Erie R. Co. v. Winfield, 244 U.S. 170 (1917)

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Erie Railroad Company v. Winfield

No. 353

Argued March 1, 1916
Restored to docket for reargument November 13, 1916
Reargued February 1, 2, 1917
Decided May 21, 1917
244 U.S. 170

ERROR TO THE COURT OF ERRORS AND APPEALS

OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Syllabus

The duty of interstate railroad carriers to make compensation for injury or death of their employees in interstate commerce is regulated uniformly and exclusively by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, and is thereby confined to cases of causal negligence. New York Central R. Co. v. Winfield, ante,147.

It is beyond the power of any state to interfere with the operation of the federal act, either by putting carriers and their employees to an election between its provisions and those of a state statute or by imputing such an election to them through a statutory presumption. So held in the case of a New Jersey law containing provisions for compensation without regard to negligence, to be applicable when employer and employee elect to accept them, and presuming acceptance in the absence of a declaration to the contrary.

In leaving the yard after his day’s work in switching inter- and intrastate commerce, the employee is "engaged in interstate commerce."

88 N.J.L. 619 reversed.

The case is stated in the opinion.