Title v. United States

¶4BARNES, Circuit Judge.

¶5On October 24, 1941, Sam Title received his naturalization certificate as a United States citizen.

¶6On October 21, 1954, the United States filed a complaint in the court below seeking to revoke and set aside the order admitting appellant to citizenship, and to cancel his certificate of naturalization.1 No affidavit showing good cause was filed with the complaint nor was one thereafter made a part of the record. Appellant attacked the court’s jurisdiction because of the absence of the affidavit in a motion to dismiss the complaint, and in his answer. The district court ruled against appellant on this jurisdictional issue, and on July 12,1955, entered judgment against appellant, revoking the order admitting him to citizenship and cancelling his certificate of naturalization.2

¶7On September 8, 1955, appellant filed a Notice of Appeal from the denaturali-zation judgment. On February 27, 1956, this Court issued its mandate ordering the appeal dismissed “for failure of appellant to prosecute the appeal.” This Court’s mandate was filed and spread upon the records of the district court on February 29, 1956.

¶8The Supreme Court, on April 30, 1956, decided United States v. Zucca, 351 U.S. 91, 76 S.Ct. 671, 100 L.Ed. 964, and on April 7, 1958, the Supreme Court decided the Matles, Lucchese, and Costello cases3 holding that the affidavit “must be filed with the complaint when the proceedings are instituted.” 356 U.S. at page 257, 78 S.Ct. at page 714.

¶9On May 22, 1958, appellant moved the court below to set aside and vacate the denaturalization judgment entered on July 12, 1955, on the ground that the judgment was void in that the required affidavit showing good cause was never filed and that it was no longer equitable that the judgment should have prospee-*30tive application. On May 26, 1958, appellant also moved the district court to dismiss appellee’s complaint on the ground that the court had no jurisdiction over the subject matter. On June 19, 1958, the court below entered an order denying appellant’s motions. The instant appeal is taken from that order, and is timely.

¶10There can be no question but that the filing of such an affidavit is a prerequisite to maintenance of the suit. That is the only question passed upon in the Zucca case. But the Zucca case describes it as “a procedural prerequisite.” 351 U.S. at page 95, 76 S.Ct. at page 674. And in quoting from Bindczyck v. Finucane, 1951, 342 U.S. 76, 72 S.Ct. 130, 96 L.Ed. 100, the Zucca decision first refers to § 340(a) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952 as a statute setting up “a clearly defined procedure,” and, secondly as a statute setting up “a detailed, safeguarded procedure for attacking the decree.” 351 U.S. at page 99, 76 S.Ct. at page 676. And in summary, the Chief Justice refers to the affidavit as “a procedural prerequisite to the maintenance of proceedings.”

¶11Nothing in the per curiam opinion of the Supreme Court in Matles v. United States, supra,4 adds clarification to what was said in Zucea. Appellant seeks to render the judgment void by interpreting the word “prerequisite” as though standing alone, and totally disregards the modifying adjective “procedural.” We must assume that there was a purpose in the Chief Justice’s reference to a “procedural” prerequisite rather than a “jurisdictional” prerequisite.

¶12But there is a further and stronger reason why the order denying plaintiff’s motion must be affirmed. As the government urges:

“Even if the affidavit requirement be regarded as jurisdictional in the sense that suit could not be maintained without it, the ruling of the District Court that it had jurisdiction is not of the sort to render its judgment void, and thus subject to attack under Rule 60(b)(4), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.* Aside from such fundamental jurisdictional elements such as service of process, a Court’s determination that it has jurisdiction is res judi-cata and subject to review only on appeal.

