Rogers Vs. HennepIn County

rogers v. hennepin county - 239 u.s. 621 (1916) u.s. supreme court rogers v. hennepin county, 239 u.s. 621 (1916) rogers v. hennepin county no. 411 argued december 6, 1915 decided january 17, 1916 239 u.s. 621 appeal from the district court of the united states for the district of minnesota syllabus in an action brought by a number of complainants to restrain the collection of a tax separately assessed against each for under forty dollars, the aggregate exceeding the jurisdictional amount, held that the district court did not have jurisdiction, as the amount as to each complainant was the sum charged against him, and demands against all could not be aggregated in order to confer jurisdiction. wheless v. st. louis, 180 u. s. 379 . the facts, which involve the method of determining the amount in controversy in order to give jurisdiction to the district court, are stated in the opinion. mr. justice mc reynolds delivered the opinion of the court. three complainants, claiming to represent themselves and others like situated (numbering altogether 550), instituted this proceeding in equity against hennepin county, minnesota, and certain of its officers, in the district court of the united states, seeking an injunction to prevent collection of a tax under $40 assessed against each of them, for the year 1913, on account of his membership in the minneapolis chamber of commerce. page 239 u. s. 622 defendants challenged the court's power to entertain the cause upon the ground that the amount in controversy as to each complainant is the sum charged against him, and demands against all cannot be aggregated in order to confer jurisdiction. the district court sustained this objection upon authority of wheless v. st. louis, 180 u. s. 379 , and dismissed the bill. it committed no error in so doing, and its judgment is affirmed.