Jurisdictional Statement — Marks v. Chief of Police of Los Angeles
Supreme Court brief1970
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IN THE
i '
2 Supreme Court of the United States
October Term, 1969
° ONO...
BURTON MARKS,
Petition ;,
vs
THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE CITY OF
LOS ANGELES, and THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
. Respondents
On Appeal from the California Court of Appeal,
Second Appellate District
JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT
MARKS, SHERMAN &
LONDON :
BY BURTON MARKS
9720 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, Calif. 90212
Telephone - (213) 278-2301
Attorneys for Petitioner
-
Offset printed by: Dean-Standefer Co., 315 3rd St, Huntington Beach, Ca 92646
.
| TOPICAL INDEX
: %
Petitioner appeals trom the judgment
of the California Court of Appeal,
Second Appellate District. 22000... Pe
Opinions below ........2........ eee uee
Jurisdiction 2.0. ...... ttre core ey Seve re
Questions presented
Statute involved 2. .........
Gtatoteit oF the case... . eee cn Peer
The substantiality of the questions ............ |
[1] Whether the assessment of a penalty
under California Rule of Court 26(a)
is impermissible due to the vagueness
Be ene re ieee ek
[2] Whether a court’s refusal to consider >
an otherwise valid claim for property.
because that property was connected’
with an illegal transaction is a forfeiture
of such property without a hearing and
is thus violative of the due process
pRB em Sale aD Rae nese tA he I Sas
TABLE OF AU THORITIES CITED
Cases
Aptheket v. Secretary of State, 378 ULS. 500°
Cammer v. United States, 350 US. 399° 00.
Connally v. General Constr. Co., 209 U.S. 385
"yd
_)
as
St
St
my
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES CITED
Cases
Dombrowski ¥. Ptister, SOUS AT eS
Giaceto v. Pennsviy a, S82 US, 300 SERS SOAS 3,6
Ice v. Louisville & N. R os ae wick . Sree f 7 |
Kevishian v. Bou of Regents, 385 Us syo ‘ 5
“Lanzetta v. New Jersey, 306-US. 451 2... oO 3
MAA. 8: GOR, STLUS. GIS oc ck es ane
Screws v. United States, 325 U.S, 91 2.2... 3
Southern Ry. Co ove Irs, ATU © S. 190° ae oan 7
‘ apr = '
Statutes (United States) .
United States Constitution
First Amendment : 5
Fourteenth Amendment .... 0.5. ....05., 7.8
EO RO Med Mad A cA a Osis Winks bet tek ee 2
Rule (California)
Cahtornia Rules of Court
Rule 26(a) [See Appendix “B™] o. 0. oe
- IN THE
" SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
October Term, 1969
BURTON MARKS,
| Petitioner,
VS. dlls ‘ ay
THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE CITY OF
LOS ANGELES, and THE CITY OF LOS ANGELE S.
R esponder ents.
On Appeal from the California Court of Appeal,
Second Appellate District
JURISDICTIONAL STATEMENT |
~ Petitioner appeals from the judgment of the California
Court of Appeal. Second Appellate District, entered on Oct- -
“ober 23, 1969, affirming a judgment against him by the
Superior Court of the State of California, in and for the
County of Los-Angeles, and submits this Statement to show
that the Supreme Court of the United States has jurisdiction - -
of this appeal and that a substantial question is raised.
: t _ ORTNIONS BELOW
There were tfo reported Opareas befow W ¢ are attach-
ing hereto as Appendix “AY UP) the opinion of the Court
of Appeal of the State of Cabtonua, Noond Appellate Dis-
trict, certified for noppudlratvoa ( Appendix 7A” pp. 1-7)
[2] notice of denial of Petetron foi ‘Rehearing tiled in the
Court of Appeal of the State of Cahtoraua, Second Appeilate
District (Appendix “A™ pS). ) 3) aotics o f deniai & Petition
for Hearing filed, in the Supreme Court of the State of Califor
nia (Appendix “AY p. DQ). aunt [4] the Piadings of Fact of the
Superior Court of the State of Cahtorma, for the County of
Los Angeles (Appendix “AS op. TTS)
| JURISDICTION
The judgment agaiast, petrtroner was catered in the
s Superior Court of Los Angeles County oa Apri ls, i8ox.
