Petition — Kaye v. United States
Supreme Court brief1977
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Text
. Sapreme Court, U. S
M FILED {%
a ot ~y
Ocroser TERM 1976 MICHAEL RODAK, JR., CLERK
DAVID P. KAYE,
Petitioner,
vB.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR
THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
EDWARD J. CALIHAN, JR.
ANNA R. LAVIN,
53 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Attorneys for Petitioner
UNITED STATES LAW PRINTING CO., CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60618 (312) 525-6581
INDEX
PAGE
Opinion of the:Court bebow ...............2.-.c.cccccccceceecss.c-00s.- 1
na aes cseecodonibiieelddeiometins 2
Questions Presented for Review 22...0....0.0000..ccccceeeeeeeeee 2
Constitutional and Statutory Provisions Involved .... 3
a a aadsiea a casiabedioelaneuisieboade 7
I sd cuinrserabllmeied 8
Reasons for Granting the Writ 0.0.0.0... eee 10
eae ae sasdenonsausanaetiaien 22
Appendix:
A. Opinion of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Cause |
No. 76-1814 dated: May 16, 1977 _... App. 1
B. Order denying Petition for Rehearing
LUI UR SII dsl ppceiciictdlcldesachncaiesiinininincia App. 22
AUTHORITIES CITED
Cases
BS 7, Ts I PI II cttccctenccenrvsssienesetnsncesocsenss 12
Ceataee VW. Gaemeeim, Gi TG. BE anccnnncvecsceccsccscccsassccceceess 14, 18
Dennis v. United States, 341 U.S. 494 0... PE 14, 16
Federal Communications Comm’n v. American Broad-
casting Co., 347 U.S. 284, 74 S.Ct. 593, 98 L.Ed. 699... 13
Keppel v. Tiffin Savings Bank, 197 U.S. 356, 25 S.Ct.
Oa Oe i alelaeealeleictaiiaeelietepiniiniie 13
Lambert v. California, 356 U.S. 225 .....00000. eee 14, 17
ii
PAGE
McBoyle v. United States, 283 U.S. 25 : 13
Montana v. Kennedy, 366 U.S. 308 002... eee ceceecceeceeee 12
Russell v. United States, 369 U.S. 749 18, 22
Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212 0... 18, 22
United States v. Campos-Serrano, 404 U.S. 239. ........ 13
United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542 2... 22
United States v. Donovan, 339 F.2d 404 20.2... 21
United States v. Inciso, 292 F.2d 374 20. ceccececeeeee 14
United States v. Keegan, 331 F.2d 257, cert. den. 379
es SP snecictichiaversantsnitieniideteditchccebaintalipiipaidaidditiabanshinans 14, 15
U. S. v. Nu Phonics, E. Mich. 46 L.W. 2001 ....0.......... 17
United States v. Ryan, 2 Cir., 232 F.2d 481, on remand
NE TE Weeells SIE ceteeictineienniahtdangatniicaarptinnpians 15
United States v. Ryan, 350 U.S. 299 ww... 18, 21
United States v. Simmons, 96 U.S. 360 00000. 22
United States v. Universal C.IL.T. Credit Corp., 344
of Se fie Se & SS eee 13
Other Authorities
I Fe ee Ee ceniterictertininiepilianeimendigtnninenins 15
eS EOF scaptiencerneeecnsineniiininnigtensiinmniiidnrnnntins 15
ee ts 0 ED. senssninrinciticeretiinntsntcsinaniaeiienisneietaneiintontie 12
Se Te I SIRS etcericecipiicttianesharenensitlnasstientnsghtnminenis 11
OS A Tee ED | ein atinntettiseiniinttnetneriemctins 10
Te es PD Saciicieseemctniiccocssemnctccsins 12
See Ts RS FUN srcinbilciniecinensnsisisininelsltibitaricedojuabicanintnin 10
iii
PAGE
Title 18 U.S.C. § 1962(€) ..-.naa---ccccccccccccnvccseseeseeee 12, 14, 16, 18
an ae ane eae 17
Title 21 U.S.C. § S42( a) a aeecccccccccccccccccccusessssceccccceseccccee 15
rc steeetecceeerecles 15
Title 29 U.S.C. § 186 ooeecccccccccccsssssssesseeeeeee 10, 11, 14, 15, 16
eee 21
Title 29 U.S.C. § 186(b) cccccccsessssecccceccessseeeeeeeeee 10, 14, 16, 18
Title 29 U.S.C. § 186(1) (1) .ccccccccccccssscsccccccccsssvececccceseee 12, 21
Title 29 U.8.C. § 186(C) (1) aeaaeecccccccccnnncvvccceoossceccecccceoce 21
maaettiae .................. 15
Title 45 U.S.C. § S5Q(D) eee enanesccccccccnconcvceeoeececcoomnereeeees 15
Rule 7(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 12
Section 11(b)(4) of the Water Quality Improvement
SD | Gpcteteliddbaidaadinedpelibaldtecedclntasessteipietnerddtanstcenadatiweiassensiiineedooaninn 15
Section 402(c)(2) of the Drug Control Act 2000000000... 15
Section 1011 of the Drug Control Act -......0.0000222....... 15
Black’s Law Dictionary, Revised Fourth Edition ........ 10
Words and Phrases, Volume IV... 10
Fifth Amendment to United States Constitution —...... 10
Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution . 22
Eighth Amendment to United States Constitution ... 14
+ rere | ig wenene
In the
Supreme Court of the United States
Ocroper Term 1976
No.
DAVID P. KAYE,
Petitioner,
vs.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
iiespondent.
PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR
THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
To: The Honorable, The Chief J ustice and Associate
Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Petitioner, David Kaye, prays that a writ of certiorari
issue to review the judgment of the United States Court
of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Opinion Below
The opinion of the Court of Appeals is not yet officially
reported, but is printed in the Appendix to this Petition
(App. A, pp. 2-21).
2
Jurisdiction
The decision of the Court of Appeals was filed on May
16, 1977. Petitioner’s timely Petition for Rehearing and
suggestions for rehearing en banc were denied on July 8,
1977, a copy of which order is printed in the Appendix to
this Petition (App. B, p. 22). This Petition is filed
within 30 days of July 8, 1977. The jurisdiction of this
Court is invoked under 28 U.S.C. § 1254(1).
Questions Presented For Review
1. Whether the term ‘‘indictable’’ offense, when used
by the Congress, has any significance, or can it be in-
terpreted to mean any ‘‘offense’’ (misdemeanor or petty
offense) because, under Rule 7(a) of the Federal Rules of
Criminal Procedure, the prosecutor may, in his discretion,
proceed by indictment on any misdemeanor or petty of-
fense, though the Constitutional imperative under the
Fifth Amendment extends only to infamous and serious
crimes?
2. Whether the exercise of the option to the prosecutor
to proceed by indictment or information in the case of mis-
demeanors under Rule 7(a) deprived this defendant of
due process of law under the Fifth Amendment and of the
Fourteenth Amendment guarantee of equal protection of
the law, which is implicit in the Fifth Amendment guaran-
tee of due process?
3. Whether the ‘‘drastic increase’’ of penalties for
multiple misdemeanors under Title 18, U.S.C. §1962 re-
quires a re-examination of the established mens rea of
mere ‘‘reckless conduct’? to support convictions under
§186(b)? (Compare U.S. v. Nu-Phonics, E.D. Mich., 46
LW 2001)
8 ree
nny _ .
3
4. Whether this case which by indictment descends to
a particularization of the generic term ‘‘representation of
employees” to ‘‘part-time business agent’’ can tolerate
conviction on the basis of defendant’s being a ‘‘chief
steward’’ and be consistent with the Sixth Amendment
and with this Court’s rulings in Russell v. United States,
369 U.S. 749, 765, United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542,
558 and United States v. Simmons, 96 U.S. 360, 362.
Constitutional and Statutory Provisions Involved
The Constitution of the United States:
AMENDMENT V—_
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or
otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising
in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in
actual service in time of War or public danger; nor
shall any person be subject for the same offence to be
twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be
compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against
himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property,
without due process of law; nor shall private property
be taken for public use, without just compensation.
AMENDMENT VI—
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy
the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial
jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, which district shall have been
previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of
the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confront-
ed with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to
have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
AMENDMENT VITI—
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive
fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments in-
flicted.
Title 18 United States Code:
§ 1961.
As used in this chapter—
(1) ‘‘Racketeering activity’? means (A) any act
or threat involving murder, kidnaping, gambling, ar-
son, robbery, bribery, extortion, or dealing in narcotic
or other dangerous drugs, which is chargeable under
State law and punishable by imprisonment for more
than one year; (B) any act which is indictable under
any of the following provisions of title 18, United
States Code: Section 201 (relating to bribery), sec-
tion 224 (relating to sports bribery), sections 471, 472,
and 473 (relating to counterfeiting), section 659 (re-
lating to theft from interstate shipment) if the act
indictable under section 659 is felonious, section 664
(relating to embezzlement from pension and welfare
funds), sections 891-894 (relating to extortionate
credit transactions), section 1084 (relating to the
transmission of gambling information), section 1341
(relating to mail fraud), section 1343 (relating to wire
fraud), section 1503 (relating to obstruction of jus-
tice), section 1510 (relating to obstruction of criminal
investigations), section 1511 (relating to the obstruc-
tion of State or local law enforcement), section 1951
(relating to interference with commerce, robbery, or
extortion), section 1952 (relating to racketeering), sec-
tion 1953 (relating to interstate transportation of
wagering paraphernalia), section 1954 (relating to
unlawful welfare fund payments), section 1955 (re-
lating to the prohibition of illegal gambling busi-
nesses), sections 2314 and 2315 (relating to interstate
transportation of stolen property), sections 2421-24
(relating to white slave traffic), (C) any act which is
eee =
EE eee me
5
indictable under title 29, United States Code, section
186 (dealing with restrictions on payments and loans
to labor organizations) or section 501(c) (relating to
embezzlement from union funds), or (D) any offense
involving bankruptcy fraud, fraud in the sale of se-
curities, or the felonious manufacture, importation,
receiving, concealment, buying, selling, or otherwise
dealing in narcotic or other dangerous drugs, punish-
able under any law of the United States; (Emphasis
supplied)
§ 1962.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person employed
by or associated with any enterprise engaged in, or
the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign
commerce, to conduct or participate, directly or in-
directly, in the conduct of such enterprise’s affairs
through a pattern of racketeering activity or collec-
tion of unlawful debt.
§ 1963. Criminal penalties
(a) Whoever violates any provision of section 1962
of this chapter shall be fined not more than $25,000 or
imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and
shall forfeit to the United States (1) any interest he
has acquired or maintained in violation of section
1962, and (2) any interest in, security of, claim against,
or property or contractual right of any kind affording
u source of influence over, any enterprise which he
has established, operated, controlled, conducted, or
participated in the conduct of, in violation of section
1962.
Rule 7.
