74 Iowa 251 | Iowa | 1885
I. The defendants pleaded as a defense a former adjudication, and rely on Homestead Co. v. Valley Ry. Co., 17 Wall. 153, to establish it, and their counsel insist that this case comes within and is governed by Goodnow v. Litchfield, 59 Iowa, 226. On the other hand, counsel for the appellee insists that the rule established in Goodnow v. Stryker, 61 Iowa, 261, is applicable, and that this case must be determined in accordance .therewith. We deem it sufficient to say
This action was brought to recover the taxes for 1861, 1862 and 1863, which the petition states were paid to Webster county by the Dubuque & Sioux City Railroad Company, and that said company assigned and transferred its claim to the plaintiff. The defendants in their answer denied that the taxes were paid by the railroad company, but stated that, if any payment of said taxes was made, the same was made by a corporation known as the “Iowa Homestead Company,” and that whatever taxes were so paid were paid voluntarily by the party paying the same, and that no right or cause of action existed against the defendants on account thereof. Clearly, we think, the defendants, under the facts above stated, cannot be said to have adopted the payments of the taxes made by plaintiff’s assignor in order to escape liability to another party. There is no claim or pretense in this case that the defendants were or could be made liable to Webster county. The defendants, in substance, pleaded that the payment of the taxes had been voluntarily or officiously , made, and, therefore, no right of action existed in
II. Counsel for the appellee contends that the case in 17 Wall. 153, before cited, cannot be regarded as an adjudication, because the supreme court of the United States did not have jurisdiction, and, therefore, the judgment is void, and not binding on the plaintiff or those under whom he claims. The Homestead case was originally commenced in the state courts against the Des Moines Navigation & Railroad Company, Roswell S. Burrows and others. The navigation company was, in one sense; the principal defendant, , and both it and the plaintiff are corporations organized under the laws of Iowa, and, therefore, both residents of the same state. It will be conceded as to the corporations, plaintiff and defendant, that the right of removal from the state to the federal court did not exist; but it was stated in the petition that the navigation company had conveyed a portion of the lands in controversy to Burrows and others, who were made defendants, and who were non-residents, and relief was asked against them. Three of said defendants made application for a removal of the cause to the federal court. R. S. Burrows, under whom the defendants claim, was not one of the defendants who applied for such removal. The state court seems to have made two orders for the removal of the cause to the federal court; one on October 13, 1868, and the other three days thereafter. There is some doubt whether the removal was ordered as to all the defendants, or only as to those who had asked that it be made. It will, however, be conceded that the order of the state court included the latter only, and this was assumed by the circuit court of the United States. This appears from an order made by said circuit court in May, 1870, where such fact is recited, and it is stated in said order that, it appearing that said Burrows and others were non-residents, and that they held under the same title and right as the defendants who had obtained the order of removal, and the plaintiff consenting thereto, it was
We understand counsel to claim that, as the right of removal did not exist as to the plaintiff and corporation defendant, because they were b'oth residents of the state of Iowa, the federal court did not have jurisdiction, and that its judgment is void, although all parties consented that the cause should be tried and determined by said court. Counsel cites a large number of authorities which, he claims, support his position; but we think they are clearly distinguishable, because the facts are materially different.
It will.be conceded, for the purposes of this case, that the state court erred in ordering a removal as to. any of the defendants, because all of them were not entitled thereto. But no appeal was taken from such order, nor was the federal court asked to remand the cause to the state court. The federal court assumed and took jurisdiction with the consent of all the parties to the action. The jurisdiction of the federal courts depends upon residence, and the amount in controversy. Ordinarily the subject-matter is within the jurisdiction of such courts, and in the case under consideration the federal court had undoubted jurisdiction, except as it might be affected by the question of citizenship.
Now, as we have seen, the court, with the consent of the plaintiff, under whom the plaintiff in this action claims, assumed and took jurisdiction of the action and all of the parties without any objection submitted thereto. The judgment.in such case as to the parties and those claiming under them cannot be said to be void. Clearly, it seems to us that the homestead company, after invoking or consenting to the jurisdiction of the federal courts, and consenting that they should hear and determine the cause, should be estopped from now
III. It is objected by the appellee that the evidence upon which the case was tried in the district court is not properly and sufficiently identified by the statement contained in the abstract. Conceding this to be so, we think appellants have filed a paper which does sufficiently identify the evidence, and which shows that the evidence upon which the case was tried in the district court is in the record before this court.
Reversed.
[ See next case for supplemental opinion.]
