Fidelity Union Trust Co., Executors v. Field

Summary

Chief Justice Hughes delivered the unanimous opinion holding that a federal court applying state law must follow the decisions of an intermediate state court absent more convincing evidence of the state's law. New Jersey's Court of Chancery had twice held that the 1932 trust-deposit statutes did not eliminate the existing requirements for creating a valid gift or trust. Because no contrary state authority existed, the Circuit Court of Appeals could not disregard those decisions merely because it disagreed with their reasoning. The Court reversed the appellate decree and affirmed the District Court's decree favoring the depositor's executors. There were no separate opinions.