Shoshone Mining Co. v. Rutter

Rutter (plaintiff) sued Shoshone Mining Co. (defendant) in federal court claiming superior mining-patent title, relying on a federal statute authorizing such claims to be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction and allowing the underlying right of possession to be determined by local rules not inconsistent with federal law; Rutter and Shoshone were citizens of the same state, meaning no diversity jurisdiction existed. Shoshone moved to dismiss for lack of federal subject-matter jurisdiction, the district court denied the motion, the court of appeals affirmed, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.