Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway Co. v. United States

Background

A railroad company and the federal government were the parties in this dispute, which reached the Supreme Court from the Eighth Circuit. Counsel for the railroad and the Solicitor General filed a written agreement saying they would accept and follow the outcome of the Packing Company cases (Nos. 467, 468, 469, and 470). The case was submitted to the Court and argued along with the implications of those earlier decisions.

Reasoning

The key question was whether this case should be resolved by reference to the recently decided Packing Company cases. Because both the railroad’s lawyers and the Solicitor General agreed to abide by those decisions, the Court ordered that the judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals be affirmed. The opinion announcing that order was delivered by Justice Day. The record also notes that one Justice, Mr. Justice Moody, did not take part in the decision.

Real world impact

The direct effect is that the Circuit Court of Appeals’ judgment stands and is final as to this Supreme Court disposition. The railroad company’s challenge will be resolved in line with the Packing Company cases the parties accepted, so the outcome there determines this case’s practical result. This order resolves the dispute before the Court without a separate, independent ruling on new factual or legal issues in this opinion.

Dissents or concurrances

The Court’s opinion records that Mr. Justice Brewer’s dissent in Armour Packing Co. v. United States also applies to this case, indicating an expressed disagreement with the result by at least one Justice.