Hughes v. Fetter

341 U.S. 609 (1951)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Basing his complaint on the Illinois wrongful death statute, P brought this action in the Wisconsin state court to recover damages for the death of Harold Hughes, who was fatally injured in an automobile accident in Illinois. Ds were named as defendants. Ds were named as defendants. negligent driver and an insurance company were named as defendants. The trial court entered summary judgment 'dismissing the complaint on the merits.' It held that a Wisconsin statute, which creates a right of action only for deaths caused in that state, establishes a local public policy against Wisconsin's entertaining suits brought under the wrongful death acts of other states. The Wisconsin Supreme Court affirmed, notwithstanding the contention that the local statute so construed violated the Full Faith and Credit Clause of Art. IV, § 1 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.