Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Under Trading with the Enemy Act, 2(a), 50 USCA Appendix, 2(a), Comp. St. 3115 1/2 aa, property of domestic corporations, seized during war with Germany cannot be treated as owned by enemy, so as to preclude recovery of compensation from United States for use thereof, because their entire capital stock belonged to German corporation.
Congress, having power to direct forfeiture of all property beneficially owned by enemy subjects during war, could provide for seizure thereof, followed by such compensation as President might determine, as was done by Trading with the Enemy Act (50 USCA Appendix; Comp. St. 3115 1/2 a et seq.).
In action for value of tug boats, launch, etc., taken by United States from enemy owned domestic corporations under Trading with the Enemy Act (50 USCA Appendix; Comp. St. 3115 1/2 a et seq.), petition alleging that property was taken and used disclosed adequate ground for recovery to that extent, though not clearly showing what action was taken by United States.
United States is liable for value of barges belonging to enemy owned domestic corporations, if title thereto was actually taken under Trading with the Enemy Act (50 USCA Appendix; Comp. St. 3115 1/2 a et seq.), and should pay for any use thereof before acquisition of title. [277 U.S. 138, 139] Messrs. Charles H. Le Fevre and Daniel Dunning, both of Washington, D. C., for appellants.
The Attorney General and Mr. W. D. Mitchell, Sol. Gen., of Washington, D. C., for the United States.
Mr. Justice McREYNOLDS delivered the opinion of the Court.
These appeals were taken June 16, 1924, from judgments of the Court of Claims which sustained demurrers to the petitions. 59 Ct. Cl. 461. For the views of that court, see Deutsch-Australische Dampfschiffs- Gesellschaft, Appellant v. [277 U.S. 138, 140] United States, 59 Ct. Cl. 450. Appellants are incorporated under the laws of New Jersey and their entire capital stock has long been owned by the Hamburg-American Line, a German corporation.
In cause No. 3, the appellant seeks to recover (1) compensation for the use of certain docks and piers, New York harbor, seized by the United States April 6, 1917, and used by them until June 28, 1918; and (2) interest on the sum awarded by the President (December 3, 1918) as compensation for the same property, from June 28, 1918, when title was taken thereto until January 5, 1919, the date of actual payment. In cause No. 4 the claim is for the value of two tugboats, launch, barge, and coal hoister requisitioned and taken by the United States April 6, 1917, at the port of New York; and in No. 5 judgment is asked because of three barges, likewise taken on the same day.
The court below evidently proceeded upon the view that the property of appellant corporations should be treated as owned by an enemy because their entire capital stock belonged to a German corporation. And as the property was seized during the war with Germany it held there could be no recovery. Without doubt Congress might have accepted and acted upon that theory. It was adopted in the St. Tudno, Lloyd's Reports of Prize Cases, vol. V, p. 198, and the Michigan, Lloyd's Reports of Prize Cases, vol. V, p. 421. But Congress did not do so; it definitely adopted the policy of disregarding stock ownership as a test of enemy character and permitted property of domestic corporations to be dealt with as nonenemy. The prescribed plan was to seize the shares of stock when enemy owned rather than to take over the corporate property.
The Trading with the Enemy Act, approved October 6, 1917 (chapter 106, 40 Stat. 411 (50 USCA Appendix, 2(a), Comp. St. 3115 1/2 aa)), provides:
[277 U.S. 138, 141] '(a) Any individual, partnership, or other body of individuals, of any nationality, resident within the territory (including that occupied by the miltary and naval forces) of any nation with which the United States is at war, or resident outside the United States and doing business within such territory, and any corporation incorporated within such territory of any nation with which the United States is at war or incorporated within any country other than the United States and doing business within such territory. ...'
In Behn, Meyer & Co. v. Miller, Alien Property Custodian (January 5, 1925) 266 U.S. 457 , 45 S. Ct. 165, we held the status of the corporation was not fixed by the stockholders' nationality, and said:
The petition in No. 3 states a good cause of action for the use of the docks and piers from April 6, 1917, to June 28, 1918. As Congress might have directed forfeiture of all property beneficially owned by enemy subjects, it had power to provide for seizure followed by such compensation as the President might determine. Here such compensation was fixed and ultimately paid; and we find nothing to show that due allowance was not made for the delay in payment.
In No. 4 the petition fails clearly to show what action was taken by the United States. It does allege that the property was taken and used, and to that extent discloses adequate ground for recovery. It ought to be made more certain by amendment.
[277 U.S. 138, 142] If title to the vessels described in cause No. 5 was actually taken, the United States became liable for their value. For any use of such vessels before acquisition of title, the United States should pay. The allegations of the petition are not entirely clear, and should be made more definite.
The judgments appealed from are reversed. The causes will be remanded to the Court of Claims for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Citation: 277 U.S. 138
Docket No: No. 3-5
Decided: May 14, 1928
Court: United States Supreme Court
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)