guaranty trust new york york argued decided june rehearing denied see john davis new york city petitioner meyer abrams chicago respondent justice frankfurter delivered opinion russell todd occasion consider extent federal courts exercise authority conferred upon congress administer equitable remedies bound follow state statutes decisions affecting remedies question thus carefully left open russell todd us arises following circumstances may van sweringen corporation issued notes amount indenture date petitioner guaranty trust named trustee power obligations enforce rights noteholders assets corporation van sweringen brothers october petitioner banks made large advances companies affiliated corporation wholly controlled van sweringens october apparent corporation meet obligations guaranty plan purchase outstanding notes basis cash face value notes twenty sha es van sweringen corporation stock note exchange offer remained open december respondent york received notes gift donor accepted offer exchange april three accepting noteholders began suit petitioner charging fraud misrepresentation respondent application intervene suit denied hackner guaranty trust summary judgment favor guaranty affirmed hackner morgan dismissal hackner litigation respondent january began present proceedings suit instituted class action behalf noteholders brought federal solely diversity citizenship based alleged breach trust guaranty failed protect interests noteholders assenting exchange offer failed disclose sponsoring offer petitioner moved summary judgment granted upon authority hackner case appeal circuit appeals one judge dissenting found hackner decision foreclose suit held suit brought equity side federal district required apply state statute limitations govern like suits courts state federal sitting even though exclusive basis federal jurisdiction diversity citizenship importance question disposition litigation federal courts led us bring case view basis decision us consider whether new york statute actually bar suit brought state concern holding federal courts suit like bound local law put one side considerations relevant disposing questions arise federal adjudicating claim based federal law see instance board deitrick greaney duhme clearfield trust western union telegraph problem touches transactions rights obligations created one assertion case diversity citizenship parties congress made federal another available forum starting point must policy federal jurisdiction erie tompkins embodies overruling swift tyson pet erie tompkins merely overrule venerable case overruled particular way looking law dominated judicial process long inadequacies laid bare see field dissenting baltimore railroad baugh holmes dissenting kuhn fairmont coal black white taxi taxi erie tompkins supra page note page law conceived omnipresence reason decisions merely evidence controlling formulations accordingly federal courts deemed free ascertain reason therefore law required wholly independent authoritatively declared state law even ses legal right basis relief created state authority created federal authority case got federal merely citizens different art iii constitution impulse freedom rules controlled state courts regarding rights strongly rooted prevailing views concerning nature law federal courts almost imperceptibly led mutilating construction even explicit command given congress apply state law cases purporting enforce law state see judiciary act stat matter fairly summarized statement period swift tyson ruled decisions federal courts theory freedom matters general law authority state courts pervaded opinions involving even state statutes local law vanderbark glass relation problem real significance swift tyson lies fact enunciate novel doctrine restricted particular situation summed prior attitudes expressions cases come lower federal courts least thirty years law well equity short doctrine congenial jurisprudential climate time established judicial momentum kept going since conceived transcendental body law outside particular state obligatory within unless changed statute state decisions law merely someone sure opinion content law unnaturally federal courts assumed power find content body law notion stimulated attractive vision uniform body federal law sentiments uniformity decision freedom diversity state law federal courts gave currency particularly cases equitable remedies sought equitable doctrines often cast terms universal applicability close analysis source legal enforceability demanded exercising jurisdiction ground diversity citizenship federal courts long course history differentiated regard state law actions law suits equity although judiciary act stat directed several shall regarded rules decision trials common law deemed consistently hundred years merely declaratory event governed federal courts therefore equally applicable equity suits see hawkins barney lessee pet mason erie tompkins supra page page indeed may fairly said federal courts gave greater respect rights pusey jones hanssen equity gave law side rights law usually declared state courts increasingly flouted extension doctrine swift tyson rights equity frequently defined legislative enactment known respected federal courts see clark smith pet scott neely louisville nash west un tel pusey jones hanssen supra page page partly early days varied greatly manner equitable relief afforded extent available see fisher administration equity common law forms woodruff chancery massachusetts laussat essay equity pennsylvania congress provided forms modes proceeding suits uity conform settled uses courts equity section stat enactment gave federal courts power event courts given first judiciary act equity beginning good deal talk cases federal equity separate legal system properly understood suits equity federal courts ever since constituted body law transplanted country english chancery system equity doctrines well powers mode giving relief langdell summary equity pleading xxvii giving federal courts equity suits cases diversity jurisdiction congress never gave federal courts ever claim power dney substantive rights created state law create substantive rights denied state law mean whatever equitable remedy available state must available diversity suit federal conversely federal may afford