Smith v. Kansas City Title & Trust Co.
United States Supreme Court
255 U.S. 180 (1920)
Relevant factsFree
Shareholder Smith (plaintiff) sued Kansas City Title & Trust (defendant), a company permitted under Missouri law to invest only in lawful securities, to prevent it from investing in farm-loan bonds, arguing the underlying federal Farm Loan Act authorizing those bonds as lawful investments was unconstitutional; the district court dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
IssueFree
Whether, for purposes of federal question jurisdiction, a case arises under the Constitution if a plaintiff's right to relief depends on the court's interpretation of the Constitution.