Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Chesapeake & Ohio Coal & Coke Co.

297 F. 249 | S.D.N.Y. | 1923

LEARNED HAND, District Judge.

Two points are raised which need discussion: First, that the contract set forth in the counterclaim was an illegal discrimination in favor of the defendant, and therefore illegal; second, that the claim is barred by the section of limitation of the Interstate Commerce Act (Comp. St. § 8563 et seq.).

[1] First. If it appeared in'the pleadings that the plaintiff’s promise to collect' the freight of the consignee and refund it to the defendant was a special favor to the latter, an exception to its practices as.regards every, shipper similarly situated, then the cases might apply on which the plaintiff relies. Nothing of the sort does appear. On the contrary, for aught that I can know, it was the plaintiff’s uniform practice, whenever requested, to collect freights from the consignees and remit. If that was an established practice, and not an exception in the defendant’s case, I may not undertake to declare it unreasonable. It would be a matter solely for the Interstate Commerce Commission. Mitchell Coal Co. v. Pennsylvania Railroad Co., 230 U. S. 247, 33 Sup. Ct. 916, 57 L. Ed. 1472; Morrisdale Coal Co. v. Pennsylvania Railroad Co., 230 U. S. 304, 33 Sup. Ct. 938, 57 L. Ed. 1494. It is only when there is some variation from a published regulation or a practice established by the railway, and not contrary to law or to an order of the Commission, that a court has power to intervene. Prima facie equal treatment to .all is reasonable treatment.

[2] Second. As to the limitation of two years: Section 8 (Comp. St. § 8572) creates a civil wrong for any violation of omission or commission of the act, and section 9 (Comp. St. '§ 8573) allows access to the Commission or a federal court. Section 16 (2), being Comp. St. §■ 8584, imposes a limitation of two years upon bringing suit before the Commission. Under Phillips Co. v. Grand Trunk Western Railway Co., 236 U. S. 662, 35 Sup. Ct. 444, 59 L. Ed. 774, and Kansas City Southern Railway Co. v. Wolf, 261 U. S. 133, 43 Sup. Ct. 259, 67 L. Ed. 571, this provision was extended to suits in the courts. Nowhere is it suggested that it applies to actions arising at common law, such as may be instituted in a'state court, even though the liability also arise under the act. Pennsylvania Railroad v. Puritan Coal Co., 237 U. S. 121, 35 Sup. Ct. 484, 59 L. Ed. 867; Pennsylvania Railroad v. Sonman Shaft Coal Co., 242 U. S. 120, 37 Sup. Ct. 46, 61 L. Ed. 188. Where, as here, it arises in contract, it makes no difference that it may also be a duty imposed by law, as an established practice of the carrier. In no event is it a wrong arising under section 8. If it were, then no contract of carriage of any kind made by a carrier would survive more than two years after its breach.

Motion denied.