Boyd v. Grand Trunk Western R. Co., 338 U.S. 263 (1949)

Boyd v. Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company


No. 17


Argued October 11, 1949
Decided November 7, 1949
338 U.S. 263

CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF MICHIGAN

Syllabus

An agreement between a railroad and an employee injured by its negligence, which limits the venue of any action thereafter brought by the employee under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act and deprives him of his right to bring an action in any forum authorized by the Act is void as conflicting with the Act. Pp. 263-266.

321 Mich. 693, 33 N.W.2d 120, reversed.

In a suit brought by a railroad company in a state court of Michigan to enjoin petitioner from prosecuting a Federal Employers’ Liability Act case against it in Illinois, the trial court held that a contract restricting the choice of venue was void, and dismissed the suit. The Michigan Supreme Court reversed. 321 Mich. 693, 33 N.W.2d 120. This Court granted certiorari. 3 37 U.S. 923. Reversed, p. 266.