Koller v. United States, 359 U.S. 309 (1959)

Raymond Jerean KOLLER and Martin Silverbrook, Petitioners, v. UNITED STATES of America.

No. 362.

Supreme Court of the United States

Argued March 26 and 30, 1959.

April 20, 1959

Mr. Robert H. Malis, Philadelphia, Pa., for petitioners.

Mr. Lionel Kestenbaum, Washington, D.C., for respondent.

PER CURIAM.

1

The judgment, 255 F.2d 865, is affirmed. Rex Trailer Co. v. United States, 1956, 350 U.S. 148, 76 S.Ct. 219, 100 L.Ed. 149.

2

Mr. Justice STEWART, with whom Mr. Justice DOUGLAS and Mr. Justice WHITTAKER join, dissenting.

3

I do not agree that disposition of this case is controlled by the decision in Rex Trailer Co. v. United States, 350 U.S. 148, 76 S.Ct. 219, 100 L.Ed. 149. Believing that § 26(b)(1) of the Surplus Property Act of 1944, 40 U.S.C. § 489(b)(1), 40 U.S.C.A. § 489(b)(1), imposes a civil penalty, and that an action thereunder is therefore subject to the five-year limitation provided in 28 U.S.C. § 2462, 28 U.S.C.A. § 2462, I would reverse. Cf. United States ex rel. Marcus v. Hess, 317 U.S. 537, 63 S.Ct. 379, 87 L.Ed. 443; Erie Basin Metal Products, Inc., v. United States, 150 F.Supp. 561, 138 Ct.Cl. 67. See Priebe & Sons v. United States, 332 U.S. 407, 68 S.Ct. 123, 92 L.Ed. 32.

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