United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Export & Import Lumber Co. v. Port Banga Lumber Co., 237 U.S. 388 (1915)

Export & Import Lumber Company v.

Port Banga Lumber Company

No. 68

Argued March 15, 1915

Decided April 26, 1915

237 U.S. 388

Syllabus

Where the jurisdiction of this Court depends on the amount involved, the appeal must be dismissed unless the record fairly shows that the value in controversy exceeds the amount fixed by statute, the criterion being that which is actually in dispute.

Where defendant appeals from a judgment against it and plaintiff does not appeal, although its prayer was for a larger amount, the amount in controversy is the amount of such judgment and the total amount of appellant's claim against plaintiff, and unless they aggregate the statutory amount, there is no jurisdiction.

Under the Act of July 1, 102, § 10, c. 1369, 32 Stat. 691, 695, this Court has no jurisdiction of an appeal from the Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands unless the amount in controversy exceeds $25,000, and as that amount is not shown to be in controversy in this case, the appeal is dismissed.

The facts, which involve the jurisdiction of this Court of appeals from the Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands, are stated in the opinion.