Leonard v. Elgin J. & E. Ry. Co.
Leonard v. Elgin J. & E. Ry. Co.
Opinion of the Court
The firm of Leonard, Crosset, & Riley shipped a car of water melons, which were to be delivered to Joliet, 111. The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Co. was the delivering carrier. The car arrived at Joliet Aug. 2, 1922 and soon after was refused by the consignee to whom the car had been sold $170 f. o. b. shipping point. Leonard claimed that the car was allowed to stand at the destination for eight or nine days before notifying him of'its refusal, within which time the car became practically worthless. Leonard presented his claim to the initial carrier, but since there was no liability on that end he made his claim to the E. J. & E. Ry. Co. Then the Railway Co. brought suit in the Municipal Court at Cincinnati claiming freight charges against Leonard in the amount of $138, including de-murrage charges.
Leonard answered, denying liability for the freight charges and set up a cross-petition claiming the $170. Leonard had never been
Leonard, in taking the case to the Supreme Court, contends that the lower courts erred in holding that he could not enter a counterclaim. He claims that the Railway Co. waived its right of objecting to such a counter-claim by filing its reply, and signing and consenting to filing of a stipulation and proceeding to trial. Fitzgerald v. Cross. 30 OS 444. He also declares that he has been denied rights in violation of the Constitutions of the United States and of Ohio, referring to the item in Constitution of U. S., Art. 14, Sec. 1, and Ohio, Art. 1, Sec. 16, which reads that “a person shall not be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor deny to anyone within its jurisdiction, the equal protection of laws.”
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LEONARD et v. ELGIN J. & E. RY. CO.
- Status
- Published