Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins SCOTUS - 1938 Facts: Tompkins (PA) was injured by a passing train of Erie Railroad (NY corporation). Opinion. This case is also cited as Erie Railroad v. Tompkins and as Erie v. Tompkins. A 1938 landmark decision by the Supreme Court, Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S. Ct. 817, 82 L. Ed. 304 U.S. 64. Erie appeals. Judge applies 'general [tort] law,' instead of Pennsylvania state tort law, in deciding the case. In Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins (1938), the U.S. Supreme Court changed the way federal courts decided cases based on state law. 1188, that held that in an action in a federal court, except as to matters governed by the U.S. Constitution and acts of Congress, the law to be applied in any case is the law of the state in which the federal court is situated. Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins was the most important federalism decision of the Twentieth Century. 367. 1188, that held that in an action in a federal court, except as to matters governed by the U.S. Constitution and acts of Congress, the law to be applied in any case is the law of the state in which the federal court is situated. Erie Railroad v. Tompkins. Abstract. A 1938 landmark decision by the Supreme Court, Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S. Ct. 817, 82 L. Ed. Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938) Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins. Justice Brandeis’s opinion for the Court stated unequivocally that “[e]xcept in matters governed by the Federal Con- Justice Brandeis’s opinion for the Court stated unequivocally that “[e]xcept in matters governed by the Federal Constitution or by acts of Congress, the law to … Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins2 was the most important federalism de-cision of the twentieth century. In reaching Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins. —John Hart Ely1 Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins2 was the most important federalism de-cision of the twentieth century. Abstract. 1188, that held that in an action in a federal court, except as to matters governed by the U.S. Constitution and acts of Congress, the law to be applied in any case is the law of the state in which the federal court is situated. Decided April 25, 1938. Co. v. Tompkins, the edit history for which can be found here.--8^D BD2412 gab 02:27, 2005 Apr 28 (UTC) and a very good job. 1. Erie contended that its liability should be determined in accordance with PA law. A summary and case brief of Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938), including the facts, issue, rule of law, holding and reasoning, key terms, and concurrences and dissents. Plaintiff, a Pennsylvania citizen, was walking along the railroad tracks of the Erie Railroad in Pennsylvania when a train passed and an open door on a car struck him resulting in injury. TOP. Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins Case Brief - Rule of Law: The term "laws" in Section 34 in the Judiciary Act of 1789 (the "Rules of Decision Act") refers to the decisions of local tribunals as well as state statutes, their interpretations by the courts, and the rights and titles to things having a permanent locality. Argued January 31, 1938. BRANDEIS, J., Opinion of the Court. Case opinion for US Supreme Court ERIE R. CO. v. TOMPKINS. Justice Brandeis’s opinion for the Court stated unequivocally that “[e]xcept in matters governed by the Federal Con-stitution or by acts of Congress, the law to be applied in any case is the law Professor Sherry delivered her argument for including [Erie Railroad v. Tompkins] in the 'Hall of Shame' as one of the worst United States Supreme Court decisions. Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins was the most important federalism decision of the Twentieth Century. Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in which the Court held that federal courts did not have the judicial power to create general federal common law when hearing state law claims under diversity jurisdiction. He sued the railroad, a New York corporation, in federal district court in New York. MR. JUSTICE BRANDEIS delivered the opinion of the Court. Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in which the Court held that federal courts did not have the judicial power to create general federal common law when hearing state law claims under diversity jurisdiction.