Federal Procedure – Jurisdiction – Minimal Diversity Permitted By the Federal Interpleader Act Satisfies Constitutional Requirements

A disinterested Texas bank brought a federal interpleader action under 28 U.S.C. (1952) §1335 against a Texas widow and four joint claimants, three of whom were Texas citizens and the other a Tennessee citizen. On appeal from a summary judgment for the joint claimants, the widow argued that the court lacked jurisdiction. Held, affirmed. Congress intended that section 1335 should cover these “minimal” facts. The “complete diversity” requirement of Strawbridge v. Curtiss is only a rule of statutory construction and not a constitutional requirement. Haynes v. Felder, (5th Cir. 1957) 239 F. (2d) 868.