erie tompkins argued january decided april theodore kiendl harold bissell william cannon new york city petitioner fred rees alexander strouse bernard nemeroff new york city bernard kaufman william walsh new york city aaron danzig jamaica brief respondent justice brandeis delivered opinion question decision whether doctrine swift shall disapproved tompkins citizen pennsylvania injured dark night passing freight train erie railroad company walking along right way hughestown state claimed accident occurred negligence operation maintenance train rightfully premises licensee commonly used beaten footpath ran short distance alongside tracks struck something looked like door projecting one moving cars enforce claim brought action federal southern new york jurisdiction company corporation state denied liability case tried jury erie insisted duty tompkins greater owed trespasser contended among things duty tompkins hence liability determined accordance pennsylvania law law pennsylvania declared highest persons use pathways along railroad right longitudinal pathway distinguished deemed trespassers railroad liable injuries undiscovered trespassers resulting negligence unless wanton willful tompkins denied rule established decisions pennsylvania courts contended since statute state subject railroad duty liability determined federal courts matter general law trial judge refused rule applicable law precluded recovery jury brought verdict judgment entered thereon affirmed circuit appeals held unnecessary consider whether law pennsylvania contended question one local general law questions general law federal courts free absence local statute exercise independent judgment law well settled question responsibility railroad injuries caused servants one general law public made open notorious use railroad right way long period time without objection company owes persons permissive pathway duty care operation trains likewise generally recognized law jury may find negligence exists toward pedestrian using permissive path railroad right way hit object projecting side train erie contended application pennsylvania rule required among things section federal judiciary act september provides laws several except constitution treaties statutes otherwise require provide shall regarded rules decision trials common law courts cases apply importance question whether federal free disregard alleged rule pennsylvania common law granted certiorari first swift tyson pet held federal courts exercising jurisdiction ground diversity citizenship need matters general jurisprudence apply unwritten law state declared highest free exercise independent judgment common law state stated justice story true interpretation section limited application state laws strictly local say positive statutes state construction thereof adopted local tribunals rights titles things permanent locality rights titles real estate matters immovable nature character never supposed us section apply designed apply questions general nature dependent upon local statutes local usages fixed permanent operation example construction ordinary contracts written instruments especially questions general commercial law state tribunals called upon perform like functions ascertain upon general reasoning legal analogies true exposition contract instrument rule furnished principles commercial law govern case applying rule section equity cases mason said statute however merely declarative rule exist absence statute federal courts assumed broad field law power declare rules decision congress confessedly without power enact statutes doubt repeatedly expressed correctness construction given section soundness rule introduced recent research competent scholar examined original document established construction given erroneous purpose section merely make certain matters except federal law controlling federal courts exercising jurisdiction diversity citizenship cases apply rules decision law state unwritten well written criticism doctrine became widespread decision black white taxicab transfer brown yellow taxicab transfer brown yellow kentucky corporation owned kentuckians louisville nashville railroad also kentucky corporation wished former exclusive privilege soliciting passenger baggage transportation bowling green railroad station black white competing kentucky corporation prevented interfering privilege knowing contract void common law kentucky arranged brown yellow reincorporate law tennessee contract railroad executed suit brought tennessee corporation federal western kentucky enjoin competition black white injunction issued district sustained appeals citing many decisions doctrine swift tyson applied affirmed decree second experience applying doctrine swift tyson revealed defects political social benefits expected flow rule accrue persistence state courts opinions questions common law prevented uniformity impossibility discovering satisfactory line demarcation province general law local law developed new well uncertainties hand mischievous results doctrine become apparent diversity citizenship jurisdiction conferred order prevent apprehended discrimination state courts citizens state swift tyson introduced grave discrimination noncitizens citizens made rights enjoyed unwritten law vary according whether enforcement sought state federal privilege selecting right determined conferred upon noncitizen thus doctrine rendered impossible equal protection law attempting promote uniformity law throughout doctrine prevented uniformity administration law state discrimination resulting became practice resulted part broad province accorded law federal courts exercised independent judgment addition questions purely commercial law law held include