Carpenter v. Winn

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Carpenter v. Winn, 165 F. 636 (2d Cir. 1908)
91 C.C.A. 301; 1908 U.S. App. LEXIS 4799

Carpenter v. Winn

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

The question whether under section 724 (U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 583), a party could be required to produce his books and papers before trial, is one which has been frequently considered. *637Tlie decisions rendered in different districts are not harmonious. A very full review of these decisions will be found in Bloede v. Bancroft (C. C.) 98 Fed. 175, where it was held that production of the books in advance of trial could be required. Since that decision, however, the Circuit Court of Appeals in the Third Circuit has held the other way. Cassatt v. Mitchell Coal & Coke Co., 150 Fed. 32, 81 C. C. A. 80, 10 L. R. A. (N S.) 99. A majority of us are in accord with the reasoning and conclusion in Bloede v. Bancroft, and since the practice there approved has been the practice in this circuit for several years, and is in harmony with the provisions of the state Code of Procedure, we are all unwilling to adopt the conclusions of the Circuit Court of Appeals of the Third. Circuit. Moreover, the weight of decisions in the different circuits seems to be in accord with Bloede v. Bancroft. It is unfortunate, perhaps, that there should be diversity in the practice in different circuits; but the remedy for that would be an application for certiorari to the Supreme Court.

The judgment is affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
CARPENTER v. WINN
Cited By
1 case
Status
Published
Syllabus
Discovery (§ 86*) — Books and Papers — Production Before Trial. Under Rev. St. § 724 (U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 583), declaring that in actions at law United States courts may require defendants to disclose books or writings in their possession or power which contain evidence pertinent to the issue in cases and under circumstances where they might be compelled to produce the same by the ordinary rules of proceeding in chancery, a federal court, in an action against certain brokers to recover damages for improperly closing certain cotton contracts belonging to plaintiff, had jurisdiction to require defendants to exhibit their books before trial, and permit plaintiff to investigate, copy, and make abstracts from the same, and to give judgment to plaintiff by default for defendant’s refusal to comply with such order. [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Discovery, Cent. Dig. §§ 110-112; Dec. Dig. g 86.*j