it.was affirmed by the-Court of Apweal of the St ate of Calit-
ornia, Second Appellate Distesst. on October 23, 1968 a
_ Petition for Rehearing beute Somead on October.29, [Yoee:
"the Supreme Court of the Nate of Caltfornia denied a hear
ing on December 17, 1YO9 ant a Notes Of Appeal was filed tae,
in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Second Appet
late District, on January 27) Potnoner made a timely
objection to-a stale statute Se teading that it was void and
standardless. As the state cow's Soom was in WVGror tte —
validity of a statute gomten sen tO DO repugn rat te the United
States Constitution, jurintic: tnt IS OowtTerred by TS ULS.C
oth py? Te > 5 . es SPE n au Net thy, eNtNe>-al are?
section 125 7(2). Cases wit? sapport thus appeal ure
\4.4.0P v, Button, 371 U.S. 415 (1963), Aptheker v.
Secretary of State, 378 U.S. 500 (1964): Giaccio v. Penn-
svivamia, 382 U.S. 399 (1966); Lanzetta v. New Jersey,
300 US. 481 (1939); Connally v. General Constr. Co.,
09 US. 385 (1926); Scapws v. United States, 325 U.S
9] (1943 3).
\ % .
+ _ QUESTIONS PRESENTED
] 7 : :
Whether the assessment of a penalty under Calit-
ornia Rule of Court 26(a) i is impermissible due to the vague-
ness OFthat rule.
{2] |
~ Whether a court’s refusal to consider an otherwise
valid claim tor property because that property was connect-
ed with anallegal transaction is a forfeiture of such property
without a hearing and is thus violative of the due process clause.
STATUTE INVOLVED
i
Rule 2o0(a), California Rules of Court, [West 1964] is set
forth as Appendix “B.”:
= /
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Petinoner, assignee of Barbara Williams, filed an action
for claimand delivery of $12,020.00 held by the Chief of
Police of the City of Los Angeles (respondent here along with
the City of Los Angeles). Judgment was entered in favor ot
dof pre T 30, Appendix A. infra) on: April 1S, 1968.
The achon-Was tor the rec overy of sums of money paid by
a ps
Barbara Williams to Paul G: Franey, a Police Officer of
the City of Los Angeles. I The money was turned over,
by the officer to the Los Angeles Police Department and
was segregated by that Department to be used as evidence _
in a bribery prosecution against Miss Williams. (CT 30)
Petitioner dully appealed the judgment against him to
the California Court of Appeal. On’ October 23, 1969, the .
Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment and assessed a © oS
penalty of $250.00 against petitioner for filing a “frivolous”
appeal (Appendix A, infra). Petitioner petitioned. the Court
of Appeal for a rehearing, contending that Rule 26(a) of
the California Rules of Court, under which the penalty was
_assessed, was.unconstitutionally vague and was therefore
void as violative of the due process clause. The petition for -
rehearing was denied on October 29, 1969 (Appendix A,
infra). Petitioner then petitioned the California Supreme |
Court for a hearing on the same grounds, and it, too, was
. denied (Appendix A, infra). The denials by the Court. of
Appeal and the California Supreme Court of petitioner’s
pétitions for rehearing and hearing were, in effect, findings
that the Rule is not in conflict with the strictures of the
United States Constitution, and petitioner appeals to this
1 The following sums were paid: Ae
a) August 4, 1965, $220 as partial payment of $500 for ©
obtaining a continuance of a sentencing matter ($20 of this sum was to - ,
reimburse Officer Franey for long distance telephone calls) (RT 49).
b) August 26, 1965, $3,300, of which $1,500, or so
much thereof as Franey decided was needed, was to be used as restitution
to the victim of a “bunco scheme,” Officer Franey to keep any balance of .
the $1,500 for himself; the rest, was to “fix” the case (RT 49, 51, 52).
