First National Bank of Chicago v. United Air Lines
United States Supreme Court
342 U.S. 396 (1952)
- Written by Curtis Parvin, JD
Facts
John Louis Nelson, an Illinois resident, died in a United Air Lines (United) (defendant) plane crash in Utah. The executor of his estate, First National Bank of Chicago (First National) (plaintiff), filed an action under diversity jurisdiction for wrongful death against United in a district court in Illinois. United was a Delaware corporation doing business in Illinois. Illinois law prohibited a wrongful-death action if the death occurred outside of Illinois so long as the defendant was subject to service of process in the other jurisdiction. The district court dismissed the action based on the Illinois statute, despite First National’s argument that the statute was unconstitutional in violation of the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution. The Supreme Court granted review.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Black, J.)
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