(a) Use of Indictment or Information. An offense
which may be punished by death shall be prosecuted by
indictment. An offense which may be punished by im-
prisonment for a term exceeding one year or at hard
labor shall be prosecuted by indictment or, if indict-
6
ment is waived, it may be prosecuted by information.
Any other offense may be prosecuted by indictment
or by information. An information may be filed with-
out leave of court.
Title 29 United States Code:
§ 186.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any employer or asso-
ciation of employers or any person who acts as a labor
relations expert, adviser, or consultant to an employer
or who acts in the interest of an employer to pay,
lend, or deliver, or agree to pay, lend, or deliver, any
money or other thing of value—
(1) to any representative of any of his em-
ployees who are employed in an industry affect-
ing commerce; or
(a) to any labor organization, or any officer
or employee thereof, which represents, seeks to
represent, or would admit to membership, any of
the employees of such employer who are em-
ployed in an industry affecting commerce; or
(3) to any employee or group or committee of
employees of such employer employed in an in-
dustry affecting commerce in excess of their nor-
mal compensation for the purpose of causing
such employee or group or committee directly or
indirectly to influence any other employees in the
exercise of the right to organize and bargain col-
lectively through representatives of their own
choosing; or
(4) to any officer or employee of a labor organi-
zation engaged in an industry affecting commerce
with intent to influence him in respect to any of
his actions, decisions, or duties as a representa-
tive of employees or as such officer or employee
of such labor organization.
oe mm -
7
(b) (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to re-
quest, demand, receive, or accept, or agree to receive
or accept, any payment, loan, or delivery of any money
or other thing of value prohibited by subsection (a)
of this section.
» @ e
(c) The provisions of this section shall not be ap-
plicable (1) in respect to any money or other thing
of value payable by an employer to any of his em-
ployees whose established duties include acting openly
for such employer in matters of labor relations or
personnel administration or to any representative of
his employees, or to any officer or employee of a labor
organization, who is also an employee or former e:n-
ployee of such employer, as compensation for, or by
reason of, his service as an employee of such em-
ployer; (2) with respect to the payment or delivery
(d) Any person who willfully violates any of the
provisions of this section shall, upon conviction there-
of, be guilty of a misdemeanor and be subject to a
fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for
not more than one year, or both.
Statement of The Case
David Kaye was convicted in a bench trial on a seventy-
four count indictment of violation of 28 U.S.C. § 186(b)
(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c). He was sentenced to the
custody of the Attorney General for two years on Count
1 which charged a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c). Peti-
tioner was also sentenced to three years: probation con-
secutive to the two year prison sentence for violation of
29 U.S.C. § 186(b)(1) on Counts 2 through 74. The com-
plained of acts occurred between October 28, 1969, to on
or about June 21, 1974.
The eighty-one page indictment has been analyzed
under the third of our proposed reasons for granting the
writ for which we here pray.
«
Statement of Facts
The Court of Appeals found the pertinent facts sub-
stantially as follows (App. 5-7).
Petitioner was a member of Local 714 of the Machinery,
Scrap Iron Metal and Steel Chauffeurs, Warehousemen,
Handlers, Helpers, Alloy Fabricators, Theatrical, Exposi-
tion, Convention and Trade Show Employees, Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Teamsters (hereinafter referred to
as Local 714). Local 714 was the exclusive bargaining
agent for temporary employees performing material
handling and other work at trade shows, expositions, con-
ventions and similar functions in the Chicago metropoli-
tan area.
Petitioner acted in several capacities for Local 714.
First, he served as part-time business agent for Local
714 since 1971. Petitioner received one hundred dollars
a week for this work.
Petitioner also acted as chief steward for the trade
shows. Service contractors contacted petitioner in his
capacity as chief steward to arrange for labor to perform
tasks in relation to the trade shows and expositions. The
position of chief steward did not receive compensation
from either Local 714 or the service contractor. The posi-
tion of chief steward was in no way connected to Peti-
tioner’s role as part-time business agent.
As chief steward, Petitioner selected union stewards
for the trade shows. Petitioner alone appointed the union
stewards. If the work was to be conducted on one floor,
one union steward would be appointed. If the work was
conducted on separate floors or in different geographical
locations, a union steward would be appointed for each
9
work area. The position of union steward was separate
from chief steward. The union steward was an employee
of the service contractor who was paid at an hourly rate
which was higher than the rest of the work crew. The
duties of the union steward included the following: pro-
tection of the jurisdiction of Local 714, handling payroll
matters, checking crews in in the morning and checking
crews out in the evening, investigating grievances, check-
ing job safety, ensuring that work is done smoothly, and
generally caring for the welfare of the men in the crew.
Testimony by service contractors indicated that the union
steward was expected to be physically at the job site.
Absence from the job site was permitted with the approval
of the employer as where the union steward was handling
union business.
It was proper for petitioner as chief steward to appoint
himself to act as union steward for a particular job. Peti-
tioner’s exercise of the right to appoint himself union
steward led to the charges in this case.
10
Reasons for Granting The Writ
This Court should issue its Writ of Certiorari to the
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
on the following grounds;
1. In enacting the definition statute controlling RICO
offenses (18 U.S.C. § 1961 et seq.), the Congress described
multiple offenses as constituting ‘‘ Racketeering Offenses,’’
when two or more offenses constituted ‘‘any act which is
indictable’’ under twenty-some sections of the federal
criminal proscriptions. Only one such offense is a mis-
demeanor, Title 29 U.S.C. § 186. The decision of the Court
below excepts ‘‘indictable offenses’’ from their accepted
and historical meaning and it violates the policy of lenity.
