Metzenbaum v. Golwynne Chemicals Corp.
Metzenbaum v. Golwynne Chemicals Corp.
Opinion of the Court
The third party defendant, Mid-States Freight Lines, Inc., (hereinafter called Mid-States) moves for summary judgment dismissing the third party complaint of the defendant and third party plaintiff, Golwynne Chemicals Corporation, (hereinafter called Golwynne) on various grounds.
Jurisdiction of the actions is based upon diversity of citizenship.
In the main action, plaintiff Metzenbaum, administrator of Clawson (hereinafter called Clawson) alleges in substance that while the decedent, Harvey L. Clawson, “was carrying a drum of * * * magnesium powder or metallic magnesium in [a] truck the said drum suddenly exploded causing said Harvey L. Clawson to suffer devastating injuries * * * ” from which he subsequently died as the result of the negligence “of the defendant [Golwynne], its agents, servants and employees, in the manufacture, packaging, processing and shipping of said chemicals * * * ”
In its answer to Clawson’s action Golwynne denies the allegations of negligence. In its third party complaint, Golwynne alleges that it delivered to Mid-States certain drums of chemicals in Connecticut for carriage from Connecticut to Cleveland, Ohio, and it' further alleges facts which notify Mid-States
Mid-States’ motion assumes that its rights against and its obligations to Golwynne are governed by Ohio law. Such assumption is unwarranted.
In this diversity case the district court is “in effect, only another court of the State.”
When, as here, there is a conflict question arising out of a claim on contract, New York will apply the “center of gravity” or “grouping of contacts” theory of the conflict of laws.
Inasmuch as a New York court might, under the facts learned at the trial, apply the law of New York in determining whether Golwynne is entitled to indemnity from Mid-States because of their contractual relations, a summary judgment cannot now be granted on movant’s assumption that Ohio law applies.
Despite Mid-States’ assertion that its compliance with Ohio workmen’s compensation requirements absolves it, the third party complaint states a claim upon which relief can be granted.
The motion is denied. It is so ordered
. 2S U.S.C.A. § 1332.
. Guaranty Trust Co. of New York v. York, 326 U.S. 99, 108, 65 S.Ct. 1464, 1469, 89 L.Ed. 2079.
. Tipaldi v. Riverside Memorial Chapel, 273 App.Div. 414, 41S, 78 N.Y.S.2d 12, 17, affirmed 298 N.Y. 686, 82 N.E.2d 585.
. McFall v. Compagnie Maritime Belge, 304 N.Y. 314, 328, 107 N.E.2d 463.
. Auten v. Auten, 308 N.Y. 155, 160, 124 N.E.2d 99, 101, 50 A.L.R.2d 246.
. I. e., Golwynne’s right to indemnity not, as movant contends, the injury to Claw-son.
. Collins v. American Automobile Insurance Company, 2 Cir., 1956, 230 F.2d 416, 419, 420.
. Burris v. American Chicle Co., 2 Cir., 1941, 120 F.2d 218.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- James METZENBAUM, as Administrator of the Estate of Harvey L. Clawson v. GOLWYNNE CHEMICALS CORPORATION, and Third-Party Mid-States Freight Lines, Inc., Third-Party
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published