New Haven Pulp & Board Co. v. Downingtown Mfg. Co.

Citations

• 130 F. 605
• 1904 U.S. App. LEXIS 4834

Syllabus

<p>1. Foreign Corporations — Jurisdiction of Federal Court — Law Governing.</p> <p>The question whether a federal court acquired jurisdiction over a foreign corporation defendant by the service made is one of general jurisprudence, to be determined by the federal law, and which cannot be affected by a state statute.</p> <p>IT 1. State laws as rules of decision in federal courts, see notes to Griffin v. Overman Wheel Co., 9 C. C. A. 548; Wilson v. Perrin, 11 C. C. A. 71; Hill v. Hite, 29 C. C. A. 553.</p> <p>2. Same — Validity of Service — Doing Business in State.</p> <p>An officer and authorized agent of defendant, a manufacturing corporation of another state, was in Connecticut on business connected with a contract made with plaintiff by the predecessor of defendant, to whose rights and liabilities it had succeeded, when he was served with summons in an action brought by plaintiff against defendant in the federal court for Connecticut for breach of the same contract. Neither defendant nor its predecessor had ever maintained an office or agent in Connecticut, but they had made a number of sales in the state, including the one to plaintiff which was in controversy. Held, that the service was good, and gave the court jurisdiction of defendant.</p> <p>IF 2. Service of process -on foreign corporations, see note to Eldred v. American Palace Car Co., 45 C. C. A. 3.</p>