Benoist v. Smith

SANFORD, District Judge (after stating the facts as above). 1. I am clearly of opinion that the defendant’s petition to dismiss this case on the theory that it is not a bona fide litigation should not be granted. The matters set up in the petition in this regard are, in my judgment, matters going to the defense of the suit on the merits which cannot be properly determined in limine on ex parte affidavits. This prayer of the petition must, accordingly, be denied. [1] 2. As to the prayer for stay of proceedings pending the conclusion of suits in the state courts: The only suit involving the land in controversy in this suit appears to be that of Smith et ai. v. Watts et al. in the Chancery Court of Fentress County, an action of ejectment brought by the defendant Smith herein against Benoist, receiver, and other parties. The authorities seem to be practically uniform that a federal court may, and ordinarily should, in the* exércise of its discretion, stay proceedings to await the termination of a prior suit involving the same matters in a state court of concurrent jurisdiction, and that in personal actions, as distinguished from actions in rcm in which the res is in the custody of the court, priority is determined by the time that the parties are served with process, 'and not by the date of the filing of the two actions. 1 Rose’s Code Fed. Proc. p. 132, § 16(a); Id. p. 138, § 16(f); 1 Foster’s Federal Practice (4th Ed.) p. 41, § 9(e); Union Mutual Life Insurance Co. v. University of Chicago (C. C.) 6 Fed. 443; Zimmerman v. So Relle (C. C. A. 8) 80 Fed. 417, 25 C. C. A. 518; and various other cases. Without however, determining whether, under the doctrine of Zimmerman v. So Relic, supra, an earlier ejectment suit in a state court is to be regarded, in applying this rule, as presenting substantially the same matters of controversy as a subsequent, bill to remove cloud from title, in, the federal court, I think it dear that the present petition fails in two other essential respects to slate a case coming within the rule sought to be invoked by the petition. [2] In the first place, the suit in the state court, even if it can be regarded as a personal action within this rule, is not a prior suit so far as Benoist, receiver, is concerned, within the meaning of the rule. The bill in this suit was filed on August 19, 1909, nine days before the bill was filed in the state court, and subpoena to answer in the present suit was served on the defendant on September 24, 1909, on which data there had been no actual service of process on Benoist, receiver, as a defendant in the state suit. It is trite that at that time an order of publication had been made for* Benoist, receiver, which had been published for four consecutive weeks ending with September 23, 1909; this order of publication requiring the receiver to appear and make defense on or before the fix*st Monday in October. However, it is clear [516] under the doctrine of Pennoyer v. Neff, 95 U. S. 714, 24 L. Ed. 565, that in a personal action jurisdiction is not acquired over the person of a nonresident defendant by mere constructive service through publication. See, also, Haddock v. Haddock, 201 U. S. 562, 26 Sup. Ct. 525, 50 L. Ed. 867. Hence, independently of the fact.that it appears^that leave had not been given by the court in which Benoist was appointed receiver to sue him in the state court, it must be held that the attempted constructive service by publication, even if it could take effect from the date of the last publication and before the entry of the order .pro confesso against him, did not operate to confer jurisdiction over his person. Therefore, not only was the bill in this cause filed prior to the bill in the state court, but, as actual service was had on the defendant Smith on September 24th in this suit at a time when there had been no actual service on Benoist, receiver, in the state court, the present suit must be regarded as the prior suit between the parties in so far as the application of the above-mentioned rule is concerned. In the second place, the parties in the suit in the state court are not the same as in the present suit, and complete relief cannot be granted therein. Among other essential differences between the two suits is-the fact that the Cumberland Coal & Coke Company and Mississippi Valley Trust Company, who are complainants in the present suit and assert title to the land in controversy, are not parties to the suit in the state court, and no relief could be granted against them in that cause. For these reasons, without considering the other questions presented, it results that the prayer of the petition for stay of proceedings in this suit must also be denied. An order will be entered accordingly.