Supreme Court of the United States
Moore v. Illinois Central Railroad Co.
March 31, 1941312 U.S. 630
Summary
The Supreme Court held that federal courts must follow the Mississippi Supreme Court’s interpretation of the state statute of limitations and that the Railway Labor Act does not require exhaustion of administrative remedies before suing for wrongful discharge. Accordingly, the Court reversed the Court of Appeals and affirmed the district court’s judgment.
Holding
- Whether a federal court must apply the Mississippi statute of limitations as interpreted by the Mississippi Supreme Court.. Yes; a federal court must follow the construction of a state statute of limitations given by that state’s highest court unless the legislature or that court later changes its interpretation.
- Whether the Railway Labor Act requires exhaustion of administrative remedies before filing suit for wrongful discharge.. No; the Act does not make exhaustion of its administrative procedures a prerequisite to judicial relief.
Docket 550
Cited authorities
- 44 Stat. 577
- 48 Stat. 1185
- 45 U.S.C. § 151
- 44 Stat. 577
Cited by
- The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company v. Edward F. Jenkins & others
- Joseph O. Query v. Boston and Maine Railroad
- Joseph L. Bennett and Arnold Brown v. Progress Lodge 992, Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks
- Edward F. Connors v. Boston and Maine Railroad
- Hicks v. Thompson
- Watson v. Missouri-Kansas-Texas R. Co. of Texas
- Richard I. Sarran v. Missouri Pacific Railroad Company
- Moore v. Illinois Cent. R. Co.