Opinion

Terminal-Hudson Electronics, Inc. v. Department of Consumer Affairs

  • 407 F. Supp. 1075
  • 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17318
Court
District Court, C.D. California
Filed
Jan 6, 1976
Status
Published
Author
Whelan
On the bench
East, Ely, Whelan
Cited by
6 cases
Authority
More cited than 17.6%

Vacated on other grounds by G. E. M. Corp. v. Liquor Control Commission, 426 U.S. 918 (1976)

information regarding price of eyeglasses

How later courts described this case

  • information regarding price of eyeglasses

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

WHELAN, District Judge

(concurring in part and dissenting in part).

I concur in the decision of the majority that Action No. CV 74k-2321 must be dismissed in deference to the pending State proceeding against Terminal Hudson Electronics, Inc. of California dba Opti-Cal.

However, I .respectfully dissent from the holding of the majority in Action No. 74-2079. It would appear clear that under the rulings of the United States Supreme Court that the named Plaintiffs in the latter numbered action are not entitled to a preliminary injunction. The latest expression of the Supreme Court in Bigelow v. Virginia, 421 U.S. 809 , 95 S.Ct. 2222 , 44 L.Ed.2d 600 , speaking through Mr. Justice Blackmun, in fact states in footnote 10 on page 825, on page 2234 of 95 S.Ct. of the opinion:

“Our decision also is in no way inconsistent with our holdings in the Fourteenth Amendment cases that concern the regulation of professional activity. See North Dakota Pharmacy Bd. v. Snyder’s Stores, 414 U.S. 156 [ 94 S.Ct. 407 , 38 L.Ed.2d 379 ] (1973); Head v. New Mexico Board, 374 U.S. 424 [ 83 S.Ct. 1759 , 10 L.Ed.2d 983 ] (1963); Williamson v. Lee Optical Co., 348 U.S. 483 [ 75 S.Ct. 461 , 99 L.Ed. 563 ] (1955); Barsky v. Board of Regents, 347 U.S. 442 [ 74 S.Ct. 650 , 98 L.Ed. 829 ] (1954); Semler v. Dental Examiners, 294 U.S. 608 [ 55 S.Ct. 570 , 79 L.Ed. 1086 ] (1935).”

What seems to be clear from a reading of Bigelow and Pittsburgh Press Co. v. Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, 413 U.S. 376 , 93 S.Ct. 2553 , 37 L.Ed.2d 669 (1973) is that purely commercial speech advertising purely commercial activity carried on within the state prohibiting such advertising is not protected by the First Amendment. In the instant case the advertising sought to be protected by the injunctive process is purely commercial in nature.

Thus it appears that there is no strong likelihood that such Plaintiffs are likely to prevail upon a full trial upon the merits. I would therefore deny the injunction sought.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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