c) August 26, 1965, $300 as the balance of the $500
for obtaining the continuance referred to in “‘a)”’ above (RT 53).
d) August 26, 1965,°$500 for the arrest of two men (RT
76, 77). ;
°) September 27, 1965, $8,500, of which $2,000 was a
es y-off” for Franey and $6,500 was to be used for restitution in “b)”
above (RT 55, 56).
ia
‘ Honorable Court for a review of these decisions
THE SUBSTANTIALITY OF THE QUESTIONS
[1] The conduct that Rule 26(a), California Rules of Court,
can be used to punish the filing of a ‘‘frivolous” appeal is not -
' unimportant conduct when viewed in light of the First Amend-
ment and the cases of this Court discussing that amendment.’
“[P] recision of regulation must be the touchstone in an, area
so closely touching-our most precious freedoms. : . for
~ standards of permissible statutory vagueness are strict in the
area of free expression.” N.A.A.C.P. v. Button, supra, 371
U.S. 415, 428, 432 (1963). See also Keyishian v. Board of
Regents, 385 U.S. 589, 603-604 (1967); Dombrowski v.
Pfister, 380 U.S. 479, 494 (1965); Aptheker v. Secretary of
State, supra, 378 U.S. 500, 516 (1964).:
While this Court has consistently held that freedom of
expression isa precious right (see, e.g., N“A.A.C.P. v. Button,
supra; Dombrowski v. Pfister, supra), in the instant case this
right is especially so. For here, the expression penalized is
expression of the highest,order: the request of counsel for
judicial review of an adverse détermination of his client’s
rights. Thus, the factor of the freedom of counsel also
enters this’ case. oe je
_ In Cammer v. United States, 350 US. 399 (1956), this
- Court quoted Congressman James Buchanan on the independ-
- ence of the bar: “The public have almost as deep an interest
in the independence of the bar as of the bench” (350 US. at
407). Cammer restricted the applicability of summary contempt °
and quoted Buchanan’s statements at the trial of Judge James
Pike, whose abuse of his contempt power led to the passage of
the Contempt Act.
The inquiry here is not dissimilar, for we have a
Statute, without standards. which allows a judge to deter-
mine what is “frivolous” and then fashion a penalty to fit
‘the crime. Surely’ the limits of frivolity would depend
‘upon the outlook of the judge, and the penalty would
depend upon the extent of his anger. |
‘— As this Court can see by viewing the Rule, which is
set forth as Appendix “B.” it is not at all precise. Aside
from the fact that the word “frivolous” is not defined, the
section makes reference to a party being “guilty of any
other unreasonable infraction of the rules,” and says that
the court may “impose _ . . such penalties... as the cir-
cumstances of the case and the discouragement of like con-
duct in the future may require.” This.is not the kind of
statute which tells'men of common intelligence what it
requires (see Commally » General Constr. Co., supra, 269 ©
U.S. 385, 391 (1920) ). nor does it fix standards as to what
is prohibited (see Gisecio » Pennsylvania, supra, 382 U.S.
399, 402-403 | 1960) ): but leaves judges “‘free to decide,
without any legally fixed standards. what is prohibited
and what is notin each partycular case” Giaccio v. Pennsyl-
vanig, supra, 382 U.S. at 402-403. |
“The teaching of these cases. especially when viewed in
light of the strict test required by N.A.A.C.P. v. Button,
supra, requires a finding that the Rule is violative of the due .
process clause. ed re
_ [2] The trial court’s refusal to consider the merits of
petitioner's claim to the money in question because some
‘of it was fainted by tilegaht, was a‘denial of that property
4 Bm, Fae
without due process and violated petitioner’s rights under
the Fourteenth Amendment. Without considering whether
the court could, ‘consistent with the Constitution, refuse to
consider petitioner’s suit had he tried to get the “illegal
objects {of the contract] carried out” (C onclusion of Law
III, CT 337), where one party was-the State, it seems clear
that the case at bar did not involve such a request. Here.,,
petitioner wished to have specific and identified monies, ©
held by the State, returned to him. The fact that some of
the money was paid to a police officer in the form of bribes
caused the courts below to deny petitioner the right to all
of the money; and to eschew a hearing to determine if, in
fact, some of the money was untainted. |
- The right to a hearing to consider “‘adjudicative” ques-
tions is not a novel or new one. In 191] 3, this Court said the
following in discussing the importance of a hearing:
“A finding without evidence is arbitrary and base-
less. [I] f the Government. . . is correct. . .
