Wilcoxen v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co.

116 F. 444, 1902 U.S. App. LEXIS 5006
CourtU.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of Iowa
DecidedJune 26, 1902
DocketNo. 356
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 116 F. 444 (Wilcoxen v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilcoxen v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co., 116 F. 444, 1902 U.S. App. LEXIS 5006 (circtsdia 1902).

Opinion

McPHERSON, District Judge.

This case was brought by the title above given in the district court of Wapello county, Iowa. The action is for a personal injury suffered by the said Eslinger by reason of the [445]*445alleged negligence of the defendant. Subsequently Eslinger 'became insane, by reason of said injury, as alleged. The amount sued for, exclusive of interest and costs, is in excess of $2,000. Within the time fixed by law the defendant filed in the state court its petition for a removal to this court of the case. A good and sufficient bond was tendered. The petition for removal was verified. The petition for removal was in the usual form', and reciting that there is a controversy. It was sufficient in all respects to obtain a removal, unless it be with reference to the diverse citizenship-. The state court found, and 'so recited of record, that the diverse citizenship was made to appear. But that court held that because defendant had filed no answer to the alleged 'cause of action that it did not appear there was any controversy, and for that reason the petition for removal was denied. The supreme court of Iowa, up to the year 1886, had several times so decided, and, as I recollect, has not since the 69th Iowa otherwise ruled. No doubt the state district court followed those decisions. But the United States courts do not feel bound by those decisions, and I very much doubt if the Iowa supreme court would so hold under the present judiciary act, because that statute provides that a petition for removal must be filed “at the time, or at any time before the defendant is required by the laws of the state * * * to answer.” 25 Stat. 435. Upon that point, if by the petition for removal or otherwise it is made to appear that there is a controversy, it is regarded as sufficient. And this was not controverted at the oral argument before me. I do not regard the question open for discussion, and am content with stating that when the petition for removal states that there is a controversy, and that such controversy is as to an amount in excess of $2,000, etc., an answer need not be filed until the case is in this court. Although the state court, for the reason stated, denied the removal, the defendant in due' time filed the record in this court. Thereupon plaintiff filed a motion to remand, on the ground that the citizenship is not diverse. ■ This motion has been elaborately argued, both by brief and orally.

The defendant company now is, and for many years has been, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Illinois, and therefore a citizen of that state. Eslinger, the person injured, was when injured, and at all times since has been, a citizen of - Iowa. The guardian, Wilcoxen, was when this action was commenced, and at all times since has been, a citizen of Illinois. This guardian was appointed by the district court of Wapello county, Iowa, 'sitting in probate. Therefore we have these facts: The guardian is a citizen of Illinois. The insane man for whose use and benefit the action is brought is a citizen of Iowa. Can the action be removed to this court on the ground of diverse citizenship? Or does the citizenship of Eslinger, the insane man, control ? As the guardian, Wilcoxen, and the defendant company are both citizens of Illinois, if the citizenship of the guardian controls this case must be remanded. But as the insane man, Eslinger, for whose use and benefit the action is brought, is a citizen of Iowa, and the defendant company is a citizen of Illinois, the motion to remand must be denied, and this court will retain jurisdiction, provided it is the citizenship of the insane man which governs. That all moneys recovered in this action, if any are recovered, will gG [446]*446to Eslinger, the insane man, and that Wilcoxen will receive nothing beyond his reasonable compensation, need only be stated. Section 3481 of the Code of Iowa provides: “The action of a person judicially found to be of unsound mind must be brought by his guardian.” The preceding section (3480) provides: “The action of a minor must be brought by his guardian, if he has one, if not, by his next friend.” In each case it is the action of the party. In the one case it is “the action of a minor,” and in the other it is “the action of a person judicially found to be of unsound mind.” It is not the action of the guardian or of the next friend, but it is the action of the ward. Section 3194 provides: “If a minor owns property, a guardian must be appointed to manage the same.” In case a corporation seeks to condemn property belonging to a minor or insane person, the guardian, under the direction of the court, makes the adjustment of the damages.' Section 2001. The guardian of a minor or insane person must list the ward’s property for taxation (Code, § 1312), and may, but need not necessarily, redeem the same from a tax sale. If the guardian does not redeem, the minor or insane person may redeem at any time within one year after the disability is removed. Id. § 1439. “Any guardian may sue in his own name,” but the action does not abate by the death, resignation, or removal of the guardian. Id. § 3224. The guardianship of minors and of insane persons is governed by the same laws. Id. § 3223. And such guardians must prosecute and defend for their wards under proper orders of the court. Id. § 3200. These statutes persuade me that the rule in Iowa is, as perhaps it is elsewhere, as well as at common law, that the title to the property is in the ward, and not in the guardian. The guardian controls and can manage, but has no title nor ownership-, and can only control subject to the direction of the court appointing him. And it being true, that the ward has the title, and the guardian only the right of control, is to me of importance. On the precise question now before the court, the two text books Moon on Removal, and Black’s Dillon on Removal, are not agreed, the one being for, and the other against, the jurisdiction of this court, on the facts of this case. In Moon on Removal (section 134) it is said:

“Where a suit is brought by or against a party in a representative capacity, his personal citizenship controls the question of federal jurisdiction, so far as such jurisdiction depends upon the citizenship of such party. This rule applies to suits by or against trustees, administrators, executors, guardians, receivers, and officers of joint-stock companies.”

And that guardians are so included the author cites the following cases: (1) City of New Orleans v. Whitney, 138 U. S. 595, 11 Sup. Ct. 428, 34 L. Ed. 1102. This was one of the famous Gaines suits, and this particular action was by her administrator. The case, therefore, cannot be and is not in point. It is true that Justice Bradley (at page 606, 138 U. S., and page 431, 11 Sup. Ct., 34 L. Ed. 1102) does say that it is the citizenship of the executors, guardian, etc., that controls, but he says this as dictum, and that only because, as he says, the assignments of the cause of action are by operation of law. But in Iowa, at least, the guardian does not take, by assignment or otherwise, the cause of action. (2) Woolridge v. McKenna (C. C.) 8 Fed, 650. This case, in so far as it is an- authority at all, is to the effect [447]*447that it is the citizenship of the ward, and not of the guardian, that is controlling. (3) In re McClean’s Estate (C. C.) 26 Fed. 49. This is a case of what was a separable controversy, and throws no light upon the question, and the subject-matter of the suit was that of a testamentary trusteeship. (4) Pennington v. Smith (C. C.) 69 Fed. 188, and Id., 24 C. C. A. 145, 78 Fed.

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Bluebook (online)
116 F. 444, 1902 U.S. App. LEXIS 5006, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilcoxen-v-chicago-b-q-r-co-circtsdia-1902.