cohen beneficial indus loan argued april decided june cohen beneficial indus loan philip kurland new york city charles hershenstein jersey city hannah cohen another john harlan new york city beneficial industrial loan corporation justice jackson delivered opinion ultimate question whether federal jurisdiction stockholder derivative action parties diverse citizenship must apply statute forum state makes plaintiff unsuccessful liable expenses including attorney fees defense requires security payment condition prosecuting action petitioners decedent plaintiff brought district new jersey action right beneficial industrial loan corporation delaware corporation business new jersey defendants corporation certain managers directors complaint alleged generally since individual defendants engaged continuing successful conspiracy enrich expense corporation specific charges mismanagement fraud extended period eighteen years assets allegedly wasted diverted thereby said exceed stockholder demanded corporation institute proceedings recovery control corporation individual defendants prevented stockholder therefore sought assert right corporation one stockholders owned two million shares holdings together shares held intervenor approximated outstanding stock market value never exceeded action brought various proceedings taken therein new jersey enacted statute involved general effect make plaintiff small interest liable expenses attorney fees defense fails make good complaint entitle corporation indemnity case prosecuted conditions made applicable pending actions corporate defendant therefore moved require security pointed might required indemnify individual defendants averred bond appropriate district opinion state enactment applicable action pending federal appeals contrary opinion reversed granted certiorari appealability threshold met question whether district order refusing apply statute appealable one title provides predecessors appeal final decisions district courts except direct appeal provided section allows appeals also certain interlocutory orders decrees judgments material case except indicate purpose allow appeals orders final judgments final irreparable effect rights parties obvious congress allowed appeals final judgments terminate action order appealable effect statute disallow appeal decision tentative informal incomplete appeal gives upper power review one intervention long matter remains open unfinished inconclusive may intrusion appeal district action upon application concluded closed decision final sense appeal taken statute permit appeals even fully consummated decisions steps towards final judgment merge purpose combine one review stages proceeding effectively may reviewed corrected final judgment results order district make step toward final disposition merits case merged final judgment time comes late effectively review present order rights conferred statute applicable lost probably irreparably conclude matters embraced decision appealed interlocutory nature affect affected decision merits case decision appears fall small class finally determine claims right separable collateral rights asserted action important denied review independent cause require appellate consideration deferred whole case adjudicated long given provision statute practical rather technical construction bank columbia sweeney pet river rouge improvement cobbledick hold order appealable final disposition claimed right ingredient cause action require considerat mean every order fixing security subject appeal right security presents serious unsettled question right admitted clear order involved exercise discretion amount security matter statute makes subject reconsideration time time appealability present different question since order may reviewed appeal petition whereby corporation asserts right compel security mandamus dismissed constitutionality petitioners deny validity statute federal new jersey constitutions latter question ultimately state courts since made contrary determination shall presume circumstances case statute conforms state constitution federal constitutional questions must consider federal give effect either diversity nondiversity case state statute violates constitution background stockholder litigation statute deals requires general notice business enterprise increasingly sought advantages incorporation management became vested almost uncontrolled discretion handling people money vast aggregate funds committed corporate control came drawn considerable extent numerous scattered holders small interests director subject effective accountability created strong temptation managers profit personally expense trust business code became tolerant practices corporate laws lax stockholders face gravest abuses singularly impotent obtaining redress abuses trust equity came relief stockholder standing bring civil action law faithless directors managers equity however allowed step corporation shoes seek right restitution demand required first demand corporation vindicate rights usual perpetrated wrongs also able obstruct remedy equity hear adjudge corporation cause stockholder corporation defendant albeit rather nominal one remedy born stockholder helplessness long chief regulator corporate management afforded small incentive avoid least grosser forms betrayal stockholders interests argued without reason without little practical check abuses unfortunately remedy provided opportunity abuse neglected suits sometimes brought redress real wrongs realize upon nuisance value bought secret settlements wrongs general body share owners compounded suing stockholder mollified payments corporate assets litigations aptly characterized professional slang