equitable remedy available state equitable relief federal course subject restrictions suit must within traditional scope equity historically evolved english chancery payne hook wall atlas life ins southern sprague ticonic bank plain adequate complete remedy law must wanting stat explicit congressional curtailment equity powers must respected see act stat et et seq constitutional right trial jury evaded whitehead shattuck state may authorize courts give equitable relief unhampered restrictions remove fetters federal courts see clark smith pet broderick wall louisville nash west union tel supra page page henrietta mills rutherford atlas life ins southern supra pages pages state law define remedies federal must give simply federal diversity jurisdiction available alternative tribunal state courts contrariwise federal may afford equitable remedy substantive right recognized state even though state give whatever contradiction confusion may produced medley judicial phrases severed environment body adjudications concerning equitable relief diversity cases leaves doubt federal courts enforced substantive rights mode proceeding remedy consonant traditional body equitable remedies practice procedure enforcing rights created arising inherent statutory federal law inevitably therefore principle erie tompkins action law promptly applied suit equity ruhlin new york life ins case reduces narrow question whether recovery state action barred statute limitations federal equity take cognizance suit diversity citizenship parties outlawry according state law claim created matter rights respected federal equity jurisdiction dependent fact created right statute mere remedial character henrietta mills rutherford supra page page federal may disregard matters matters much talked books though defined great divide cutting across whole domain law course different problems neither represents invariants implies different variables depending upon particular problem used see home ins dick different problems distantly related best terms common use connection situations turning different considerations relevant questions pertaining ex post facto legislation impairment obligations contract enforcement federal rights state courts multitudinous phases conflict laws see american ry exp levee davis wechsler worthen kavanaugh garrett see tunks categorization federalism erie railroad tompkins cook logical legal bases conflict laws dealing right recover derived one plaintiff happens nonresident right enforceable federal well state forms mode enforcing right may times naturally enough vary two judicial systems identic since federal adjudicating right solely diversity citizenship parties purpose effect another state afford recovery right recover made unavailable state substantially affect enforcement right given state question whether statute limitations deemed matter sense question whether statute concerns merely manner means right recover recognized state enforced whether statutory limitation matter substance aspect alone relevant problem namely significantly affect result litigation federal disregard law state controlling action upon claim parties state therefore immaterial whether statutes limitation characterized either state opinions use terms unrelated specific issue us erie tompkins endeavor formulate scientific legal terminology expressed policy touches vitally proper distribution judicial power state federal courts essence intent decision insure cases federal exercising jurisdiction solely diversity citizenship parties outcome litigation federal substantially far legal rules determine outcome litigation tried state nub policy underlies erie tompkins transaction accident suit litigant federal instead state block away lead substantially different result putting one side abstractions regarding substance held diversity cases federal courts must follow law state burden proof cities service oil dunlap conflict laws klaxon stentor contributory negligence palmer hoffman see sampson channell erie tompkins applied eye alert essentials avoiding disregard state law diversity cases federal courts policy important federalism must kept free entanglements analytical terminological niceties plainly enough statute completely bar recovery suit brought state bears statecreated right vitally merely formally negligibly consequences intimately affect recovery federal diversity case follow state law see morgan choice law governing proof harv fact new york law statute limitations might lengthened shortened security may foreclosed though debt barred barred debt may used matters local law properly respected federal courts sitting new york incidence comes play particular rules local law however slightest change crucial consideration plea statute limitations bar recovery state federal afford recovery prior erie tompkins necessary indicated make critical analysis required doctrine case nature jurisdiction fede al courts diversity cases even erie tompkins federal courts relied statutes limitations sat suits law state limitations statutes held decision within judiciary act applied common law mccluny silliman pet president directors bank alabama dalton leffingwell warren black bauserman blunt talk freedom equity state statutes limitations cases generally refused recovery suit barred like situation state courts even way analogy see godden kimmell alsop riker benedict city new york however kirby lake shore disregarded state statute limitations deemed inequitable apply make exception erie tompkins equity side federal reject considerations policy long travail led decision judge augustus hand thus summarized fatal objection inroad upon erie tompkins opinion mischievous practice disregard state statutes limitation whenever federal courts think result adopting may inequitable procedure promote choice rather state courts order gain advantage different laws main foundation criticism swift tyson litigant cases federal jurisdiction based diverse citizenship may obtain favorable decision suing courts diversity jurisdiction founded assurance litigants courts free susceptibility potential local bias framers constitution according marshall entertained lest distant suitors subjected local bias state courts least viewed possible fears apprehensions suitors bank deveaux cranch congress afforded state