obligations contracts entered performed within state extent carrier operating within state may stipulate exemption liability negligence employee liability torts committed within state upon persons resident property located even question bility depended upon scope property right conferred state right exemplary punitive damages furthermore state decisions construing local mineral even devises real estate disregarded part discrimination resulted wide range persons held entitled avail federal rule resort diversity citizenship jurisdiction jurisdiction individual citizens willing remove state become citizens another might avail federal rule without even change residence corporate citizen state avail federal rule reincorporating laws another state done taxicab case injustice confusion incident doctrine swift tyson repeatedly urged reasons abolishing limiting diversity citizenship jurisdiction legislative relief proposed question statutory construction involved prepared abandon doctrine widely applied throughout nearly century stitutionality course pursued made clear compels us third except matters governed federal constitution acts congress law applied case law state whether law state shall declared legislature statute highest decision matter federal concern federal general common law congress power declare substantive rules common law applicable state whether local nature commercial law part law torts clause constitution purports confer power upon federal courts stated justice field protesting baltimore ohio baugh ignoring ohio common law liability aware termed general law often little less judge advancing doctrine thinks time general law particular often advanced judicial opinions control conflicting law state admit learned judges fallen habit repeating doctrine convenient mode brushing aside law state conflict views confess moved governed authority great names judges many instances unhesitatingly confidently think erroneously repeated doctrine notwithstanding great names may cited favor doctrine notwithstanding frequency doctrine reiterated stands perpetual protest repetition constitution recognizes preserves autonomy independence independence legislative pendence judicial departments supervision either legislative judicial action case permissible except matters constitution specifically authorized delegated interference either except thus permitted invasion authority state extent denial independence fallacy underlying rule declared swift tyson made clear justice holmes doctrine rests upon assumption transcendental body law outside particular state obligatory within unless changed statute federal courts power use judgment rules common law federal courts parties entitled independent judgment matters general law law sense courts speak today exist without definite authority behind common law far enforced state whether called common law common law generally law state existing authority state without regard may england anywhere else authority authority state voice adopted state whether legislature utter last word thus doctrine swift tyson justice holmes said unconstitutional assumption powers courts lapse time respectable array opinion make us hesitate correct disapproving doctrine hold unconstitutional section federal judiciary act act congress merely declare applying doctrine lower courts invaded rights opinion reserved constitution several fourth defendant contended common law pennsylvania declared highest falchetti pennsylvania duty owed plaintiff refrain willful wanton injury plaintiff denied pennsylvania law support respective contentions parties discussed cited many decisions state circuit appeals ruled question liability one general law ground declined decide issue state law hold error judgment reversed case remanded proceedings conformity opinion reversed justice cardozo took part consideration decision case justice butler dissenting case presented evidence simple one plaintiff severely injured pennsylvania walking defendant right way along path end main track came collision open door swinging side car train going opposite direction warned whistle headlight saw tive approaching time space enough step aside avoid danger justify failure get way says upon many occasions safely walked trains passed invoking jurisdiction ground diversity citizenship plaintiff citizen resident pennsylvania brought suit recover damages defendant new york corporation federal southern district state issues whether negligence defendant proximate cause injuries whether negligence plaintiff contributed claimed hauling car open door defendant violated duty defendant insisted violated duty plaintiff injuries caused negligence jury gave verdict trial entered judgment circuit appeals affirmed cir defendant maintained citing falchetti pennsylvania koontz baltimore duty owed plaintiff refrain willfully wantonly injuring argued courts pennsylvania ruled respect persons using customary longitudinal path distinguished one crossing track plaintiff insisted pennsylvania decisions establish rule defendant contended upon issue circuit appeals said et page need go matter since defendant concedes great weight authority contrary concession fatal contention upon questions general law federal courts free absence local statute exercise independent judgment law well settled question responsibility railroad injuries caused servants one general law upon basis held evidence sufficient sustain finding plaintiff injuries caused negligence defendant also held question contributory negligence one jury defendant petition writ certiorari presented two questions whether duty toward plaintiff determined accordance law found highest pennsylvania whether evidence conclusively showed plaintiff guilty contributory