Hogg v. Maxwell
Decision Date | 10 November 1914 |
Docket Number | 35. |
Citation | 218 F. 356 |
Parties | HOGG v. MAXWELL et al. |
Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit |
We heretofore reversed the judgment in this case in favor of the defendant on the ground that the stipulation made at the trial did not establish jurisdiction because of citizenship of the parties. 215 F. 360, 131 C.C.A. 502. Subsequently both sides agreed that it was the intention of the stipulation to state that the plaintiff was a citizen as well as a resident of New Jersey and the defendants citizens of New York, as alleged in the complaint. Accordingly we now proceed to examine the case further and to express the opinion of the majority of the court. The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint upon among other grounds that:
The difference between jurisdiction at law and in equity is rigorously maintained in the federal courts. Burnes v Scott, 117 U.S. 582, 6 Sup.Ct. 865, 29 L.Ed. 991. In those courts no one can be relieved in an action at law of the effect of a sealed instrument because of fraud, except where the fraud was connected with the actual execution of the instrument. If the party sought to be bound by the instrument was induced when he executed it to think it was something else than what it was-- e.g., that it was a receipt when it was really a release-- he may treat it as void and nonexistent. A plea of non est factum would have been good in an action at common law. But to be relieved because of collateral fraudulent representations he must resort to a court of equity. The leading case is Hartshorn v. Day, 19 How. 211, 15 L.Ed. 605, an action at law to recover damages for infringement by the assignee of a patent against persons claiming title under the same assignor. The plaintiff, whose was the later title sought to avoid the earlier title of the defendants by showing, among other things, that it had been obtained by means of fraudulent representations. Mr. Justice Nelson held that this could not be done in an action at law, saying at page 222 of 19 How. (15 L.Ed. 605):
The same rule was followed in George v. Tate, 102 U.S. 564, 26 L.Ed. 232; Stephensen v. Supreme Council (C.C.) 130 F. 491; Levi v. Matthews, 145 F. 152, 76 C.C.A. 122; Pacific Ins. Co. v. Webb, 157 F. 155, 84 C.C.A. 603, 13 Ann.Cas. 752. Judge Wallace, in this circuit, in a case involving an unsealed instrument, recognized the law to be so in the case of a sealed instrument. Such v. Bank (C.C.) 127 F. 450. Citing Hartshorn v. Day, he said:
'If the receipt thus alleged to have been given had been a release under seal, it is plain that upon the authorities...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
Pringle v. Storrow
......C. A. 1; Am. Sign Co. v. Electro-Lens Co. (D. C.) 211 F. 196; Maine N. W. Development Co. v. Northern Commercial Co. (D. C.) 213 F. 103; Hogg v. Maxwell, 218 F. 356, 134 C. C. A. 164; Whitcomb v. Shultz, 223 F. 268, 138 C. C. A. 510; Cline v. So. Ry. Co. (D. C.) 231 F. 238; So. Ry. v. ......
-
Dunn v. Prudential Ins. Co.
...to. It should be noted, also, that an insurance policy, although it has a seal attached to it, is not a specialty. Hogg v. Maxwell, 218 F. 356, 134 C. C. A. 164; Mass. Protective Ass'n v. Kittles (D. C.) 295 F. 572. The point now under discussion did not occur to the mind of the learned jud......
-
Whitcomb v. Shultz
...... by the court in George v. Tate, 102 U.S. 564, 570,. 26 L.Ed. 232 (1880). We have applied the rule in a number of. cases. Hogg v. Maxwell, 218 F. 356, 134 C.C.A. 164. (1914); Drobney v. Lukens, 204 F. 11. 122 C.C.A. 325. (1913); De Lamar v. Herdeley, 167 F. 530, 93 ......
-
Massachusetts Protective Ass'n v. Kittles
...applicable the decisions of Hartshorn v. Day, 19 How. 211, 15 L.Ed. 605; George v. Tate, 102 U.S. 564, 26 L.Ed. 232; Hogg v. Maxwell, 218 F. 356, 134 C.C.A. 164, other cases to the same effect. See the Bailey Case, supra, Hogg v. Maxwell, supra, and Columbia-Knickerbocker Trust Co. v. Abbot......