Sullivan v. Swain

Decision Date28 August 1899
Docket Number726.
Citation96 F. 259
CourtU.S. District Court — Southern District of California
PartiesSULLIVAN v. SWAIN et al.

Holdridge O. Collins (Lorin C. Collins, Jr., and William Meade Fletcher, of counsel), for complainant.

Grave, O'Melveny & Shankland, for defendants.

WELLBORN, District Judge.

The original complainant, William K. Sullivan, who, on his ex parte petition, was appointed an ancillary receiver by this court prior to the institution of said suit, having since died, and the petition of one Henry Brant to be appointed successor to said Sullivan having been denied by an order this day entered in Re Brant (No. 722) 96 F. 257, for lack of jurisdiction, and the appointment of said Sullivan having, for the same reason, in the same order, been vacated, it follows that, in determining the question of jurisdiction in the pending suit, the suit must be considered as an independent suit for foreclosure, brought by a foreign receiver, and without any reference whatever to said appointment. Under these circumstances it seems to me that there is no escape from defendants' contention that, inasmuch as the matter in dispute is less than $2,000, this court is without jurisdiction. If it be conceded that the suit is one arising under the constitution and laws of the United States because brought by the receiver of a federal court, still the other requisite to federal jurisdiction, namely, that the amount involved must exceed $2,000, is lacking. It is true that where a receiver, in administering his trust, brings an action in the court which appointed him, such court has jurisdiction of the action without regard to the amount involved or the citizenship of the parties (White v. Ewing, 159 U.S. 36, 15 Sup.Ct. 1018; Lanning v. Osborne, 76 F. 319); but in such a case the jurisdiction is upheld on the ground that the action is but auxiliary to-- indeed a part of-- the original suit, in which the receiver was appointed. This ground of jurisdiction, however, manifestly does not exist where the receiver sues in a jurisdiction other than that of his appointment. The suit will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

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4 cases
  • Kelley v. Queeney
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Western District of New York
    • November 17, 1941
    ...main action was brought wherein the plaintiffs were appointed trustees, and this was the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In Sullivan v. Swain, C. C., 96 F. 259, it was said: "Where a receiver * * * brings an action in the court which appointed him, such court has jurisdiction of the actio......
  • U.S. v. Franklin National Bank
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit
    • February 24, 1975
    ...main action was brought wherein the plaintiffs were appointed trustees, and this was the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In Sullivan v. Swain, C.C., 96 F. 259, it was said: "Where a receiver * * * brings an action in the court which appointed him, such court has jurisdiction of the action......
  • Mitchell v. Maurer
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • December 3, 1934
    ...Winter v. Swinburne (C.C.) 8 F. 49, where the subject was fully discussed. Compare United States v. Pedarre (D.C.) 262 F. 839; Sullivan v. Swain (C.C.) 96 F. 259. But see Bluefields S.S. Co. v. Steele (C.C.A.) 184 F. 584, 587. Compare Trustees System Co. of Pennsylvania v. Payne (C.C.A.) 65......
  • Fairview Fluor Spar & Lead Co. v. Ulrich
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • October 3, 1911
    ...Hale v. Allinson, 188 U.S. 56, 23 Sup.Ct. 244, 47 L.Ed. 380, and in Great Western Mining & Manufacturing Co. v. Harris, supra; Sullivan v. Swaine (C.C.) 96 F. 259; Bunk Circuit Judge, 43 Mich. 296, 5 N.W. 627. In Street on Federal Practice, vol. 3, Sec. 2694, it is said: 'A suit for an anci......

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