Title 29 U.S.C. § 186(b) defines a misdemeanor. The
pertinent part of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1962, under which
Count I is brought looks to § 1961(1) for its definitions,
and defining statutes are conclusive. That section defines
‘‘racketeering activity’’ as an ‘‘act which is indictable’’
under various sections, including Section 186. There is
no proscribed activity defined in § 186 that is ‘‘indictable’’
as that term is used, and interpreted, under the Fifth
Amendment, Clause 1.
Black’s Law Dictionary, Revised Fourth Edition, de-
fines the word ‘‘indictable’’ as follows:
‘*Proper or necessary to be prosecuted by process of
indictment. Indictable offenses embrace common iaw
offenses or statutory offenses, the punishment for
which are infamous.’’
An infamous crime is a felony and not a misdemeanor.
In Words and Phrases, Volume IV, the heading ‘‘In-
dictable Offense’’ is found the following:
‘*Under constitution. Article I, Sections 18 to 25 pro-
viding that no person can for an indictable offense be
11
proceeded against criminally by information, except
in certain specific instances, misdemeanors were not
intended to be braced in the words ‘indictable of-
fense’. That phrase included felonies only. State v.
Berlin, 42 Missouri 574; State v. Cowan, 29 Missouri
330.”’
While the prosecutor contended that, at his option, a
misdemeanor could be initiated by indictment, the Trial
Court below recognized the irreconcilability :
‘‘The wording of Section 1961(c) is patently incon-
sistent. The Court concludes that either Congress
made a simple drafting error when it used the word
‘indictable’ or, alternatively, Congress did not intend
to punish any act proscribed by Section 186. Accord-
ing to the notes following Section 1961, it was the in-
tent of Congress that the provisions of the Organized
Crime Control Act of 1970 be liberally construed to
effectuate its remedial purpose. That being so, it is
clear to the Court that, of inclusion of Section 1961(c),.
Congress intended that those activities proscribed by
Section 186 to be punishable under Section 1962 ir-
respective of their designation as misdemeanors or
felonies.’’ (Doc. 15, pp. 2-3)
We submit that, while the Trial Court’s recognition of
patent inconsistency is admirable, generalities of intents
of liberal construction do not reconcile with the basic rule
of strict construction; nor with the prohibition against
striking inconsistent provisions in order to enforce one
or the other. The policy of lenity would require that § 186
be stricken from the statute (Title 18 U.S.C. § 1961) as
the inconsistency, since it is the only non-indictable offense
listed. It would also demand the recognition that the
Congress, in common sense, did not intend to raise a single
misdemeanor offense to felony proportions of the highest
order when two or more of those misdemeanors is charged.
The legacy of a free people would demand that when a
legislature defines such a felony, it take pains and studious
application to speak in unmistakable terms.
12
We submit that the more logical reading is that the
legislature made an error of inclusion. We do not believe
it can be attributed to the Congress that it intended to
make misdemeanors touching on Union affairs more grie-
vous than those touching on business, individual or even
government affairs.
The government contended below that surely the more
reasonable view of the term ‘‘indictable offense’’ is any
offense the prosecution of which may be commenced by
indictment. The fallacy of that contention is that any
offense, even a petty offense, may be commenced by in-
dictment. See Rule 7(a) of the Federal Rule of Criminal
Procedure providing that ‘‘[a]ny other [except felonies]
may be prosecuted by indictment or by information.’’ And
the Court of Appeals followed suit.
This reasoning has two major flaws in the scheme of
federal criminal and statutory law. First, it amends the
statute to strike the word ‘‘indictable’’ from it, contrary
to this court’s many decisions that Courts may not con-
strue away legislative requirements. Montana v. Kennedy,
366 U.S. 308, 314. Equally ‘‘it is for Congress, not this
Court, to rewrite the statute.’’ Blount v. Rizzi, 400 U.S.
410, 419.
Secondly, it gives to the executive prosecutor (through
his election to proceed by information or indictment in
misdemeanor offenses) to regulate whether Title 18 U.S.C.
§ 1962(c) has been violated, insofar as that statute predi-
cates its vitality on multiple misdemeanor offenses. In
other words, to our knowledge, this is the only criminal
1“This court does not find the language in § 1961(1)(c) to be
inconsistent since a misdemeanor as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1(2)
can properly be prosecuted either by way of indictment or informa-
tion. See Fed.R.Crim.Pro. 7(a). Thus, an act committed in viola-
tion of § 186(b)(!) is ‘indictable’ as that word is used in § 1961
(1)(c).” (App. 8)
13
federal statute, which has as a predicate the acts of the
prosecutor, as opposed to the accused. We know of no
precedent for this. But on general tenets of statutory con-
struction, this law must, in these circumstances, fail. It
is the general rule that penal statutes are construed nar-
rowly to insure that no individual is convicted unless ‘‘a
fair warning [has first been] given to the world in lan-
guage the common world will understand, of what the law
intends to do if a certain line is passed.’’ McBoyle v.
United States, 283 U.S. 25, 27. But we understand that
maxim to mean that the perpetrator has passed that
line, and the line is of general application, not one con-
structed at the option of the prosecutor.
We also submit the decision in this case is in plain 2on-
flict with this Court’s decison in United States v. Campos-
Serrano, 404 U.S. 239.7
2“The Court of Appeals held that the limited, merely permissible,
re-entry function of the alien registration receipt card is sufficient
to make it a “document required for entry into the United States”
under § 1546. 430 F.2d, at 175. We cannot agree. It has long been
settled that “penal statutes are to be construed strictly,” Federal
Communications Comm'n v. American Broadcasting Co., 347 U.S.