litigants another tribunal another body law operation double system conflicting laws state plainly hostile reign law certainly fortuitous circumstance residence state one parties litigation give rise discrimination others equally concerned locally resident source substantive rights enforced federal diversity jurisdiction said often law whenever law authoritatively declared state whether voice legislature highest law govern litigation founded law whether forum application state federal whether remedies sought law may equity dicta may cited characterizing equity independent body law extent indicated insofar general observations go beyond merely reflect notions replaced sharper analysis federal courts enforce rights federal origin true source law applied federal courts diversity jurisdiction fully explored things said said nothing decided unless kirby case needs rejected judgment reversed case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered reversed justice roberts justice douglas took part consideration decision case justice rutledge dissent policy judicial conservatism followed case forbids deciding tional important questions hypothetically prematurely favor remanding cause appeals determination narrow comparatively minor question whether applicable local law cause action barred lapse time question may determined respondent favor event important question affecting federal judicial power resolved manner contrary prior decision determined without substantial ultimate effect upon litigation conceives confronted necessity making determination overturns rule decision prevailed federal courts almost beginning unable assent decision reasons stated others mentioned briefly one may give full adherence rule erie tompkins extension cases equity far affect clearly substantive rights without conceding assuming long tradition federal state regards statutes limitations falling within category remedial rather substantive law necessarily must ruled way without conceding different jurisdprudential climate kind omnipresence sky dictated hitherto unvaried policy federal courts general attitude toward strict application local statutes limitations equity causes characteristic equity jurisprudence descended unbrokenly within traditional scope equity historically evolved english chancery statutes limitations often terms applying actions law never deemed rigidly applicable absolute barriers suits equity actions law tradition seem regarded incorporated various acts congress conferred equity jurisdiction upon federal courts incorporated reaffirmed repeatedly decisions courts excised acts excision congress make moreover decision today many words rule congress authorize federa courts administer equitable relief accordance substantive rights parties notwithstanding state courts forbidden local statutes limitations nevertheless implication effect seems strong view reliance upon erie tompkins event question looms largely issues opinion appears make legislative acquiescence judicial construction make part statute done instance stake implications decision words opinion simply bringing federal local law accord upon matters clearly exclusively within constitutional power state determine one thing require kind accord diversity cases question merely whether federal must follow law state burden proof cities service oil dunlap contributory negligence hoffman palmer perhaps application parol evidence rule ordinarily involve matters substantive law though mominated terms procedure instances application may lie along border procedure remedy substance one may may fact another name exactly borderland procedural remedial rights may may effect determining substantive ones completely caution required extending rule erie case rule words talismanic merely calling legal question one resolve otherwise purely authoritarian performance come designate broad way large distinctive legal domains within greater one law mark though often indistinctly overlapping limits many divides regions one historically divide substantive law procedural remedial law applied federal courts diversity cases division sharpened wiped erie tompkins subsequent decisions extending scope ruling large division adjective law substantive law still remains divide power congress consequently determine power federal courts apply federal law state law diversity matters division like others drawn broad allocation adjective remedial substantive areas admixture two aspects law areas whether particular situation issue presents one aspect depends upon one looks matter form always separated substance work art adjective remedial aspects parted entirely substantive ones borderland regions whenever integration admixture prevails substantial measure clean break made danger either nullifying power congress control federal courts may act may way affording remedies usurping function erie doctrine expended judicially include situations utmost extent may true matter wholly fresh barring rights equity statutes limitation seem partake substantive remedial phase law matter fresh without room debate long tradition well common law antedated state federal law emphasized remedial character statutes limitations especially application equity causes many kinds issues requiring differentiation matters clearly exclusively substantive ones recently reaffirmed distinction relation power state change laws retroactive effect giving renewed vigor new life campbell holt chase securities donaldson similar though course identical arguments advanced case bring departure rule without success tradition question equally long unvaried say tradition clearly wrong case say said erie case matter beyond power congress control conceded think congress make change made erie decision rendered seven years passed without action congress extend rule matters long enough justify conclusion congress also regards governed erie wishing make change reason enough leaving matter rest decides act finally case arises fact law interstate transactions involves rights security holders relation securities distributed new york ohio alone widely throughout country kind rights congress acted safeguard adopted securities exchange legislation specific provisions legislation involved litigation broad policies underlying may involved affected namely existence