[i]t would mean where rights depended upon facts,
the Commission could disregard all rules of evidence,
and capriciously make findings by administrative
fiat. Such authority . . . is inconsistent with rational
justice, and comes under the Constitution’s condem-
nation of all arbitrary exercise of power.””
ICC v. Louisville & N. R. Co., 327 U.S. 88,
91. (1913); |
see also Southern Ry. Co. v. Virginja; 290 U.S. 190 (1933).
a ————— — _ ———
ae Conclusion of Law WI - ~ “That the Assignor, Barbara Williams, was a party
to an illegal contract, and neither the Assignor, nor the Assignee, Burton Marks,
may come into a court of law and ask to have the illegal objects carried out, nor
can they set up a case in which they must necessarily disclose the illegal purpose
as the groundwork of their claim.” (CT 33)
on
_ The failure of the trial court to attempt, by use of
a hearing, to segregate those sums which were not tainted
by the illegality —and which therefore should be available
to petitioner—requires reversal. Further, a review of the
doctrinaire approach to denying a litigant access to a court
on the ground of “in pari delicto” requires new analysis in
light of constitutional rights guaranteed under the Fourteenth
Amendment, which cannot be legislated away by the courts.
Petitioner contends that the decisions below failed to
treat properly the questions of vagueness and denial of a hear-
ing raised below. We feel that the questions presented by this
appeal? are substantial and that the decisions below are in
‘conflict with those of this Court.
o :
Respectfully submitted,
MARKS. SHERMAN &
LONDON
BY: BURTON MARKS
Attorneys for Petitioner
3. If this appeal be improvidently taken, it is respectfully requested that
this statement be treated as a petition for certiorari.
“a”
APPENDIXES | —
Opinion of the Court of Appeal
of the State of California, Second
Appellate District ..........
Notice of denial of Petition for
Rehearing, Court of Appeal ..........
Notice of denial of Petition for
Hearing, Supreme Court of the
State of California. ..........
%
Findings of Fact of the Superior
‘Court of the State of California
Fogthe County of Los Angeles
California Rules of Court,
Rule 26(a) [West 1964] oe
“_* *# # # *
2s + 2 se
2 2 se 8B
Page
10
14
APPENDIX “AT 2
OPINION OF THE COURT OF APPEAL
OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
Pa ad
(Certihied for nonpuablication) |
BURTON MARKS, Plaintiff and Appellant, vs. THOMAS
REDDIN, as Chief of Police of the City of Los Angeles, and
the CITY OF LOS ANGELES, Defendants and Respondents.
Civ.No. 33712...” |
Filed October 23, 196%
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court, Los
Angeles County. Arnold Praeger, Judge. Affirmed.
Judgment for Defendants in a complaint for claim and
‘delivery, affirmed.
Marks, Sherman & London and Burton Marks (in propria
persona) for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Roger Arnebergh, City Attorney (Los Angeles), John A.
Daly and George J. Franscell, Assistant City Attorneys, and
_ William B. Burge, Deputy. City: Attorney, for Defendants and
Respondents.
Plaintiff, an attorney at law, sues, as the assignee of Bar-
bara Williams,to recover $12,020, held by the Chief of Police
of the City-of Los Angeles. As disclosed by the pleadings and
record, the defendants came into possession of this sum of
money under the following circumstances:
\
“a
\
\
. Barbara Williams was interested in assisting Vine
Appendix “A” : 2
Stevens, Catherine Adams and Keki Williams, who were
being prosecuted, or who were in danger of being prose-
cuted, for certain criminal conduct, and to secure the
arrest and prosecution of Miller Guy and Nido Lee. In:
that connection, she paid the total sum of $12,020 to
Officer Franey of the Los Angeles Police Department, for
the following purposes:
(a) August 4, l%@5, $220 as partial payment
-of $500 for obtaining a continuance in a sentencing -
matter of Vine Stevens ($20 of this sum was to reim-
burse Officer Franey tor long distance telephone calls).