suits said suits commonly brought small irresponsible large stockholders former put less risk small interest often within capacity readiness management compromise large one need determine measure abuses evils produced one hand prevented redressed legislature new jersey like considered sufficient warrant remedial measures nature stockholder derivative action makes one regulation legislature state wide powers whatever theory one may hold nature corporate entity remains wholly artificial creation whose internal relations management stockholders dependent upon state law may subject complete penetrating regulation either public authority form stockholder action directors managers technically trustees occupy positions fiduciary nature nothing federal constitution prohibits state imposing strictest measure responsibility liability accountability either condition assuming office consequence holding likewise stockholder brings suit cause action derived corporation assumes position technically trustee perhaps one fiduciary character sues alone representative class comprising similarly situated interests redress wrongs taken hands dependent upon diligence wisdom integrity stockholders chosen corporate director manager election plaintiff steps forward represent representative volunteer champion federal constitution oblige state place litigating adjudicating processes disposal representative least without imposing standards responsibility liability accountability considers protect interests elects represent without significance found necessary long ago equity federal rules civil impose procedural regulations class action applicable conclude state plenary power type litigation considering specific objections way state exercised power particular statute unnecessary say concerned objections go constitutionality wisdom policy similar statutes involved controversies amply debated legal us judge hence us remark upon federal constitution invalidate state legislation fails embody highest wisdom provide best conceivable remedies legislation set aside courts fact sponsored promoted advantage dealing difficult controversial subjects experience verify disclose weaknesses defects policy teach lessons may applied amendment within area constitutionality restrained devising experiments even might think dubious effort preserve maximum good equity sought creating derivative stockholder action time eliminate much possible defects evils said statute transgresses due process clause amend capricious unreasonable equal protection clause singling small stockholders burden heavily violates contract clause art cl application pending litigation renders unconstitutionally retroactive contention statute violates contract clause constitution one see slightest merit plaintiff suit entertained equity largely contract rights base action law hence none impaired legislation considering whether statute offends due process clause judge terms interpretation application yet imposes liability requires security reasonable expenses including counsel fees may incurred emphasis supplied corporation parties defendant amount security subject increase progress litigation reveals inadequate decrease proved excessive state may set terms permit litigations courts type litigation susceptible regulation fiduciary nature seriously said state makes unreasonable use power violate constitution provides liability security payment reasonable expenses litigation character adjudged unsustainable urged requirement foreclose resort stockholders available judicial remedy protection rights course require security payment kind costs necessity bearing kind expense litigation deterring effect deal power wisdom think notwithstanding tendency within power state close courts type litigation condition reasonable security met contention statute denies equal protection laws based upon fact enables stockholder owns corporation outstanding shares market value proceed without either security liability imposes upon elect proceed smaller interest think state forbidden use amount one financial interest measures individual injury misconduct redressed measure good faith responsibility one seeks election act custodian interests stockholders indication volunteers large burdens litigation real sense grievance putting forward claim capitalize personally harassment value may best ways precluding lawsuits unable say classification poses based upon percentage market value stock alleged injured wrongs unconstitutional one classification based percentage amount necessarily somewhat arbitrary difficult say many lines drawn legislation give line perfectly equal protection taxpayer income think equality tax different rate one uire returns one one certain figure difficult say stockholder company stock unable elect representative board directors one owns may name entire board power think draw line based considerations proportion amount rare case one constitutional objection may made particular point legislature chosen contention also made provision applies statute actions pending upon enactment final judgment entered renders void due process clause retroactivity terms statute applies pending cases provide manner application new jersey courts appear settled effect terms appear require interpretation creates new liability plaintiff expenses incurred defense previous enactment statute admit construction plaintiff liability begins time act passed perhaps corporation application security granted security expenses counsel fees incurred include curred one periods purpose considering constitutionality construe statute absence state decision impose liability events enactment basis alleged retroactivity amounts stay proceedings unless