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United States v. Union Pacific Railway Co.

No. 319, No. 322
Decided Supreme Court of the United States
Disposition
affirmed
full scope · unanimous
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Court
Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Decided
Judge
Mr. Justice Brewer
Posture
Decrees issued by Circuit Court of Appeals
Appellant (1)
United States
Mr. Solieitor General
v.
Defendant (0)

Overview

The decrees in these cases are affirmed.

Case summary

These consolidated appeals involve the United States challenging decrees from the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in cases against Union Pacific Railway Company and St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company. The Supreme Court, in an opinion by Justice Brewer, notes that while the facts differ from a related case just decided, the legal principles from that opinion are deemed conclusive for determining the rights of the parties here. Without detailing the facts, the Court affirms the decrees based on the reasoning from the related case, with arguments having been heard in late 1896.

Abstract

The United States challenged decrees from a circuit court of appeals in cases against two railroad companies. The Supreme Court affirmed the decrees based on legal principles from a related case, without detailing the specific facts. The affirmance resolves the parties' rights in these consolidated appeals.

Opinion of the court

Majority
opinionMr. Justice Brewerjoined by Unspecified other justices
  • Facts differ from related case
  • Principles from related case are conclusive
  • Decrees affirmed without detailed factual statement

Jurisdiction

not challenged
Subject matter
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdictional facts
  • Appeal taken from lower court decisions

Procedural posture

Posture at trial
Decrees issued by Circuit Court of Appeals
Posture on appeal
Direct appeal to Supreme Court
Preserved issues
  • Application of legal principles from related case

Legal categories

Business

Case record

Full case name
United States v. Union Pacific Railway Company. United States v. St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad Company
Docket number
No. 319, No. 322
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Trial court
Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Decided
Opinion author
Mr. Justice Brewer
Opinion type
published
Precedential status
precedential
Judges on panel
Mr. Justice Brewer

Issues & holdings

1
Issues raised
1
affirmed
1
Holdings
Standard of review

De novo application of legal principles

Disposition rationale

Principles from related case are conclusive for rights of parties

Preservation

Issue preserved for review

Holdings of the court

Affirmance of decrees
Decrees are affirmed
Principles announced in a related opinion are conclusive for the rights of the parties, making detailed factual statement unnecessary
unanimousbinding precedent

Standards of review

  • Application of legal principles from related case — de novo Court applies legal principles independently to determine rights

Timeline

Procedural path

Supreme Court hearingCase argumentContinued argumentFinal argument
3
Events
2
Days, incident to ruling
—
Span
hearingcited in opinion

Argument of case No. 322 with No. 321

Attorneys for parties · Supreme Court justices supreme court
hearingcited in opinion

Argument of case No. 319 and continuation for No. 322

Attorneys for parties · Supreme Court justices supreme court
hearingcited in opinion

Argument of case No. 319

Attorneys for parties · Supreme Court justices supreme court

Facts & evidence

Key facts

2 facts
  1. Facts differ from a related case just decided
  2. Principles from that related case are deemed conclusive for these cases

Procedural history

3 steps
  1. Argued December 1-2, 1896 (No. 319)
  2. Argued with No. 321 on November 30 and December 1, 1896 (No. 322)
  3. Appeal from Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Policy considerations

  • Judicial efficiency by applying established principles without re-litigating facts

Authorities

Related cases (1)

Unspecified related case
prior appeal
Principles used as conclusive here

Standards & doctrines

  • De novo application of legal principles

Legal principles applied

  • Principles from related opinion are binding for similar cases

Notable quotes

“The principles announced in the foregoing opinion are conclusive of the rights of the parties herein”
Mr. Justice Brewer — Explaining why decrees are affirmed without detailed facts
Shows reliance on precedent to resolve cases
Index terms51
Summary terms
Legal mechanisms
Various actions
Various actors
Legal concepts
Legal outcomes
Legal issues
Legal procedures
Legal remedies
Legal evidence
Legal arguments
Legal defenses
Legal penalties
Legal procedural steps
Geo locations
Judges
Attorneys
Procedural terms
Entities and documentation
Legal actions
Action type
affirmed
Target
Decrees from Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Appealed from
Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Context
Principles from related case are conclusive, so decrees affirmed without detailed facts
Scope
full
Disposition vote
unanimous
Search facets
Parties
Judges
Brewer
Courts
Practice areas
Other index terms