. (b) August 20, 1905, $3,300, of which $1,500,
orso much thereof as Franey decided was needed to
“be used as restitution to the victim of a bunco scheme
perpetrated by Catherine Adams in order to stop the
prosecution of said Catherine Adams, Officer Franey
to keep any balance of Said $1,500 for himself; and |
$1,000 for Officer Franey to use to “fix” the case
against Catherine Adams, that is to fix the case so it
wouldn't be prosecuted.
(c) August 26, 1%O5, $300 as the balance of
$500 promised Officer Franey for obtaining a contin-
uance for the sentencing of Vine Stevens.
August Do, MoS, $800 to arrest Miller Guy
and Nido Lee.
(d) September 57, 19%S8, $8,500 of which
$6,500 was “to take care of itso Cathy (Catherine
Adams) won't be prosecuted” and a warrant for Keki
Williams be withheld or withdrawn on a charge which
Officer Franey had previously annulled. Officer Franey
4
Appendix “A” ay
was to use part or all or more of this sum as restitu-
tion to the victim and to keep any balance for him-
self; and the sum of $2,000 as payment to Officer
Franey for not prosecuting either Catherine Adams
or Keki Williams.
At all times, Officer Franey was acting in the course
and scope of his duties as a police officer with the know-
ledge of and under the orders of his superiors; he received
the monies in that capacity and without intent to be influ-
enced in any official action ; he turned the monies, as receiv-
ed, over to his superiors and they are held by the defendant
city in segregated accounts. Barbara Williams has‘ pled guilty
to a violation of section 67 of the Penal Code (bribery) in
connection with the transactions above set forth.
The trial court entered judgment for defendants on the
ground that plaintiff had not filed a claim as required by the .
Government Code and on the ground that plaintiff.was barred
from recovery on grounds of public policy. Since we affirm
on the latter.ground, we need not consider Whether or not
plaintiff’s claim, if otherwise cognizable, falls within the —
claims statute. )
Plaintiff argues as follows: 7
(1) To permit the city to keep the money is a “forfei-
ture” prohibited by the Penal Code and by the Constitution.
(2) That, even if a bribe was involved, not all the money
was tainted by a bribe, and therefore plaintiff was entitled to
some of the money. |
(3) There was no contract between the police officer
and the assignor.
Appendix “A” q-.
Plaintiff's contention that allowing the city to keep
the money is a “forfeiture” promi OV Penal Code we
tion 2604 is not well take, Te Sourt in the case of Lee
On v. Long (1951) 37 Cal. 2g 488. @ated in part as tollows.
-, “Consistent wet Tre gene ral ‘rule governing —
the constructigit o PAtatuds ravolving forfertures
QQ? Cal.Jur. see. 3 we. AS30354), the trial court
properly recogimzeds Yh buts of its express ss statu-
tory authority amd Somes the county’s petition
for forfeiture “as far ax tre arones [was] concern”
ed.” (Cf CRaprnure x &egolor, 47 Cal. App. 2d 848.
860-861 [119 P.2g LOS)) Howerer. the present
case On appeal LOEs WOE ComcE™ the law of forfet-
_ ture, but rather reigeex So Oke Question of whether )
plaintiffs, admitiedl» LMMAGOT IN legal gurndiing
activities al the Curree or Phe rard and their arrest,
@re in @ PUsillon (Vv axxo PAI OWNership and
right to possession of “ee money that was then
in actual use in suc? accemes, and to enlist the
aid Of the court tt sexo co have it restored to
them. | | : |
m2 ‘No principle of low iw better settled than
that a party to ait tllegal contract canmmet come -
into a court of law dine ar ¢ "0 have his dlegal
objects carried Out. ror dan he wt up a Case In
which he must tteeesnu ts Gisclose an ulegal pur
pose as the groumiwork of hus clam.” (1? CS
sec. 272, p. O56.) (Enmhasis added.)