adequate federal remedies whether judicial legislative protection security holders misconduct issuers breach rights trustees even though basic rights may controlled state law situations question often difficult one whether law one state another applies true rights clearly substantive also variously characterized procedural remedial substantive involve application statutes limitations applicable statutes limitations state tribunals always ones apply suit instituted courts state creates substantive rights enforcement sought state forum free apply period limitations regardless whether state originating right barred suit upon whether action held barred depends therefore upon law state creates substantive right upon law state suit may brought turn depend upon may possible secure service process thus jurisdiction person defendant may therefore plaintiff inability find defendant jurisdiction creates substantive right foreclosed remedy sheer necessity going refuge within defendant confines jurisdictional purposes law latter may bar suit even though suit still allowed law state creating substantive right clear whether today decision puts power corporate trustees confining jurisdictional allow courts give equitable remedies within short periods time defeat purpose intent law state creating substantive right remains alive remedy law origin enforcement must another state affords refuge remedy right nullified doubt constitution requires judiciary acts permit good case made indeed made diversity jurisdiction created afford protection exactly sort nullifying state legislation judgment furnishes added reason leaving change one made judgment congress next step may well say applying doctrine laches federal must surrender judgment attempt find state sitting block away notoriously amorphous doctrine justice murphy joins opinion footnotes russell southard justice curtis refusing bound kentucky law barring reception oral evidence show absolute bill sale reality mortgage declared principles general equity jurisprudence must governed views principles support statement cited among others robinson campbell wheat boyle zacharie turner pet swift tyson supra commingling law equity cases indicates views governed swift tyson merely another expression ideas put forth equity cases bank hamilton dudley lessee pet chief justice marshall discussing applicability ohio occupant law decision said laws occupant law like others regarded independent special enactment interesting note judicial pronouncement corresponds views john marshall expressed virginia convention called ratify constitution responding george mason question law apply federal courts diversity cases marshall declared laws state determined said laws state contract made according laws decided novelty principle jurisprudence commonwealth elliott debates pusey jones hanssen supra decide whether delaware statute created new right appropriate enforcement accordance traditional equity practice whether statute merely given delaware chancery new kind remedy statute authorized chancellor appoint receiver insolvent corporation upon application unsecured simple contract creditor suit brought federal equity diversity jurisdiction although traditional equity notions give simple contract creditor interest funds insolvent debtor state may recognized create interest state done whatever remedies consonant practice equity courts effectuating creditor rights come play pusey jones hanssen supra question case diversity jurisdiction create obligation relief sought construed delaware statute merely extend power equity appoint receiver application ordinary contract creditor conferring new discretionary authority upon equity delaware modify traditional equity rule federal courts someone defined interest estate insolvent person judgment creditor protect interest receivership recognized delaware statute one regulating powers chancery delaware creating new interest contract creditor federal power grant receivership behest simple contract creditor much case secured creditor see mackenzie oil omar oil gas delaware view nature delaware statute true state statute creates new equitable right substantive character enforced proceedings conformity pleadings practice appropriate equity enforcement may federal provided ground exists invoking federal jurisdiction enforcement federal courts new equitable rights created subject qualification enforcement must impair right conferred conflict inhibition imposed constitution laws whatever uncertainty may arisen expressions fully accord rule thus stated distinction respect effect state legislation come clearly established substantive remedial rights henrietta mills rutherford supra pages page see hulbert clark house carr lightfoot davis davidson witthaus matter ewald estate misc statute may waived peoples trust must pleaded dunkum macek building appeals assumed arguendo local statute limitations terminated right sue inferior course free select one several available grounds upon rest decision generally review function performed passing upon grounds chosen circumstances proper vacate judgment remand cause consideration issues presented cf recent instance herb pitcairn opinion reviews length unbroken course decision overturned michoud girod meader norton wall bailey glover wall kirby lake shore see authorities cited discussed see also committee holders kent overfield pennroad erie case said question statutory construction involved prepared abandon doctrine widely applied throughout nearly century unconstitutionality course pursued made clear compels us reference made opinion appeals detailed statement nature scope intricate elaborate financial transactions involving distribution worth securities apparently many including ohio new york rights growing distribution page et seq see also eastman morgan affirmed sub nom hackner morgan certiorari denied cf additional report committee interstate commerce pursuant pts see also stock exchange practices hearings committee banking currency res cong res cong beale conflict laws ed goodrich conflict laws ed frankfurter distribution judicial power state courts see corwin progress constitutional theory see also friendly historic basis diversity jurisdiction motivating desire may protect creditors men business make policy less applicable creditor customer men