United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Yellow Cab Co., 340 U.S. 543 (1951)

United States v. Yellow Cab Co.

Argued December 6, 1950

Decided February 26, 1951*

340 U.S. 543

Syllabus

The Federal Tort Claims Act empowers a United States District Court to require the United States to be impleaded as a third-party defendant and to answer the claim of a joint tortfeasor for contribution as if the United States were a private individual. Pp. 340 U. S. 544-557.

1. The Government has consented to be sued for contribution claimed by a joint tortfeasor in the circumstances of these cases. Pp. 340 U. S. 546-552.

2. The Federal Tort Claims Act carries the Government's consent to be sued for contribution claimed by a joint tortfeasor not only in a separate proceeding, but also as a third-part defendant. Pp. 340 U. S. 552-557.

3. A different result is not required by the fact that the Act requires claims against the United States to be tried without a jury, whereas the Seventh Amendment to the Constitution preserves to private individuals their right of trial by jury on such claims in a federal court. Pp. 340 U. S. 555-557.

181 F.2d 967, affirmed.

87 U.S.App.D.C. ___, 183 F.2d 825, reversed.

The cases are stated in the opinion. The judgment in No. 218 is affirmed, and that in No. 204 is reversed, p. 340 U. S. 557.

Page 340 U. S. 544