Fitch v. Creighton

THIS was an appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the northern district of Ohio.

It was a bill filed on the equity side of the court by Creighton, a citizen of Iowa, against Fitch, a citizen of Ohio, under the circumstances stated in the opinion of the court. The Circuit Court decreed against Fitch, who brought up this appeal.

It was submitted on printed arguments by Mr. Cooke for the appellant, and Mr. Swayne for the appellee.

The principal question in the case was whether the Circuit Court had jurisdiction of the case, which depended upon the facts involved in it. A particular statement of these would not be interesting to the profession generally, and therefore they are omitted. The propositions for which Mr. Cooke contended, in support of the demurrer below, were—

I. That the complainant does not show himself possessed of any right which he can enforce directly against this defendant or his property; and—II. That the liability of the defendant is not such an one as can be enforced against him in a court of equity, without the aid of the statute, which cannot confer jurisdiction upon the courts of the United States.

Mr. Swayne's points, in opposition to the above, were thus stated:

I. It seems to be conceded that, when the local statutes of a State give rights to an individual, the courts of the United States will enforce those rights in case where they have jurisdiction of the parties.

1. It is not pretended that the States can direct the remedy by which rights are to be enforced, which the Federal courts are bound to pursue.

2. But it is claimed that where the statute of a State creates a right which may be enforced by remedies already existing and resorted to in the latter courts, that these courts will enforce the right by their own known remedies and usages, in cases where they have jurisdiction, although the local state may direct a special mode of proceeding.

The General Smith, 4 Wheaton's Rep., 438.

II. By the statute and the contract with the city, the complainant acquired, by operation of law, rights which courts of equity, by their long-established rules and usages, will enforce.

Mr. Justice McLEAN delivered the opinion of the court.