Edward Terry Sanford

“ It is not only alleged that the defendants' claims are without foundation, but that they originated and are being prosecuted in the state court in pursuance of an agreement and conspiracy to embarrass and attempt to ruin the Society. There is no dispute as to the amount of any particular claim; and the validity of all of them depends upon the same issue. A conspiracy to prosecute, by concert of action, numerous baseless claims against the same person for the wrongful purpose of harassing and ruining him, partakes of the nature of a fraudulent conspiracy ”

“ It is the settled general rule, frequently applied by this Court is tax cases, that in a suit based on diversity of citizenship brought against several defendants to enjoin the collection of claims against the plaintiff which are separate and distinct-although depending for their validity upon a common origin-the test of jurisdiction is the amount of each separate claim, and not their aggregate amount. ”

“ Northern Pacific R. Co. v. Walker, 148 U.S. 391, 392, 13 S.C.t. 650, 37 L. Ed. 494; Fishback v. Telegraph Co., 161 U.S. 96, 100, 16 S.C.t. 506, 40 L. Ed. 630; Citizens' Bank v. Cannon, 166 U.S. 319, 322, 17 S.C.t. 89, 41 L. Ed. 451. ”