negligence plaintiff contends always heretofore held issues negligence contributory negligence determined general law local decisions may held conclusive defendant relies solitary pennsylvania case doubtful applicability even decisions courts state deemed controlling result reached constitutional question suggested argued general rule consider question raised presented petition olson johnson manhattan ry gunning cooley decide either questions presented changing rule decision force since foundation government remands case adjudged according standard never deemed permissible opinion announced question decision whether doctrine swift tyson pet shall disapproved case involved construction judiciary act laws several except constitution treaties statutes otherwise require provide shall regarded rules decision trials common law courts cases apply expressing view members justice story said pet page ordinary use language hardly contended decisions courts constitute laws evidence laws laws often reexamined reversed qualified courts whenever found either defective illfounded otherwise incorrect laws state usually understood mean rules enactments promulgated legislative authority thereof local customs force laws various cases hitherto come us decision uniformly supposed true interpretation section limited application state laws strictly local say positive statutes state construction thereof adopted local tribunals rights titles things permanent locality rights titles real estate matters immovable intraterritorial nature character never supposed us section apply designed apply questions general nature dependent upon local statutes local usages fixed permanent operation example construction ordinary contracts written instruments especially questions general commercial law state tribunals called upon perform like functions ascertain upon general reasoning legal analogies true exposition contract instrument rule furnished principles commercial law govern case slightest difficulty holding section upon true intendment construction strictly limited local statutes local usages character stated extend contracts instruments commercial nature true interpretation effect whereof sought decisions local tribunals general principles doctrines commercial jurisprudence undoubtedly decisions local tribunals upon subjects entitled receive deliberate attention respect furnish positive rules conclusive authority judgments bound governed italics added doctrine case followed unbroken line decisions far appears questioned years later single judge baltimore railroad baugh case justice brewer speaking truly said page differences opinion may expressed question whether matter general law settled independent judgment rather adherence decisions state courts upon question whether given matter one local general law since decision division opinion character justice holmes speaking two justices dissented holding bound exercise independent judgment construction conveyance made state courts rendered authoritative decision meaning effect kuhn fairmont coal dissent accepted page doctrine swift tyson insisted page merely case consideration nature necessity peculiarly local thereafter doctrine constantly applied black white taxicab brown yellow taxicab three judges dissented writer dissent justice holmes said however page leave swift tyson undisturbed indicated kuhn fairmont coal allow spread assumed dominion new fields unqualified application doctrine found decisions speaking justice holmes zinc britt baltimore goodman without slightest departing doctrine implicitly applying strictness rule laid goodman case somewhat ameliorated pokora wabash ry whenever possible consistently standards sustained reason authority constituting general law followed applicable decisions state courts mutual life johnson see burgess seligman black white taxicab brown yellow taxicab supra page unquestionably determination issues negligence contributory negligence upon decision case depends questions general law hough texas railway lake shore railway prentice baltimore railroad baugh supra gardner michigan central railroad central vermont ry white baltimore goodman supra pokora wabash ry supra amendments section time time suggested section stands originally enacted evidently congress intended throughout years rule decision construed continue govern federal courts trials common law opinion announced suggests warren research established beginning erroneously construed section author light history federal judiciary act purport authoritative intended suggestive weight given discovery never discussed bar opinion indicate ground disclosed research dissenting opinion taxicab case justice holmes referred warren work failed persuade used section included varying possibly considered rulings courts state questions common law see swift tyson supra pet well may call argument counsel basis warren research adhere construction always put upon section indeed opinion case indicates declares question statutory construction involved prepared abandon doctrine widely applied throughout nearly century unconstitutionality course pursued made clear compels us means far concerns rule decision condemned judiciary act passed establish judicial courts exert judicial power especially section act construed unconstitutional federal courts bound follow decisions courts state controversies arise congress powerless otherwise ordain hard foresee consequences radical change made opinion taxicab case cites numerous decisions serve part indicate field intended forever bar federal courts extends matters contracts torts positively governed state enactments counsel searching precedent reasoning disclose principles guide clients conduct litigation decision told