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Ex Parte Ferry Co.

Ex Parte Ferry Company

Ex Parte Ferry Co., 104 U.S. 519 (1882)
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Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Decided
January 18, 1882
Judges
Waite
Citations
104 U.S. 51926 L. Ed. 8151881 U.S. LEXIS 2039
Cited by 17
Headnotes
Ex parte Gordon (supra, p. 515) reaffirmed, the doctrines there announced being applicable, although the amount involved in the suit below is not sufficient to give this court appellate jurisdiction.
Summary
Petition for a writ of prohibition.- James H. Cuddy exhibited his libel against the steamer ‘"‘Garland,” her engines, dec., in the’District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleging that he was the father of David Cuddy and William H. Cuddy, aged respectively ten and thirteen years, passengers on board a steam yacht bound up .the Detroit River, when she was sunk by the “ Garland,” whereby they were drowned, and he was deprived of their earnings, services, and society. The sinking of the yacht and their déath are charged to be the. direct result of the negligence and 'unskilfulness of the “ Garland.” In a1 supplemental libel- he alleges that he was duly appointed administrator of the estate.of each of his sons, and he charges that’he is entitled to damages in the sum of $4,000 for their death, riot only by virtue of his relationship, but as their personal representative, his right in that behalf being created by the law of Michigan. The “ Garland ” was seized. On the application of the Detroit River Ferry Company, the claimant, she was appraised, and surrendered. • The company now prays for a writ from, this court, to prohibit the proceedings, as beyond the jurisdiction of the District Court.

Syllabus and headnotes are prepared by the reporter or publisher, not the court, and are not part of the opinion.

Opinion — Waite

Mr. Chief Justice Waite delivered the opinion of the court.

This case is, in all its material facts, like that of Ex parte Gor don, supra, p. 515. It matters not that the amount demanded in the libel is less than $5,000, and that consequently no appeal will lie to this court. An appeal will lie to the Circuit Court in favor of the libellant if he is defeated, and in favor of the respondent if the recovery exceeds $50. It is no ground for relief by prohibition that provision has’ not been made for a review of the decision of the court of original jurisdiction, by appeal or otherwise. A prohibition cannot be made to perform the office of a proceeding for the correction of mere errors- and irregularities. If there is jurisdiction, and no provision for appeal or writ of error, the judgment of the trial court is the judgment of'the court of last resort, and concludes the parties. It rests with Congress to decide whether a case shall be reviewed or not.

Writ denied.

How later courts describe this case

No later court has written an explanatory parenthetical about this case yet.

Cited by 17 cases

View all citing references →
1882–1883: 11886–1887: 21892–1893: 41894–1895: 11898–1899: 11900–1901: 11902–1903: 21918–1919: 11922–1923: 11928–1929: 11992–1993: 12006–2007: 118822026peak 1892 · 4

Relies on it most ⓘ

  1. People ex rel. Yearian v. Spiers4 Utah 385 (1886)
  2. Muir v. Chatfield255 F. 24 (2d Cir. 1918)
  3. Smith v. Whitney116 U.S. 167 (1886)
  4. In re Cooper143 U.S. 472 (1892)
  5. In re Fassett142 U.S. 479 (1892)
  6. In re Morrison147 U.S. 14 (1893)

Most recent

  1. Hawkinson v. Montoya479 F. Supp. 2d 1164 (D. Colo. 2007)
  2. Dale R. Smith v. Thomas Cooper, Lou Hesse2 F.3d 1161 (10th Cir. 1993)
  3. Crill v. State Road Department117 So. 795 (Fla. 1928)
  4. Case v. City of Tulsa1923 OK 90, 212 P. 998
  5. Muir v. Chatfield255 F. 24 (2d Cir. 1918)
  6. State ex rel. Morley v. Godfrey46 S.E. 185 (W. Va. 1903) · Dissent

Citing references are not a citator: they show that a later opinion cites this case, not whether it followed, distinguished, or overruled it. Check negative history before relying on this case.

Authorities cited 0

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