Pie Plaintiff argues that the J ee Ow case ws “net the law
of this state any longer.” Phaurfet® ortes ae case overruling
Appendix “A” .—5-
_ Lee On, and our own research has not disclosed any. Nor
‘are plaintiffs attempts to distinguish Lee On v. Long from
the instant case persuasive. The principles of law are the
same whether the facts‘involved gambling, as in Lee On, or
a bribe, as in the instant case. .
Plaintiff next argues that, even assuming some illegal
transaction, not all of the transactions were tainted. The
rule js that a party. to an illegal contract may not success-
fully mnvoke judicial aid to have his illegal objects carried
Out, nor set up a casein which he must necessarily disclose
ba
an illegal purpose as a basis for his claim. The test is whether
the plaintiff can establish his case otherwise than through the
Yhedinm of an illegal transaction to which he himself is a
party. (Lee On v. Long, supra (1951) 37 Cal.2d 499.)
Since plaintiff cannot establish his case without raising the
illegal transactions, whether or not each and every individual
transaction, considered alone and not in the context of a-
series of transactions, is in itself illegal, does not help plain- |
nits case. *
b urther, it is clear that all the moneys given by Officer
Franey were related to illegal transactions. The word “bribe”
is defined as follows: ,
“The word ‘bribe’ signifies anything of value or
ed, with a corrupt intent to influence, unlawfully,
the person to whom it is given in his action, vote,
Or opinion, in any public or official capacity ;”
(Pen, Code, sec. 7, subd. 6.) !
advantage, present or prospective, or any promise °
or undertaking to give any, asked, given, or accept-
Appendix “A” | —6— .
A bribe contemplates a promise to give a public officer
; anything, which may have a future existence and value,
with the intent to unlawfully influence him in his official °
action. (People v. Vincilione (1911) 17 Cal.App. 513,
515.) It is clear that plaintiff's assignor in the case*at
bench was attempting to unlawfully influence the officer
in his official action in each transaction.
Plaintiff argues that some of the money was paid to
Officer Franey to be paid by him to the victims of the
various fraudulent transactions indulged in by the persons
arrested or suspected of such crimes and that reimburse-
ment of victims is a lawful—even a commendable— act and
not illegal. But the arrangement was that the officer could
keep for himself all monies.not needed to satisfy the several —
victims; as far as the record discloses, the victims might have
been satisfied with minimal amounts. It follows that plain-
tiff cannot segregate any specific sum that was devoted to
a lawful purpose, even if he legally could disengage the parts
of single payments. Since the record does not disclose the
purpose of the telephone calls involved in the August 4th
payment, we cannot say that they were not made i as part of
the over-all bribery scheme.
I]
‘Plaintiff contends that he is entitled to recover because
_a contract was never formed between Officer Franey and
plaintiff's assignor. The court in the Vollman case said: -
“In this connection it must be remembered that no ‘meeting
‘of the minds’ is required to establish an agreement to take a
bribe.” (People v. Vollman (1946) 73 Gal.App.2d 769, 788.)
Further. in Schur v. Johnson (1934) 2 Cal.App.2d 680, it
Appendix“A” 9 °° =7—
was held that courts will not lend aid to transactions
founded on illegal contracts or acts'in violation of law.
And in Berka v. Woodward (1899) 125 Cal. 119, the
~ California court. quoting from an earlier case, said that .
no court shall lend its aid to aman whose grounds for
action are based on an illegal or immoral act. .
Thus, the existence or nonexistence of a contract
is irrelevant. It is clear that the money was given with a
corrupt intent by plaintiff's assignor to influence official
action, and that is sufficient to preclude plaintiff from
using the courts to recover money.
The judgment is affirmed. The appeal is strictly
frivolous. In addition to the usual costs on appeal, appel-
lant shall pay, to the clerk of this court, the sum of $250
as a penalty for taking a frivolous appeal.
KINGSLEY. J.
We concur:
JEFFERSON, Acting P.J.
DUNN, J.