284, 296, 74 S.Ct. 593, 601, 98 L.Ed. 699, and that one “is not to
be subjected to a penalty unless the words of the statute plainly im-
pose it,” Keppel v. Tiffin Savings Bank, 197 U.S. 356, 362, 25
S.Ct. 443, 445, 49 L.Ed. 790. “|W ]hen choice has to be made he-
tween two readings of what conduct Congress has made a crime, it
is appropriate, before we choose the harsher alternative, to require
that Congress should have spoken in language that is clear and
definite.” United States v. Universal C.I.T. Credit Corp., 344 U.S.
218, 221-222, 73 S.Ct. 227, 229, 97 L.Ed. 260. In § 1546, Congress
did speak in “clear and definite” language. But, taken literally and
given its plain and ordinary meaning, that language does not impose
a criminal penalty for possession of a counterfeited alien registration
receipt card. Alien registration receipt cards may be used for re-
entry by certain persons into the United States. They are not re-
quired for entry.” (404 U.S. at p. 297-8)
14
We submit certiorari should be granted to resolve the
application of this unusual—but far-reaching statute, of
admitted ambiguity operating now to this petitioner’s
prejudice.
2. Assuming arguendo this Court accepts the determi-
nation of the Court of Appeals that a misdemeanor is an
‘‘indictable offense’’ if the prosecutor elects to indict, the
concept that the necessary criminal intent of mere ‘‘reck-
less disregard’’ under the misdemeanor statute (Title 29
U.S.C. § 186(b)) cannot, in consonance with this Court’s
decisions in Dennis v. United States, 341 U.S. 494 and
cases cited therein, continue to be the standard when Title
18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) converts multiple violations of the
§ 186(b) proscription into a felony authorizing twenty-
years of imprisonment. This also raises an Eighth Amend-
ment question adverted to in the dissent in Lambert v.
California, 356 U.S. 225, 231 and this Court’s main deci-
sion in Coker v. Georgia, 97 S.Ct. 2861, 2865.
Though the Court below was alerted to the effect of Title |
18 U.S.C. § 1962(c)’s generating a multiple of misdemeanor
offenses into a felony of the highest order (20 year sanction
provided), the Court nonetheless found a ‘‘reckless disre-
gard’’ standard acceptable to sustain conviction. On such
a minimal standard, your petitioner now stands convicted
a felon, and faces a two-year sentence on the § 1962(c)
count. Restricting itself to the pattern of established cases
in the 7th Cireuit (United States v. Inciso, 292 F.2d 374
and United States v. Keegan, 331 F.2d 257, cert. den. 379
U.S. 828), the Court below concluded that ‘‘the Govern-
ment proved that defendant acted with a reckless disre-
gard for § 186’’ (App. 16-17). It disdained the question
15
of the conversion of multiple misdemeanors into a felony,
and whether more was required.*
The key sentence in the opinicn of the Seventh Circuit is
found on Page 14. It states as follows:
‘*For the following reasons, we believe that the gov-
ernment proved that the defendant acted with reckless
disregard for Section 186.’’
The Court defined reckless conduct in the context of a -
§ 186 violation in United States v. Keegan where the Court
held whether or not the defendant was reckless is subjec-
tive and difficult to prove. Reckless conduct, in this context
consists of two elements: Knowledge of the material facts
surrounding the prescribed conduct and knowledge that
this conduct is likely to be illegal. This ‘‘reckiess conduct’’
3 The government contended below that § 186 is a “grievous mis-
demeanor” because it carries a possible $10,000 fine. We pointed
out that many misdemeanors carry potentially large fines. See e.g.
Title 15 U.S.C. §1, $50,000; §2, $50,000; Title 21 U.S.C. §842(a),
$25,000; Title 26 U.S.C. §7203, $10,000; Title 45 U.S.C. §359(a)
or (b), $10,000; Section 402(c)(2) of the Drug Control Act,
$25,000; Section 1011 of same act, $25,000; Section 11(b) (4) of
the Water Quality Improvement Act. $10,000. More importantly, in
this context, United States v. Ryan, 2 Cir., 232 F.2d 481, on remand
from 350 U.S. 299 was articulate:
“As we have just construed it, it does indeed forbid gifts of
all kinds by employers to ‘representatives’, save as excepted, and
there can be no doubt, if it be so understood, it is altogether
clear. True, it then covers gifts, however trifling and in-
nocuous, but we can see no reason on that account to narrow
its scope. The penalties prescribed make it apparent that they
could not have been meant as sanctions for heinous offenses;
and Congress may well have wished to put a stop to the prac-
tice, even on occasions inconsiderable and harmless in them-
selves, rather than to make verbal distinctions that would be
troublesome in application.” (232 F.2d at 483) (Our emphasis)
16
therefore, is sufficient to convict the defendant Kaye of a
felony calling for imprisonment of 20 years and/or $25,000.
The basic charge under 186(b), Title 29 is of course a mir
demeanor. Stated in a very simple form the decision in
this case permits a defendant to accept wages for more
than one employer for two consecutive work weeks thus
forming a ‘‘pattern of unlawful conduct’’ thus subjecting
him not only to the 20 year felony charge, but also dire
civil consequences including loss of his position. A civil
action has been filed against David Kaye by the United
States in an effort to strip him of his opportunity to re-
main employed because of this conviction.
It should be noted that in the variety of cases noted in
footnote 3, and including this, none is a proscription dic-
tated by Title 18, except insofar as Title 18 U.S.C. §
1962(c) raises the multiple charges under Title 29 U.S.C.
