Cleveland, C., C. & St. L. Ry. Co. v. Dettlebach, 239 U.S. 588 (1916)

Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis

Railway Company v. Dettlebach
No. 229

Argued November 29, 1915
Decided January 10, 1916
239 U.S. 588

ERROR TO THE COURT OF APPEALS,

EIGHTH DISTRICT, STATE OF OHIO

Syllabus

The effect of an express contract, made for the purpose of interstate transportation, must be determined in the light of the Act to Regulate Commerce.

Whether the responsibility of an interstate carrier as warehouseman of goods carried from another state and not called for by the consignee until after the time specified in the bill of lading after arrival at destination is to be measured by the valuation in the bill of lading is a question federal in its nature.

Under the Act to Regulate Commerce, as amended by the Hepburn Act of 1906, the term transportation embraces all services in connection with the shipment, including storage of goods after arrival at destination.

The valuation expressed in a bill of lading of goods shipped in interstate commerce, and a limitation of the liability of the carrier made by the shipper for the purpose of obtaining the lower of two rates of freight, is, under the Carmack Amendment, valid and binding upon the shipper, and applies not only to the responsibility of the railroad company as a carrier while the goods are in transit, but also to its responsibility as a warehouseman while holding the goods in storage after arrival at destination and notice to the consignee.

The facts, which involve the responsibility of a carrier for goods under the applicable provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act, and the Carmack Amendment thereto, are stated in the opinion.