Southern Ry. Co. v. Clift, 260 U.S. 316 (1922)

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Southern Ry. Co. v. Clift

No. 107

Argued November 21, 1922
Decided December 4, 1922
260 U.S. 316

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE STATE OF INDIANA

Syllabus

1. A law declaring that "either party" may file a petition for rehearing within a stated time after judgment is not to be construed as referring to a successful party, and does not defer the finality of the judgment for purposes of review by his adversary. P. 318.

2. A decision of a state court disposing of a federal question by following its decision on a former appeal as the law of the case. cannot be regarded as resting on the independent, nonfederal ground of res judicata. P. 319.

3. A state law requiring railroads to pay or reject claims for loss or damage to freight within ninety days of their presentation, under penalty that otherwise the claims shall stand as liabilities due and payable in their full amounts and recoverable in any court of competent jurisdiction does not violate the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. P. 320.

131 N.E. 4 affirmed.

Error to a judgment of the Supreme Court of Indiana affirming a judgment for damages in an action by Clift against the Railway Company.