§ 186 to such a status. Those statutes, including § 186,
are regulatory. But the ascendency of § 186, through the
implementation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) raises this
incidence of multiple offenses against the regulatory stat-
ute into a different class, and contrary to this Court’s
direction, no heed was given the shift in class.
‘*A survey of Title 18 of the U.S. Code indicates that
the vast majority of the crimes designated by that
Title require, by express language, proof of the exis-
tence of a certain mental state, in words such as
‘*knowingly,’’ ‘‘maliciously,’’ ‘‘wilfully,” ‘‘with the
purpose of,’’ ‘‘with intent to,’’ or combinations or
permutations of these and synonymous terms. The
existence of a mens rea is the rule of, rather than the
exception to, the principles of Anglo-American crim-
inal jurisprudence. See American Communications
Ass’n v. Douds, 1950, 339 U.S. 382, 411, 70 S.Ct. 674,
690, 94 L.Ed. 925.”’
Dennis v. United States, 341 U.S. 494, 500.
17
The drastic increase in criminal penalties for Anti-Trust
violations under the Sherman Act has caused the Courts
to recognize that a standard of proof theretofore securely
settled must be re-evaluated in order to bring the mens rea
into an atmosphere commensurate with the increased penal-
ties. U.S. v. Nu Phonics, E. Mich. 46 L.W. 2001. The need
for re-evaluation here is more pressing, since the crimes
here evaluated are not tinged, as are Sherman Act viola-
tions, with a general public interest. Significantly in the
Sherman Act violations the allowable penalty has been
increased, of course, to a felony but that allowable penalty
is only tripled, whereas, in this instance for as little as a
double violation the penalty has been increased 20 fold.
Further significantly, in the Sherman Act the allowable
fine or collateral consequence has been only doubled for a
person, whereas, in this case the allowable penalty contem-
plates not only fine but divestiture of the means of making
a livelihood. See 18 U.S.C. § 1964.‘
Mr. Justice Frankfurter speaking for 3 of 4 dissenting
in Lambert v. California, and supporting the view tend-
ing to uphold conviction, nonetheless recognized that the
question involved here would raise several serious Consti-
tutional issues:
‘Then, too, a cruelly disproportionate relation be-
tween what the law requires and the sanction for its
disobedience may constitute a violation of the Eighth
Amendment as a cruel and unusual punishment, and,
in respect to the States, even offend the Due Process
Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.’’
Lambert v. California, 355 U.S. 225, 231.
‘A separate civil action for the purpose of forever barring this
petitioner from being employed in union-related industry except as
a rank-and-file laborer because of this conviction pends.
18
See also this Court’s recent decision in Coker v. Georgia,
97 S.Ct. 2861, 2865.
This significant question—involving the great number
of United States citizens involved in the organized labor
force—should, we submit, compel this Court to issue its
writ.
3. Even though this Court has recognized that Title 29
U.S.C. § 186(b) defined the class to be affected in generic
terms (See United States v. Ryan, 350 U.S. 299, 302), and
the indictment did accordingly descend to specifics in the
73 charges under § 186(b) [and by incorporation into the
Title 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) charge], conviction nonetheless
rests here on any activity within the generic description as
opposed to the specific in direct conflict with this Court’s
rulings in Russell v. United States, 369 U.S. 749, 765 and
Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212.
We think the basis for urging this Court grant certiorari
on this element is most concisely demonstrated by the
record itself. The defendant was charged in 74 counts,
counts 2 through 74 reading precisely the same except for
time and amounts of money (all minor). They read that he
‘‘being a representative of employees employed in an
industry affecting commerce and an employee of a
labor organization, as that term is used in Title 29,
United States Code, Section 186(a)(2), that is, a part-
time Business Agent of Local 714, International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, did unlawfully, willfully
and knowingly accept and receive money... .’’ (Our
emphasis).
The allegations of these counts are included severally or
inclusively in paragraphs 11, 12, 14, 15 through 17 of
Count One (the Title 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) count).
19
So far as this issue herein concerned, it is more lucid
to simply state what the Court of Appeals said:
‘*8.... Defendant appears to argue that the indict-
ment alleges only representative status based upon
his position as part-time business agent of Local 714.
Defendant asserts that ‘‘part-time Business Agent’’
limits ‘‘representatives of employees’’.
‘*We find this argument to be without merit. The
indictment did not define defendant’s status as a rep-
resentative of employees in terms of his position as
part-time business agent.
‘‘The Government contends that defendant was
shown to be both a representative of employees and
an employee of Local 714. The Government asserts
that defendant was shown to be a representative of
employees due to the nature of his role as union stew-
ard. The Government also argues that defendant’s
part-time position as business agent was adequate
proof of his status as an employee of Local 714.
‘‘For the following reasons, we agree with the Gov-
ernment.
‘*First, evidence at trial demonstrated that defendant
was a representative of employees due to his activity
as union steward. The union steward represented the
union in any jurisdictional problem occurring on the
job, investigated grievances, ensured that job condi-
tions were safe, checked in the men in the morning
and checked the men out at night, ensured that union
dues were paid up by checking union cards, and gen-
erally looked out for the welfare of the men. The
record also indicated that service contractors expected
that the union steward would be physically present
at the job site unless excused to perform union duties.
We believe that these activities qualified defendant as
a representative of employees. See United States v.