“United States v. Williams, 1951, 341 U.S. 58 [71 S.Ct. 595, 95 L.Ed. 747]; Chicot County Drainage District v. Baxter State Bank, 1940, 308 U.S. 371 [60 S.Ct. 317, 84 L. Ed. 329]; Stoll v. Gottlieb, 1938, 305 U.S. 165 [59 S.Ct. 134, 83 L.Ed. 104]; American Surety Co. v. Baldwin, 1932, 287 U.S. 156 [53 S.Ct. 98, 77 L.Ed. 231]; Baldwin v. Iowa State Traveling Men’s Ass’n, 1931, 283 U.S. 522 [51 S.Ct. 517, 75 L.Ed. 1244]; Elgin Nat. Watch Co. v. Barrett, 5 Cir., 1954, 213 F.2d 776, 779; Foltz v. St. Louis & S. F. Ry. Co., 8 Cir., 1894, 60 F. 316; 7 Moore's Federal Practice, Sec. 60.25, pp. 264-271. … *"

¶13“ *In 7 Moore’s Federal Practice, Section 60.25, the author concludes (p. 272):

¶14“ ‘Clause (4) does not, however, have wide applicability, because under principles that are applicable in determining whether a judgment is valid or whether it is void, most federal district court judgments, even though they be erroneous, are not void.’ (Emphasis added.)”

¶15Our holding in United States v. Diamond, 9 Cir., 1957, 255 F.2d 749, in no way conflicts with our holding here. Were Title’s appeal presently before us, we would reverse the judgment of de-naturalization rendered against him by the district court. But that appeal he has voluntarily failed to prosecute. He is in the same status as any other individual who fails to protect fully his valid legal rights, by neglecting to perfect his appeal.

¶16*31We have recently had a similar question before us in a matter where on appeal we reversed a district court under the mistaken apprehension we had jurisdiction to hear the appeal. Yanow v. Weyerhaeuser S.S. Co., 9 Cir., 1958, 250 F.2d 74. The Supreme Court thereafter denied certiorari to appellee. 356 U.S. 937, 78 S.Ct. 779, 2 L.Ed.2d 812. It then moved to recall the mandate and dismiss the appeal upon the ground that our reversal was void for lack of jurisdiction. We declined to do so upon the theory of res judicata. Yanow v. Weyer-haeuser S.S. Co., 9 Cir., - — • F.2d-.

¶17Appellant recognizes that there are reasons of public policy for assuring the finality of judgments, but suggests that under Rule 60(b)(5), Fed. R.Civ.P., 28 U.S.C.A., a special rule should be adopted in denaturalization cases relaxing the strictness of the ordinary rule. In support of this, appellant refers to the language of the dissenting Justices in Ackermann v. United States, 1950, 340 U.S. 193, 202, 71 S.Ct. 209, 95 L.Ed. 207. We are, of course, bound by the majority opinion in Ackermann, just as we are in Zueca. Rule 60(b) was not intended to provide relief for error on the part of the court or to afford a substitute for appeal. Ackermann v. United States, supra; Morse-Starrett Products Co. v. Steccone, 9 Cir., 1953, 205 F.2d 244, 248-249; Berryhill v. United States, 6 Cir., 1952, 199 F.2d 217; Loucke v. United States, D.C.S.D.N.Y. 1957, 21 F.R.D. 305. Nor is a change in the judicial view of applicable law after a final judgment sufficient basis for vacating such judgment entered before announcement of the change. Collins v. City of Wichita, Kansas, 10 Cir., 1958, 254 F.2d 837; Berryhill v. United States, supra; Loucke v. United States, supra.

¶18Finally, a motion to vacate under Rule 60(b), Fed.R.Civ.P., is addressed to the sound legal discretion of the district court, and will not be disturbed on appeal except for abuse of discretion. Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. Barrett, 9 Cir., 1957, 246 F.2d 846, 849; Parker v. Checker Taxi Co., 7 Cir., 1956, 238 F.2d 241, 243-244, certiorari denied sub nom., Field Enterprises, Inc. v. Parker, 1957, 353 U.S. 922, 77 S.Ct. 681, 1 L.Ed.2d 719; Stafford v. Russel, 9 Cir., 1955, 220 F.2d 853; Jones v. Jones, 7 Cir., 1954, 217 F.2d 239; Perrin v. Aluminum Co. of America, 9 Cir., 1952, 197 F.2d 254, 255; Independence Lead Mines Co. v. Kingsbury, 9 Cir., 1949, 175 F.2d 983, 988.

¶19The final order dismissing each of appellant’s motions is affirmed.