security furnished expense incurred future extend either destruction existing cause action creation new liability past events mere fact statute applies civil action retrospectively render unconstitutional blount windley western union telegraph louisville chase securities donaldson looking upon statute indicated retroactive effect certainly less drastic prejudicial held unconstitutional decisions find bare statute retroactive effect renders unconstitutional due process clause course express opinion effect application indicated also contended statute may applied case cause action derives deleware corpuration hence delaware law governs plaintiff brought case new jersey trial likely involve questions conflict laws law new jersey apply klaxon stentor electric mfg griffin mccoach perhaps questions full faith credit us plaintiff avail new jersey forum time escape terms made available law applicable federal sitting state later consider conclude therefore far federal constitution concerned new jersey security statute valid law state question remains whether must applied federal courts state suits brought therein diversity grounds applicability federal rules decision act effect since first congress found provides laws several except constitution treaties un ted acts congress otherwise require provide shall regarded rules decision civil actions courts cases apply erie tompkins held judicial decisions laws within meaning erie tompkins progeny wrought change relation state federal courts application state law latter whereby diversity cases federal administers state system law except details related conduct business guaranty trust new york york substantial argument new jersey statute applicable provisions mere rules procedure rather rules substantive law even agree new jersey statute procedural determine applicable rules lawyers call procedural always exhaust effect regulating procedure statute merely regulation procedure without main action takes course however creates new liability none existed makes stockholder institutes derivative action liable expense puts corporation defendants make good claims liability usual goes beyond payment know act create liability clearly substantive new liability without meaning value many cases resulted nothing judgment expenses end case therefore procedure prescribed liability insured entitling corporate defendant bond indemnity outlay incurred think statute conditions stockholder action disregarded federal mere procedural device urged however federal rule civil procedure deals plaintiff right maintain action federal therefore subject recognized procedural federal rule alone prevails rule requires stockholder complaint verified oath show plaintiff stockholder time transaction complains share thereafter devolved upon operation law words federal permit used litigate purchased grievance become party speculation wrongs done corporations also requires showing action collusive one confer jurisdiction set forth facts showing plaintiff endeavored obtain remedy corporation provides class action shall dismissed compromised without approval notice members class provisions neither create exempt liabilities require complete disclosure notice parties interest none conflict statute question may observed federal even applicable state see reason policy stated guaranty trust new york york apply hold new jersey statute applies federal courts district erred declining fix amount indemnity reasonably exacted condition prosecution suit judgment appeals affirmed affirmed justice douglas justice frankfurter concurs dissenting part cause action suit brought derivative one though belongs corporation stockholders entitled state law enforce measure cause action claim corporation alleged wrongdoers new jersey statute add one iota subtract one iota cause action merely prescribes method stockholders may enforce state numerous regulations governing institution suits courts may favor litigation may affect adversely fall principle erie tompkins unless define qualify delimit cause action otherwise relate new jersey statute like statutes governing security costs regulates procedure instituting particular cause action hence need applied diversity suit federal rule federal rules civil procedure defines procedure federal courts justice rutledge dissenting accord dissenting opinion justice douglas case also agree dissenting views justice jackson woods interstate realty noted dissent ragan merchants transfer warehouse without undertaking discuss case detail think three decisions taken together demonstrate extreme extent going submitting control diversity litigation federal courts rather congress properly belongs done guise applying rule erie tompkins opinion never purpose decision put matters involved outside power congress regulate confer authority exclusively upon applied gloss erie rule rule case held federal courts diversity cases must apply state law decisional well statutory determining matters substantive law particular apart procedural limitations upon cause action exists accept view generally insofar involves wise rule administration federal courts though grave doubt solid constitutional foundation erie case made ruling deciding diversity cases federal another state sits hence every situation doors state courts closed suitor must also federal courts true state bar raised purely procedural obstacle sound historical reason believing one purposes diversity clause afford federal remedy least reasons state policy none available state courts gloss put upon erie ruling later decisions guaranty trust new york york opinion applied extend erie ruling far beyond original purpose intent judgment consequences implications seriously impairing