questions decisions federal courts longer anywhere authoritative often emphasized reluctance consider constitutional questions legislation held invalid repugnant fundamental law case may decided upon ground view grave consequences liable result erroneous exertion power set aside legislation move cautiously seek assistance counsel act ample deliberation show question decision avoided construction statute assailed otherwise indicate precisely principle provision constitutional held transgressed fully disclose reasons authorities found warrant conclusion invalidity safeguards improvident use great power invalidate legislation grounded familiar statement reasons citation authority support longer necessary see charles river bridge warren bridge pet township pine grove talcott wall chicago railway wellman baker grice martin district columbia far appears litigant ever challenged power congress establish rule construed long endured destruction without appropriate deliberation justified nothing opinion suggest consideration constitutional question necessary decision case way reasoning contains nothing requires conclusion reached admittedly authority support conclusion protest joining opinion declines assign case reargument may justly assumed labor argument counsel parties disclose right conclusion aid statement reasons support indeed appropriate give congress opportunity heard devesting power prescribe rules decision followed courts see myers course pursued case repugnant act congress august stat note note declares constitutionality act congress affecting public interest drawn question suit proceeding agency thereof officer employee thereof officer employee party jurisdiction suit proceeding shall certify fact attorney general case shall permit intervene become party presentation evidence evidence otherwise receivable suit proceeding argument upon question constitutionality act suit proceeding shall subject applicable provisions law rights party liabilities party costs extent necessary proper presentation facts law relating constitutionality act section provision extends section note defendant applied obtained writ certiorari upon claim held congress power prescribe rule decision section construed duty issue prescribed certificate attorney general order might intervene heard constitutional question within purpose statute true intent meaning constitutionality measure question congress intended give right heard every case involving constitutionality act affecting public interest view rule absence challenge constitutionality statutes invalidated ground act august extends cases constitutionality first question extraordinary unusual action submission cause permitted frustrate wholesome purpose act duty imposes willingly assumed doubtful whether case within scope act give opportunity intervene advised present argument constitutional question undoubtedly one great public importance construe act according meaning opinion first sentence defines question whether doctrine swift tyson shall disapproved recites third page congress without power prescribe rules decision followed federal courts result construction section swift tyson since discussion declares seventh page unconstitutionality course pursued meaning rule decision resulting construction compels abandonment doctrine long applied near end last page hold section unconstitutional merely applying doctrine swift tyson construing lower courts invaded rights reserved constitution several plainly form words employed substance decision appears strikes unconstitutional section construed decisions divests congress power prescribe rules followed federal courts deciding questions general law broad field compels lower federal courts follow decisions courts particular state opinion constitutional validity rule need considered law found courts pennsylvania generally throughout country plain evidence required finding plaintiff guilty negligence contributed cause injuries judgment reversed upon ground justice mcreynolds concurs opinion justice reed concurring part concur conclusion reached case disapproval doctrine swift tyson reasoning majority opinion except far relies upon unconstitutionality pursued federal courts swift tyson understand words laws used section line federal judiciary act september included meaning decisions local tribunals justice story deciding point said pet decisions local tribunals upon subjects entitled receive deliberate attention respect furnish positive rules conclusive authority judgments bound governed decide case us doctrine swift tyson requires say words laws include meaning decisions local tribunals majority opinion shows reference warren researches first quotation justice holmes view includes unnecessary go declare pursued instead merely erroneous course referred majority opinion apparently ruling swift tyson supposed omission congress legislate effect decisions leaves federal courts free interpret general law sure whether absence federal statutory direction federal courts compelled follow state decisions sufficient doubt matter induce first congress legislate former opinions passed upon justice holmes evidently saw nothing required overruling swift tyson said opinion quoted majority leave swift tyson undisturbed indicated kuhn fairmont coal allow spread assumed dominion new fields black white taxicab brown yellow taxicab opinion commits position congress without power declare rules substantive law shall govern federal courts conclusion also seems questionable line procedural substantive law hazy one doubts federal power procedure wayman southard wheat judiciary article proper clause article may fully authorize legislation section judiciary act stare decisis statutory construction useful rule