Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt.
The Supreme Court addressed the procedural requirements for serving a foreign state under § 1608(a)(3). The Court emphasized that service must be sent directly to the foreign minister's office in the foreign state, not to the embassy in the United States. This interpretation aligns with statutory language and avoids potential conflicts with international law.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt.
The Court held that § 1608(a)(3) requires service to be sent directly to the foreign minister's office in the foreign state.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why State Sovereign Immunity is relevant to Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt
The case involves the procedural requirements for serving a foreign state, which relates to the principles of sovereign immunity and how states are treated under U.S. law.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)In cases with sensitive diplomatic implications, the rule of law demands adherence to strict rules, even when the equities seem to point in the opposite direction.
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Why Procedural Due Process is relevant to Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt
The case addresses the specific procedural requirements for serving a foreign nation, which implicates procedural due process concerns.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Interpreting § 1608(a)(3) to require that a service packet be sent to a foreign minister's own office rather than to a mailroom employee in a foreign embassy better harmonizes the rules for determining when service occurs.
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Why Judicial Review is relevant to Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt
The Court's decision involves interpreting statutory requirements, which is a function of judicial review.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Respondents' suggestion that § 1608(a)(3) embodies a similar standard runs up against well-settled principles of statutory interpretation.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Franchise Tax Bd. of Cal. v. Hyatt that support the summary and concepts above.
Most naturally read, § 1608(a)(3) requires a mailing to be sent directly to the foreign minister's office in the foreign state.
A foreign nation's embassy in the United States is neither the residence nor the usual place of business of that nation's foreign minister.
Interpreting § 1608(a)(3) to require that a service packet be sent to a foreign minister's own office rather than to a mailroom employee in a foreign embassy better harmonizes the rules for determining when service occurs.