Certified for nonpublication in the Official Reports.
pursuant to rule 976.
JEFFERSON, Acting P.J.°
KINGSLEY. J. ©
DUNN. J.
Appendix ates ah. 8
NOTICE OF DENIAL OF PETITION FOR REHEARING
Court of Appeal of the State of California
Secund Appellate District
P a
as 10s Yrce I, s, Cal. tf ree
eel ae Cray Rospins,
aces QT
os
\
-»
NOTICE OF DENTAL OF PLITIION LOR HEARING
Supreme Court of the State of California
Chi, re
19 sic ciehalads
. 4 7 ( ( i
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7) : ) )
Clerk hie: “4 ( 4 ’ -
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Resp
Wid. SAR. 1\e
Appendix “A” : ~10—
FINDINGS OF FACT
Of
The Superior Court of the State of California
_ For the County of Los Angeles
BURL ON MARKS, Plaintiff, vs. THAD BROWN,
Chief of Police of the City o* Los Angeles; et al., Defend-
ants.
No. 898 013.
The above-entitled action came on regularly for trial
on the 22nd day of March, 1968, in Department 24, the -
Honorable Arnold Praeger, Judge Presidi.iz, the Court sitting
without a jury, neither party having requested same;
and the cause having been heard, and the evidence, both oral
and documentary having been introduced and received on
behalf of said Plaintiff and said Defendants, and the Court
having considered the same. and having considered the stipu-
lations entered into by and between said Plaintiff and said
Defendants, and having heard ‘the arguments of counsel, and
being fully advised, makes the following FINDINGS S OF FACT:
It is true that: :
; | 1
The CITY OF LOS ANGELES is a tcnicipal corporation,
.. anized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the
State of California, and that THOMAS REDDIN is the Chief of
_ Police of the City of Los Angeles. . °
. lI .
’ The CITY OF LOS ANGELES has the sum of $12,020.00
which is being held pursuant to DR No. 65-537976." .
Appendix “A” 11.
il
At all times mentioned in Plaintitt’s Complaint Paul
J. Franey was, and now is, a duly qualified. appointed, and,
acting police officer of the City of Los Angeles and peace
officer of the State of Califormia, acting within the scope
of his authority and engaged in the regularly assigned duties
of his offige in good faith and without malice.
o. . | IV
On August-4, 1965, Barbara Williams, a gypsy. gave to
Paul J. Franey, a police officer, the sum of $220.00. That
twenty dollars of this sum consisted of two ten-dollar bills,
given to Paul J. Franey to reimburse him for the cost of tele-
phone calls made by him to her in San Francisco. “That the
balance consisted of two one hundred-dollar bills, given to
Paul J. Franey for having obtained a continuance of a crimin-
al trial concerning a fellow gypsy named Vine Stevens. That —
this sum. was to forestall and keep Vine Stevens from going to
jail.
- | |
On August 26, 1905, Barbara Williams gave to Paul J.
Franey, acting as a police officer, $3,300.00. Thatof this
sum $1,500.00 was to alfempt-to make restitution to a vic-
tim of a bunco involving a fellow gypsy. Phat it was under-
stood that Sgt. Franey could give all of this sum to the
victim, or any sum, or keep all of the sum for himiselt
Phat $1,000.00 was given to fix Katherine Adams grand
theft case, $500.00 was given to Paul J) Praney to atrest
Miller Guy and Nido Lee on any charge Sgt Franey desired.
and $300.00 was given as u fiaal payment to Set. Praney for
having obtained a continuance of the criminal tral involving
Vine Stevens, thus forestalling sand petsen from being
Appendix **A”’ —12
incarcerated.
: VI .
On September 27, 1965, Sgt. Paul J. Franey received
the sum of $8,500.00 from Barbara Williams. That $2,000.00
of this sum was given to Sgt. Franey to quash any and all crim-
inal actions contemplated and/or pending against Kathy
Williams and Keki Williams. That the balance, $6,500.00,
was given to Sgt. Paul J. Franey to satisfy the victims of various
buncos from gypsies. That it was understood that Sgt. Paul J.