congress power within proper sphere action control type litigation federal courts accepted dichotomy familiar one course subject endless discussion hardly needs repeated suffice say actually many situations procedure substance interwoven rational separation becomes impossible even fact dispense necessity making distinction matter stands congress power govern procedure federal courts diversity cases power matters clearly substantive nature judges therefore escape making division must make two constituent elements siamese twins well twins even blood brothers real question whether separation shall made shall made whether mechanically reference whether state courts doors open closed consideration policies close relation accommodating policy erie rule congress power govern incidents litigation diversity suits close cases borderland area think going far one thing decide pennsylvania create cause action tort injuries inflicted specified conduct determination govern outcome diversity suit pennsylvania new york another view require bond costs payment opposing party expenses attorney fees event claimant unsuccessful whether latter conceived creating new substantive right close controlling incidents litigation rather outcome identified former matter opinion lies within congress control diversity cases one state control governed fact state shuts doors courts unless state requirements concerning incidents litigation complied view rule federal rules civil procedure derived former equity rules sanction congress valid governs cohen case however state new jersey power govern federal diversity suits within borders matters substantive tinge aspect may questioned whether event conflict local policy federal sitting state give effect rule requirement complaint aver plaintiff shareholder time transaction complains share thereafter devolved operation law strict abstract sense provision seem much one new jersey requirements bond etc seem highly doubtful automatic mechanical application dichotomy either congress create limitation diversity litigation since substantive matter control see moore federal practice ed doubt validity rule power congress enact rule even though substantive aspect notwithstanding aspect rule closely related procedural matters affecting litigation federal courts conceive invalidity also present cases think state regulations though may regarded substantive aspect closely related modes methods conducting litigation federal courts capable displacing congress power regulation respects federal courts power hear determine respective controversies accordingly reverse judgments cohen ragan cases affirm woods case footnotes chapter new jersey laws provides pertinent part follows action instituted maintained right domestic foreign corporation holder holders shares voting trust certificates representing shares corporation total par value stated capital value less five per centum aggregate par value stated capital value outstanding shares corporation stock every class unless shares voting trust certificates held holder holders market value excess fifty thousand dollars corporation whose right action brought shall entitled stage proceeding final judgment require complainant complainants give security reasonable expenses including counsel fees may incurred connection action parties defendant connection therewith may become subject pursuant law certificate incorporation equitable principles corporation shall recourse amount jurisdiction shall determine upon termination action amount security may thereafter time time increased ecreased discretion jurisdiction action upon showing security provided may become inadequate excessive action suit proceeding brought maintained right domestic foreign corporation holder holders shares voting trust certificates representing shares corporation must made appear complainant shareholder holder voting trust certificate time transaction complains share voting trust certificate thereafter devolved upon operation law act shall take effect immediately shall apply actions suits proceedings pending final judgment entered future actions suits proceedings see new york general corporation law consol laws laws maryland wisconsin stat old equity rule ix equity rule rule see hornstein problems procedure stockholders derivative suits hornstein directors expenses stockholders suits id koessler stockholder suit comparative view id hornstein new aspects stockholders derivative suits id carson current phases derivative actions directors jackson reorganization corporate concept effect section new york general corporation law carson phases derivative actions directors cornell house stockholders suits mitchell laws hornstein death knell stockholders derivative suits new york california zlinkoff american investor constitutionality section new york general corporation law yale see douglas directors direct daniel family security life insurance may noted disposition local law problem apparently presented erie consistent either remand current view federal district required treat diversity case exactly state state district sitting erie case arose alleged pennsylvania tort stated appeals erred decide issue state law page page pennsylvania law id erie case initiated tompkins citizen pennsylvania federal southern new york jurisdiction company corporation state page page emphasis added accordingly erie construed issue remand law new york state applied pennsylvania tort sole issue determined remand applicable pennsylvania law without mention probable attitude new york courts tompkins erie justice brandeis retired held federal district courts required follow local conflict laws doctrine resolution diversity cases klaxon stentor electric mfg