United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Anderson v. Yungkau, 329 U.S. 482 (1947)

Anderson v. Yungkau

No. 87

Argued December 19, 20, 1946

Decided January 13, 1947

329 U.S. 482

Syllabus

Rule 25(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that,

"If a party dies and the claim is not thereby extinguished, the court within 2 years after the death may order substitution of the proper parties. If substitution is not so made, the action shall be dismissed as to the deceased party."

Held: more than two years after the deaths of defendants, actions may not be revived and their representatives substituted, and the actions should be dismissed -- even though the failure to act within the specified period was the result of "excusable neglect" within the meaning of Rule 6(b). Pp. 329 U. S. 484-486.

153 F.2d 685 affirmed.

The District Court denied motions to revive certain actions against certain parties and substitute their legal representatives more than two years after the deaths of the original parties, and dismissed the actions under Rule 25(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 1 F.R.D. 589. The Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed. 153 F.2d 685. Affirmed, p. 329 U. S. 486.

Page 329 U. S. 483