U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1936

Covell v. Waterford Irr. Dist.

Covell v. Waterford Irr. Dist.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided October 19, 1936 · Wilbur
86 F.2d 22; 1936 U.S. App. LEXIS 3639 (Federal Reporter, Second Series)

Covell v. Waterford Irr. Dist.

Opinion of the Court

WILBUR, Circuit Judge.

This proceeding was inaugurated August 6, 1934, in the court below by the appellee, Waterford irrigation district, by filing a petition pursuant to act of Congress approved May 24, 1934, c. 345, §§ 78-80, 48 Stat. 798, extended to January 1, 1940, by act approved April 10, 1936 (11 U.S.C.A. §§ 301-303). This act of Congress was in effect approved by an act of the Legislature of the state of California, approved September 20, 1934 (St.Cal.1935, p. 5). The matter proceeded in the lower court to the point where the court approved a reorganization plan from which the bondholders of the district take this appeal.

During the pendency of this appeal the Supreme Court has held that the provisions of the Bankruptcy Act relied upon are unconstitutional and that the lack of federal authority for such legislation cannot be acquired or validated by the Consent of the state through its Legislature. Ashton et al. v. Cameron County Water Improvement Dist. No. One, 56 S.Ct. 892, 80 L. Ed. 1309, May 25, 1936.

For that reason the order of the lower court must be reversed, and the case • remanded to the District Court for further action consistent with this opinion.

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