Franey may keep this sum, or use whatever portion he believed
would be necessary to satisfy the victims.
ack VII
All victims mentioned in the preceding paragraphs did in
fact receive restitution. ‘i
Jv ee
Barbara Williams assigned whatever right, title, and interest
she may have had to the sum of $12,020.00 to BURTON
MARKS, Plaintiff herein. 3
| 1X
BURTON MARKS is an attorney at law, and duly licensed
to prac tice 1 in the State of California. :
xX
At no time did the Plaintiff, BURTON MARKS, or Barbara
Williams,-or anyone acting on their behalf, file a claim with the
City Clerk of the City of Los Angeles pursuant to Section 900
et sequitur of the Government Code of the State of California. -
Xl
The allegations in the Second, Separate and Distinct
Defense as set forth in the Answer of the Defendant, CITY OF
LOS ANGELES, to the Plainutt s Amended (¢ ompk aint for |
Claim and Delivery i are true:
ae
Appendix “A” | l.
Xl
Asa result, the ASsignor, Barbara Williams, Was sen-
tenced to State Prison. ;
XI-
The only parties Defendant involved in this lawsuit are
the CITY OF.LOS ANGELES and THOMAS REDDIN, as
Chiet of Police, only. aes
DATED: This «..:.....:. day: of April, 1908.
v
4
APPENDIN “B"
CALIFORNIA RULES OF COURT, RULE 26(a)
[West 19o4|
Rule 26. Costs On Appeal |
(a) [Right to costs} bxcopt as herematter provided,
the prevailing party shall be cutitled Co his costs on appeal
as an incident to the judgment on appeal In the case of a
general and unqualified attirmance of the judgment, or the’
dismissal of an appeal, the respoadent shall be deemed the
prevailing party in the case of 4 reversal. in whole or in part,
-or of a modification of the judgment, the appellant shall be
deemed the prevailing party la aay casein which the inter-
ests of justice require if, the review iag court may make any
award or apportionment of costs which uw deems proper. In
probate cases, in the absence of ta express direction for costs
by the reviewing court, costs OF appeal shall be awarded to
the prevailing party, but the supeuiom court shall decide against
whom such award sha be made The foregoing provisions.do
not apply-in enmiunal cases) Whete the appeal is frivolous or
taken solely for the purpose of delay or.where any party >
shall have required in the typewritten or printyd record on
appeal the inclusion of any matter not reasonably material
to the determination of the appeal. or has been guilty of any .
other unreasonable infraction of the rules governing appeals,
the reviewing court may IMpose Upon oftending attorneys or
parties such penalties. including the w ithhiolding or imposing
of costs, as the circumstances of Hic Case and the discourage-
ment of hke conduct in the future ma require. As amended,
effective Jan. 1, L959. .
. \)
State of California. 7
County of Orange )
I, the undersigned, say: I am and was at all times herein mentioned a citizen
_ of the United States and employed in the County of Orange, over the age of
eighteen years and not a party to the within action or proceeding; that
My business address is 315 Third Street, Huntington Beach, California 92646,
that on JANUARY __ , 1970, 1 served the within JURISDICTIONAL STATE-
MENT (MARKS v. THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES,
et al.) on the following named parties by depositing the designated copies thereof
in a sealed envelope with postage thereon fully prepaid, in the United States Post
Office in the City of Huntington Beach, California, addressed to said parties at
the addresses as follows:
COUNTY CLERK, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
111 NORTH HILL STREET
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012
FOR: HON. ARNOLD PRAEGER, JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR
COURT [1 copy]
CITY ATTORNEY, CITY OF LOS ANGELES
2102 CITY HALL
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012 [2 copies]
THE-SOLICITOR GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES +H _
WASHINGTON, D.C. [ 2copies]}
COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
217 WEST FIRST STREET
. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012 [3 copies]
aA
co
.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Executed on JANUARY , 1970, at HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
D.A,Standefer
41 copies to the Supreme Court of the United States
a D.C.
Dean- Standefer Co., 315 3rd St., Huntington Beach, Ca. 92646 |
viidti 536-7161 ;
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.