Woods, Housing Expediter, v. Hills (334 U.S. 210)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided May 10, 1948 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 334 U.S. 210 · 68 S. Ct. 992
- Decided
- May 10, 1948
- Term
- October Term 1947
- Vote
- 9–0
- Majority author
- Justice Vinson
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Disposition
- Certification to/from a lower court
- Outcome
- Petitioning party lost
- Ideological direction
- Conservative
Opinion excerpt
Mr. Chief Justice Vinson delivered the opinion of the Court. In this case, the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has certified questions of law concerning which it asks instructions for the proper decision of the cause pending in that court. Judicial Code, § 239; 28 U. S. C. § 346. The certificate states that this is an action brought by the Administrator for treble damages and for an'injunction under § 205 of the Emergency Price Control Act and under the Rent Regulation for Housing. Hills, the defendant below, remodeled apartments located in a Defense Rental Area, subject to the Rent Regulations, and duly registered them. Thereafter, on December 17,1943, the maximum rents were reduced by the Area Rent Director pursuant to § 5 (c) of the Regulation; and on March 7, 1945, the Rent Director issued an order further reducing the maximum rents. On trial in the District Court without a jury, the parties stipulated that the only issue was the validity of the second order. The District Court entered judgment for the defendant on October 29, 1946, holding that the burden was on the Administrator to establish the validity of the second order and that he had failed to introduce proof establishing its validity. At the time the District Court entered its judgment, exclusive jurisdiction to pass on the validity of a regulation or order issued by the Administrator was vested in the…
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