Crowell v. Benson
United States Supreme Court
285 U.S. 22 (1932)
Relevant factsFree
A workers' compensation judge (Crowell, defendant) ruled in favor of an injured longshoreman under a federal compensation statute, and Benson (plaintiff), the alleged employer, sued in federal court arguing the administrative tribunal lacked jurisdiction because no employment relationship in fact existed; the district court held a de novo hearing on that jurisdictional fact, found no employment relationship existed, and enjoined the award, a ruling the court of appeals affirmed.
IssueFree
Whether federal judiciary courts may make de novo rulings on jurisdictional facts even if Congress has given an administrative court the power to make factual findings.