28 U.S.C. § 1655 — Lien enforcement; absent defendants

Page 440 TITLE 28—JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE § 1652 Civil Procedure abolishing such writ. The revised sec- tion is expressive of the construction recently placed upon such section by the Supreme Court in U.S. Alkali Export Assn. v. U.S., 65 S.Ct. 1120, 325 U.S. 196, 89 L.Ed. 1554, and De Beers Consol. Mines v. U.S., 65 S.Ct. 1130, 325 U.S. 212, 89 L.Ed. 1566. 1949 ACT This section corrects a grammatical error in sub- section (a) of section 1651 of title 28, U.S.C. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1949—Subsec. (a). Act May 24, 1949, inserted ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘jurisdictions’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries WRIT OF ERROR Act Jan. 31, 1928, ch. 14, § 2, 45 Stat. 54, as amended Apr. 26, 1928, ch. 440, 45 Stat. 466; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 23, 62 Stat. 990, provided that: ‘‘All Acts of Congress referring to writs of error shall be construed as amend- ed to the extent necessary to substitute appeal for writ of error.’’ § 1652. State laws as rules of decision The laws of the several states, except where the Constitution or treaties of the United States or Acts of Congress otherwise require or provide, shall be regarded as rules of decision in civil ac- tions in the courts of the United States, in cases where they apply. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944.) HISTORICAL REVISION NOTES Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 725 (R.S. § 721). ‘‘Civil actions’’ was substituted for ‘‘trials at com- mon law’’ to clarify the meaning of the Rules of Deci- sion Act in the light of the Federal Rules of Civil Pro- cedure. Such Act has been held to apply to suits in eq- uity. Changes were made in phraseology. § 1653. Amendment of pleadings to show jurisdic- tion Defective allegations of jurisdiction may be amended, upon terms, in the trial or appellate courts. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 399 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 274c, as added Mar. 3, 1915, ch. 90, 38 Stat. 956). Section was extended to permit amendment of all ju- risdictional allegations instead of merely allegations of diversity of citizenship as provided by section 399 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Changes were made in phraseology. § 1654. Appearance personally or by counsel In all courts of the United States the parties may plead and conduct their own cases person- ally or by counsel as, by the rules of such courts, respectively, are permitted to manage and conduct causes therein. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, § 91, 63 Stat. 103.) HISTORICAL REVISION NOTES 1948 ACT Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 394 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 272, 36 Stat. 1164). Words ‘‘as, by the rules of the said courts respec- tively, are permitted to manage and conduct causes therein,’’ after ‘‘counsel,’’ were omitted as surplusage. The revised section and section 2071 of this title effect no change in the procedure of the Tax Court before which certain accountants may be admitted as counsel for litigants under Rule 2 of the Tax Court. Changes were made in phraseology. 1949 ACT This section restores in section 1654 of title 28, U.S.C., language of the original law. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1949—Act May 24, 1949, inserted ‘‘as, by the rules of such courts, respectively, are permitted to manage and conduct causes therein’’. § 1655. Lien enforcement; absent defendants In an action in a district court to enforce any lien upon or claim to, or to remove any incumbrance or lien or cloud upon the title to, real or personal property within the district, where any defendant cannot be served within the State, or does not voluntarily appear, the court may order the absent defendant to appear or plead by a day certain. Such order shall be served on the absent de- fendant personally if practicable, wherever found, and also upon the person or persons in possession or charge of such property, if any. Where personal service is not practicable, the order shall be published as the court may direct, not less than once a week for six consecutive weeks. If an absent defendant does not appear or plead within the time allowed, the court may proceed as if the absent defendant had been served with process within the State, but any adjudication shall, as regards the absent defend- ant without appearance, affect only the prop- erty which is the subject of the action. When a part of the property is within another district, but within the same state, such action may be brought in either district. Any defendant not so personally notified may, at any time within one year after final judg- ment, enter his appearance, and thereupon the court shall set aside the judgment and permit such defendant to plead on payment of such costs as the court deems just. (June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 944.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 118 (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 57, 36 Stat. 1102). Word ‘‘action’’ was substituted for ‘‘suit,’’ in view of Rule 2 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In view of Rule 4(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Pro- cedure permitting service of process anywhere within the territorial limits of the States, the word ‘‘State’’ was substituted for ‘‘district’’ in the first and third paragraphs. Changes were made in phraseology. § 1656. Creation of new district or division or transfer of territory; lien enforcement The creation of a new district or division or the transfer of any territory to another district or division shall not affect or divest any lien