60 S.Ct. 653, 84 L.Ed. 894], Used to recoup, the claim could only diminish or defeat the government recovery. The claim is based on the asserted negligence of the government driver. This negligence is also a defense under the substantive California law to be applied here and if established would wholly defeat the government recovery independent of any principle of recoupment.”

The Supreme Court of the United States in U. S. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 309 U.S. 506 at 511, 60 S.Ct. 653, at 656, 84 L.Ed. 894 says:

“A. — By concession of the Government the validity of so much of the [270]*270Missouri judgment as satisfies the Indian Nations’ claim against the lessee is accepted. This concession is upon the theory that a defendant may, without statutory authority, recoup on a counterclaim an amount equal to the principal claim.”

It is noted that the court cites as authority for this statement the case of Bull v. United States, 295 U.S. 247, 55 S.Ct. 695, 700, 79 L.Ed. 1421. The Bull case involved an action for income tax allegedly owed. The taxpayer proposed payment in full by demanding recoupment of the amount mistakenly collected as estate tax and wrongfully retained. At page 261 of its opinion, the court observes:

“A claim for recovery of money so held may not only be the subject of a suit in the Court of Claims, as shown by the authority referred to, but may be used by way of recoupment and credit in an action by the United States arising out of the same transaction.” Citing cases.

On page 262, the court says:

“* * * recoupment is in the nature of a defense arising out of some feature of the transaction upon which the plaintiff’s action is grounded.”

It is well established that unless a claim arises out of the same transaction recoupment is not available. 47 American Jurisprudence 708, Section 2.

With regard to “set-off”, it is true that under the California rule and generally, the claim of set-off need not arise out of the same transaction. Under the Federal rules a counterclaim is subject to Rule 13(d), F.R.Civ.P. After making provision for permissive and compulsive counterclaims, Rule 13(d) provides :

“These rules shall not be construed to enlarge beyond the limits now fixed by law the right to assert counterclaims or to claim credits against the United States or an officer or agency thereof.”

The court concludes that although the United States is party plaintiff to the action herein it cannot be sued without its consent, as provided by statute and case law interpreting same. The permission must be granted by Congress. The California rule re set-off is not, therefore, applicable to the case at bar. In Kearney v. A’hearn, 210 F.Supp. 10 (D.C.S.D.N.Y.1962), plaintiffs, as taxpayers, sought to enjoin the District Director from collecting income tax deficiency of plaintiffs, and so forth. In dismissing the action for lack of jurisdiction, the court denied plaintiffs the right to amend their complaint by setting up a counterclaim against the United States (pg. 19) for money alleged due under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a) (2). At page 21 of its opinion, the court states:

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Bluebook (online)
229 F. Supp. 268, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9699, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-southern-california-edison-co-casd-1964.