Illinois v. Indiana Et Al.
Headline: Court approves Special Master reports and dismisses Illinois’s lawsuit against Indiana, several cities, and many companies, ending the federal case and ordering costs to be apportioned among the parties.
Holding:
- Ends Illinois’s federal lawsuit against Indiana, cities, and companies.
- Apportions court costs for Sept 8, 1949 through decree date as recommended.
- Special Master to be paid and then released from further duties in the case.
Summary
Background
The State of Illinois filed an amended lawsuit against the State of Indiana, several Indiana cities, and many private companies. A Special Master was appointed to handle parts of the case and issued reports, including a Fifth Special Report and a Fifth and Final Report dated October 18, 1950. Over time many defendants were dismissed by joint motions and earlier orders recorded in the opinion.
Reasoning
The Court approved the Fifth Special Report and the Fifth and Final Report. It found that the listed defendants had either agreed to perform certain work or had been dismissed by prior orders, and that no remaining acts were left to be performed by the remaining named defendants. For that reason the Court dismissed Illinois’s amended lawsuit as to all defendants. The Court also adopted the Special Master’s recommendation on how to apportion costs for the period from September 8, 1949, to the date of the decree, directed that the Clerk’s fees be split equally between the parties, and found that the Special Master had completed his duties.
Real world impact
The ruling brings this federal lawsuit to a close. The named cities, states, and companies are no longer defendants in this case. Costs for the stated period will be taxed and allocated as the Special Master recommended, and the Special Master will be relieved of further duty once paid. This order resolves the procedural and financial winding-up of the litigation rather than deciding the underlying merits of any disputed substantive claim.
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