inexorable command burnet coronado oil gas dissent page note compare read bishop lincoln london street tramways london county council seems preferable overturn established construction act congress rather circumstances case interpret constitution cf delaware hudson occasion discuss range soundness phrases opinion sufficient call attention express footnotes mandate conformed pet leading cases applying doctrine collected black white taxicab brown yellow taxicab dissent application extension expressed early justice mckinley chief justice taney lane vick dissenting opinions also written justice daniel rowan runnels justice nelson williamson berry justice campbell pease peck justice miller gelpcke city dubuque wall ex rel butz city muscatine wall vigorous attack upon entire doctrine made justice field baltimore ohio baugh justice holmes kuhn fairmont coal taxicab case page hawkins barney lessee pet stated section uniformly held declaration law without wit lex loci must governing rule private right whatever jurisdiction private right comes examined see also bank hamilton dudley lessee pet compare jackson chew wheat livingston moore pet pepper border land federal state decisions gray nature sources law ed trickett federal law administered federal courts street general commercial law hornblower conflict state federal decisions meigs decisions federal courts questions state law rev heiskell conflict federal state decisions rand swift tyson versus gelpcke dubuque mills federal courts ignore state laws carpenter decisions common law charles warren new light history federal judiciary act shelton concurrent necessity dangers frankfurter distribution judicial power federal state courts johnson state law federal courts fordham federal courts construction uniform state laws rev dobie seven implications swift tyson dawson conflict decisions state federal courts kentucky remedy campbell swift tyson argument abolishing diversity citizenship jurisdiction ball revision federal diversity jurisdiction fordham swift tyson construction state statutes compare justice miller gelpcke city dubuque wall conflicts listed holt concurrent jurisdiction federal state courts et seq cover pages see also frankfurter supra note dawson supra note note aftermath stop look listen rule cf yntema jaffin preliminary analysis concurrent jurisdiction moreover pointed judge augustus hand cole pennsylvania decisions questions less likely formerly promote uniformity compare warren history rev ed decision ever given rise uncertainty legal rights though doubtless intended promote uniformity operation business transactions chief effect render difficult business men know advance particular topic apply doctrine federal digest volume lists nearly decisions involving distinction questions general local law even possible nonresident plaintiff defeated point law highest state nevertheless win taking nonsuit renewing controversy federal compare gardner michigan cent harrison foley interstate realty inv bibb county see mills supra note recent survey scope doctrine see sharp brennan application doctrine swift tyson since black white taxicab transfer brown yellow taxicab transfer rowan runnels boyce tabb wall johnson chas norton keene five cent sav bank reid new york railroad lockwood wall liverpool steam phenix ins eells louis ry iowa fowler pennsylvania chicago robbins black compare yates milwaukee wall yeates illinois cent ry curtis cleveland ry see also hough texas railway baltimore ohio baugh gardner michigan cent beutler grand trunk junction ry baltimore ohio goodman pokora wabash ry cole pennsylvania lake shore ry prentice norfolk traction miller greene keithley foxcroft mallet midland valley ry sutter midland valley ry jarvis kuhn fairmont coal petroleum corporation sauder reversed grounds lane vick barber pittsburg ry messinger anderson reversed grounds knox lewis alwood compare also williamson berry watson tarpley gelpcke city dubuque wall see cheever wilson wall robertson carson wall morris gilmer dickerman northern trust williamson osenton see hearings subcommittee senate committee judiciary sess hearing house committee judiciary ser sess collier plea jurisdiction diversity frankfurter supra note ball supra note warren corporations diversity citizenship thus bills abrogate doctrine swift tyson introduced sess sess sess see also mills supra note dobie supra note frankfurter supra note campbell supra note state statutes conflicting questions law also suggested see heiskell supra note dawson supra note dobie supra note doctrine without defenders see eliot common law federal courts parker common law jurisdiction courts yale schofield swift tyson uniformity state law state federal courts brown jurisdiction federal courts based diversity citizenship parker federal jurisdiction recent attacks upon yntema jurisdiction federal courts controversies citizens different beutel common law judicial technique law negotiable unfortunate decisions tulane kuhn fairmont coal black white taxicab brown yellow taxicab etc tompkins also contended alleged rule falchetti case event applicable struck intersection longitudinal pathway transverse crossing found unnecessary consider contention leave question open justice field filed dissenting opinion several sentences quoted decision announced dissent failed impress associates assumes adherence section construed involves supervision legislative judicial action foundation suggestion clearly dissent learned justice rests upon misapprehension rule joined applying doctrine quarter century dissent reports disclose objected later case cf oakes mase salem manufacturers page justice holmes justice brandeis concurred judgment upon question general law ground rights parties governed state law