Charles D. Houston, by His Guardian Wesley Hackman v. Ronald Astle v. Charles F. Houston, Third-Party, 435 F.2d 847 (3rd Cir. 1970). · Go Syfert
Search
Charles D. Houston, by His Guardian Wesley Hackman v. Ronald Astle v. Charles F. Houston, Third-Party, 435 F.2d 847 (3rd Cir. 1970). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
8 citation events (2 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Northcutt v. Fulton (okwd, 2020-12-15)
Top citers, strongest first. 6 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Northcutt v. Fulton
W.D. Okla. · 2020 · confidence medium
Co. v. Dyer, 19 F.3d 514 , 518–20 (10th Cir. 1994); (“Residence alone is not the equivalent of citizenship, but the place of residence is prima facie [evidence of] the domicile.”) (citing Walden v. Broce Construction Co., 357 F.2d 242, 245 (10th Cir. 1966); Houston v. Astle, 435 F.2d 847, 848 (3d Cir.1970)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Chaara v. Intel Corp.
D.N.M. · 2005 · confidence medium
Co. v. Dyer, 19 F.3d 514, 520 (10th Cir.1994)(citing Walden v. Broce Construction Co., 357 F.2d 242, 245 (10th Cir.1966), and Houston v. Astle, 435 F.2d 847, 848 (3d Cir.1970)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Essick v. Barksdale
D. Del. · 1995 · confidence medium
Although plaintiffs' complaint alleged residency, and not citizenship, of the individual parties and was thus deficient, Houston v. Astle, 435 F.2d 847, 848 (3d Cir.1970), a subsequent stipulation setting forth the citizenship of plaintiffs, plaintiffs' decedent, and defendant Barksdale cured the jurisdictional defect.
cited Cited as authority (rule) State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance v. Dyer
10th Cir. · 1994 · confidence medium
See Walden v. Broce Construction Co., 357 F.2d 242, 245 (10th Cir.1966); Houston v. Astle, 435 F.2d 847, 848 (3d Cir.1970).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Teddy Ray Dyer
10th Cir. · 1994 · confidence medium
See Walden v. Broce Construction Co., 357 F.2d 242, 245 (10th Cir.1966); Houston v. Astle, 435 F.2d 847, 848 (3d Cir.1970).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Blau v. Rappaport
E.D. Pa. · 1994 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., Houston v. Astle, 435 F.2d 847, 848 (3d Cir. 1970).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Charles D. HOUSTON, by His Guardian Wesley Hackman
v.
Ronald ASTLE, Appellant, v. Charles F. HOUSTON, Third-Party Defendant
18950_1.
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Dec 23, 1970.
435 F.2d 847
Turrey A. Kepler, Philadelphia, Pa., for appellant., Robert C. Steiger, for Charles D. Houston., Joseph G. Manta, James M. Marsh, Philadelphia, Pa., LaBrum & Doak, Philadelphia, Pa., of counsel, for Charles F. Houston.
Hastie, McLaughlin, Adams.
Cited by 8 opinions  |  Published

OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM:

This negligence action was brought on behalf of a child who, while riding in a car driven by his father, was injured, allegedly because of the negligence of the defendant Astle. Plaintiff Hackman is the court-appointed “guardian” of the injured child. The present appeal has been taken from a judgment for the plaintiff, entered on a jury verdict.

The only issues we find it necessary to consider are jurisdictional. Jurisdiction is based solely upon diversity of citizenship. All parties except the guardian admittedly are citizens of Pennsylvania. Neither in pleading nor in proof did the plaintiff guardian allege or establish his own domicile or citizenship. The complaint alleges no more than that[*848] the “address of Wesley Hackman is 1008 Ocean Avenue, Ocean City, New Jersey.” At the conclusion of the plaintiff’s case at trial the defendant moved for a directed verdict on the ground that jurisdiction had not been alleged or proved. The court at first peremptorily denied the motion, then granted a request by the plaintiff to reopen his case to prove jurisdiction, saying, “Well, you only need ask one question. * * *”

Thereupon plaintiff’s counsel recalled the infant plaintiff’s father to the stand and elicited testimony that Wesley Hack-man was his son’s “legally appointed guardian for the purposes of this lawsuit” and that “he resides in Ocean City, New Jersey.” The court then cut short an effort of defense counsel to inquire further into facts relevant to jurisdiction saying, “There is only one issue before the court and that is the residence of the guardian. That is all. So confine your questions to thal.”

Actually there were two issues and the guardian’s “residence” was neither. The first jurisdictional question was the citizenship or domicile of the guardian, as to which his New Jersey residence was relevant evidence but not in itself conclusive. Therefore, the court’s refusal to permit defense counsel to inquire further into the matter was error.

Moreover, this case was tried after our decision in McSparran v. Weist, 1968, 402 F.2d 867, though the cause of action arose before that decision. Therefore, the district court, whether acting on motion or sua sponte, was obligated to determine whether diversity, if established, had been “artificially” created within the teaching of McSparran and, if so, whether the plaintiff would be unreasonably prejudiced or burdened by dismissal of the federal action and relegation to his state remedy.

The judgment will be vacated and the cause remanded to the district court for the taking of testimony and the making of appropriate findings and legal rulings upon the jurisdictional issues. We made no decision upon the non-jurisdictional contentions of the appellant, but the district court shall be free to reexamine them if it does not dismiss the case on jurisdictional grounds.