Ryan, 350 U.S. 299 (1956) ; Brennan v. United States,
20
240 F.2d 253 (8th Cir. 1957), cert. denied, 353 U.S. 931;
Mechanical Cont. Ass’n. of Philadelphia v. Local Union
420, 265 F.2d 607 (3rd Cir. 1959); Korholz v. United
States, 269 F.2¢ 897 (10th Cir. 1959), cert. denied, 361
U.S. 929. We c\so note that defendant on August 17,
1976, was given an opportunity to raise questions con-
cerning proposed findings of fact by the district judge.
Defendant in the district court did not question the
validity of the following finding of fact adopted by the
lower court:
‘*4. That David Kaye acted as a representa-
tive of those employees of Service Contractors
named in the indictment who were members of
Teamster Local 714 in matters of wages, hours
and conditions of employment;
‘*We also find that defendant’s position as part-
time business agent for Local 714 with a weekly salary
of $100.00 supports a finding that defendant was an
employee of a labor organization within the meaning
of § 186(a)(2). ‘‘Section 186 has the clear purpose
of declaring unlawful all payments or valuable gifts
or loans made by an employer to an officer, employee,
or representative of a labor organization which repre-
sents employees working for that employer.’’ United
States v. Fisher, 387 F.2d 165, 169 (2nd Cir. 1967),
cert. denied, 390 U.S. 953.
a * s
‘‘Congress in 1959 foreclosed this argument when
it passed Section 186 to cover ‘‘any officer or em-
ployee” of a labor organization. Fisher, 387 F.2d
at 168.
‘‘Thus although defendant’s position as part-time
business agent did not relate to representation of
employees and did not carry the power to sell out the
union or enter into sweetheart contracts, defendant
was nonetheless an employee covered by § 186. We
again note that defendant did not challenge below the
—- —
— rr
21
district court’s finding of fact that defendant was an
employee of Local 714.
‘*We find to be without merit defendant’s contention
that Fisher requires a showing both that defendant
was acting as a business agent when engaged in illegal
conduct and that defendant was performing officer
duties and functions. The court in Fisher only stated
that even a person not formally an officer could fall
within the broad definition of officer.’’ (App. 12-16)
Thus, it is the decision of the Seventh Circuit that though
your petitioner was charged with violations of § 186(b) (1)
in his ‘‘part-time business agent’’ capacity, he did
not, in fact, accept money in that capacity. He was convict-
ed, on the contrary, of accepting money in his capacity as
union steward on several jobs to which he appointed him-
self in his other capacity as chief steward.°
The Court in United States v. Ryan, 350 U.S. 299, made
it eminently clear that Congress intended the word ‘‘rep-
resentative’’ in § 186(a) to be a comprehensive as opposed
to a restrictive term. In other words, ‘‘representative’’
is a generic term, as was clearly recognized in the Seventh
Cireuit’s own holding in United States v. Donovan, 339 F.
2d 404, 407-8.
We respectfully submit that the elementary principle of
criminal pleading is that where the definition of an offense
employs generic terms, it must descend to particulars, as
5 The Government argued that the exemption under Title 29,
U.S.C. §186(c)(1) was not applicable to this Petitioner on just
this basis:
“First, the Government argues that defendant was not paid
for services rendered as an employee [part-time business agent]
since he was paid for services as a union steward... .” (App.
18)
22
this one did. But the particular must be proved, not any-
thing that is within the ambit of the generic term. Other-
wise, the conviction violates the Sixth Amendment. It
violates this Court’s ruling in Russell v. United States, 369
U.S. 749, 765.
We find it impossible to distinguish the Sixth Amend-
ment violation here from that noticed by this Court in
Stirone v. United States, 361 U.S. 212, 215-219.
We also find it impossible on a common-sense reading of
the indictment to rationalize that ‘‘part-time business
agent’’ modified only that part of the indictment describing
petitioner as an employee of the union local, but does not
modify the term ‘‘representative’’. But, if that reasoning
has validity, then the generic term ‘‘representative’’ has
been used without specification, as proscribed by this
Court’s landmark decisions in United States v. Cruik-
shank, 92 U.S. 542, 558 and United States v. Simmons, 96
U.S. 360, 362.
CONCLUSION
Wherefore, for the above and foregoing reasons, it is
respectfully prayed that this Court issue its Writ of
Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the
Seventh Circuit.
Respectfully submitted,
Epwarp J. CaLrHan, JR.
Anna R, Lavin
Attorneys for the Petitioner —
David P. Kaye
APPENDIX
APPENDIX A
IN THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
No. 76-1814
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff -A ppellee,
DAVID KAYE,
Defendant-A ppellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
No. 74 CR 882—Alfred Y. Kirkland, Judge.
ArGuED Fepsruary 8, 1977—Dectpep May 16, 1977
Before Baver and Woop, Circuit Judges, and SHarp*,
District Judge.
Woon, Circuit Judge. Defendant-appellant David Kaye
(hereinafter referred to as defendant) was convicted
* The Honorable Allen Sharp, United States District Court for
the Northern District of Indiana, is sitting by designation.
App. 2 App. 3
in a bench trial on a seventy-four count indictment § 1962(c).2 Defendant was sentenced to the custody of the
129 U.S.C. § 186 provides in part:
(a) It shall be unlawful for any employer or association of
employers or any person who acts as a labor relations expert,
adviser, or consultant to an employer or who acts in the in-
terest of an employer to pay, lend, or deliver, or agree to pay,
lend, or deliver, any money or other thing of value—
(1) to any representative of any of his employees who
are employed in an industry affecting commerce; or
(2) to any labor organization, or any officer or em-
ployee thereof, which represents, seeks to represent, or
would admit to membership, any of the emplovees of such
employer who are employed in an industry affecting com-
merce ; or
(3) to any employee or group or committee of em-
ployees of such employer employed in an industry affecting
commerce in excess of their normal compensation for the
purpose of causing such employee or group or committee
directly or indirectly to influence any other employees in
the exercise of the right to organize and bargain collective-
ly through representatives of their own choosing ; or
(4) to any officer or employee of a labor organization
engaged in an industry affecting commerce with intent to
influence him in respect to any of his actions, decisions, or
duties as a representative of employees or as such officer
or employee of such labor organization.
