United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United Gas Pipe Line Co. v. Ideal Cement Co., 369 U.S. 134 (1962)

United Gas Pipe Line Co. v. Ideal Cement Co.

No. 61

Argued December 13, 1961

Decided March 19, 1962

369 U.S. 134

Syllabus

On appeal from a judgment of a Federal District Court in a suit based on diversity of citizenship, the Court of Appeals held that taxes collected by the City of Mobile, Ala., relative to sales of natural gas were invalid under the Commerce Clause. In doing so, it relied upon its own interpretation of the City's License Code and relevant provisions of state statutes, though there had been no relevant interpretation of them by the state courts, and declaratory judgment proceedings were available in the state courts. On appeal to this Court, held:

1. This Court has jurisdiction of this appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1254(2). P. 369 U. S. 135.

2. The judgment of the Court of Appeals is vacated to permit a construction of the License Code of Mobile, so far as relevant to this litigation, to be sought with every expedition in the state courts. Pp. 369 U. S. 135-136.

Reported below: 282 F.2d 574.

Page 369 U. S. 135