Lynch v. Household Finance Corporation

Supreme Court of the United States

405 U.S. 538

Lynch et al.  v.  Household Finance Corp. et al.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut

No. 70-5058.  Argued: December 7, 1971 --- Decided: March 23, 1972

Appellee Household Finance Corp. sued appellant Lynch in state court alleging nonpayment of a promissory note, and, prior to serving her with process, garnished her savings account under Connecticut law authorizing summary pre-judicial garnishment. Appellant challenged the validity of the state statutes under the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, and sought declaratory and injunctive relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and its jurisdictional counterpart, 28 U.S.C. § 1343 (3). The District Court dismissed the complaint on the grounds (1) that it lacked jurisdiction under § 1343 (3), as that section applies only if "personal" rights, as opposed to "property" rights, are impaired, and (2) that relief was barred by 28 U.S.C. § 2283, proscribing injunctions against state court proceedings.

Held:

1. There is no distinction between personal liberties and proprietary rights with respect to jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1343 (3). Pp. 542-552.

(a) Neither the language nor the legislative history of that section distinguishes between personal and property rights. Pp. 543-546.

(b) There is no conflict between that section and 28 U.S.C. § 1331, and the legislative history of § 1331 does not provide any basis for narrowing the scope of § 1343 (3) jurisdiction. Pp. 546-550.

(c) It would be virtually impossible to apply a "personal liberties" limitation on § 1343 (3) as there is no real dichotomy between personal liberties and property rights. It has long been recognized that rights in property are basic civil rights. Pp. 550-552.

2. Prejudgment garnishment under the Connecticut statutes is levied and maintained without the participation of the state courts, and thus an injunction against such action is not barred by the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 2283. Pp. 552-556.

318 F. Supp. 1111, reversed and remanded.

STEWART, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which DOUGLAS, BRENNAN, and MARSHALL, JJ., joined. WHITE, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which BURGER, C. J., and BLACKMUN, J., joined, post, p. 556. POWELL and REHNQUIST, JJ., took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.

David M. Lesser argued the cause for appellants. With him on the briefs was William H. Clendenen, Jr.

Richard G. Bell argued the cause for appellees. With him on the brief for appellees Household Finance Corp. et al. were Charles A. Pulaski, Jr., and David W. Goldman. Robert K. Killian, Attorney General of Connecticut, and Raymond J. Cannon and Robert L. Hirtle, Jr., Assistant Attorneys General, filed a brief for Barrett, Deputy Sheriff.