(b)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to request, de-
mand, receive, or accept, or agree to receive or accept, any pay-
ment, loan, or delivery of any money or other thing of value
prohibited by subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable
(1) in respect to any money or other thing of value payable
by an employer to any of his employees whose established
duties include acting openly for such employer in matters of
labor relations or personnel administration or to any repre-
sentative of his employees, or to any officer or employee of a
(footnote continued)
a
of violation of 28 U.S.C. § 186(b)(1)* and 18 U.S.C. Attorney General for two years on Count 1 which charged
a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c). Defendant was also
sentenced to three years probation consecutive to the two
year prison sentence for violation of 29 U.S.C. § 186(b) (1)
on Counts 2 through 74. The complained of acts occurred
between October 28, 1969, to on or about June 21, 1974.
(footnote continue?)
labor organization, who is also an employee or former em-
ployee of such employer, as compensation for, or by reason of,
(d) Any person who willfully violates any of the provisions
of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a mis-
demeanor and be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000
or to imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
218 U.S.C. § 1962(c) provides:
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person employed by or
associated with any enterprise engaged in, or the activities of |
which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, to conduct or
participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enter-
prise’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity or col-
lection of unlawful del.’.
18 U.S.C. § 1961 serves as the definitional section for § 1962(c).
The relevant portions of § 1961 are as follows:
As used in this chapter—
(1) “Racketeering activity” means (A) any act or threat
involving murder, kidnaping, gambling, arson, robbery, bribery,
extortion, or dealing in narcotic or other dangerous drugs,
which is chargeable under State law and punishable by im-
prisonment for more than one year; (B) any act which is in-
dictable under any of the following provisions of title 18, United
States Code: Section 201 (relating to bribery), section 224
(relating to sports bribery), Sections 471, 472, and 473 (re-
lating to counterfeiting), section 659 (relating to theft from in-
terstate shipment) if the act indictable under section 659 is
felonious, section 664 (relating to embezzlement from pension
and welfare funds), sections 891-894 (relating to extortionate
(footnote continued)
App. 4
Defendant raises for our consideration the following
questions on appeal: 1) whether 29 U.S.C. § 186(b) (1) is
an ‘‘indictable offense’’ so as to quulify as racketeering
activity within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 1961; 2) wheth-
(footnote continued)
credit transactions), section 1084 (relating to the transmission
of gambling information), section 1341 (relating to mail fraud),
section 1343 (relating to wire fraud), section 1503 (relating to
obstruction of justice), section 1510 (relating to obstruction of
criminal investigations), section 1511 (relating to the obstruc-
tion of State or local law enforcement), section 1951 (relating
to interference with commerce, robbery, or extortion), section
1952 (relating to racketeering), section 1953 (relating to inter-
state transportation of wagering paraphernalia), section 1954
(relating to the prohibition of illegal gambling businesses), sec-
tions 2314 and 2315 (relating to interstate transportation of
stolen property), sections 2421-24 (relating to white slave
traffic), (C) any act which is indictable under title 29, United
States Code, section 186 (dealing with restrictions on payments
and loans to labor organizations) or section 501(c) (relating
to embezzlement from union funds), or (D) any offense in-
volving bankruptcy fraud, fraud in the sale of securities, or the
felonious manufacture, importation, receiving, concealment, buy-
ing, selling, or otherwise dealing in narcotic or other dangerous
drugs, punishable under any law of the United States;
* * *
(4) “enterprise” includes any individual, partnership, cor-
poration, association, or other legal entity, and any union or
group of individuals associated in fact although not a legal
entity ;
(5) “pattern of racketeering activity” requires at least two
acts of racketeering activity, one of which occurred after the
effective date of this chapter and the last of which occurred with-
in ten years (excluding any period of imprisonment) after the
commission of a prior act of racketeering activity ;
x * *
erences cn en aren mg Cite ete enibthte: ote
App. 5
er the Government proved that defendant was involved in
a ‘*pattern of racketeering activity’’ as that term is defined
in 18 U.S.C. § 1961(5); 3) whether defendant acted ‘‘in
the conduct of’’ the union’s affairs when he committed the
acts for which he was convicted; 4) whether defendant
was 4 representative of employees or an employee of Local
714; 5) whether defendant acted with the requisite intent;
and 6) whether defendant’s conduct falls within an excep-
tion pursuant to § 186(c)(1).
For the following reasons, we affirm the lower court’s
decision.
Briefly, the facts are as follows.
Defendant was a member of Local 715 of the Machinery,
Scrap Iron Metal and Steel Chauffeurs, Warehousemen,
Handlers, Helpers, Alloy Fabricators, Theatrical, Exposi-
tion, Convention and Trade Show Employees, Inter-.
national Brotherhood of Teamsters (hereinafter referred
to as Local 714). Local 714 was the exclusive bargaining
agent for temporary employees performing material han-
dling and other work at trade shows, expositions, conven-
tions and similar functions in the Chicago metropolitan
area.
Defendant acted in several capacities for Local 714.
First, defendant served as part-time business agent for
Local 714 since 1971. Defendant received one hundred
dollars a week for this work.
Defendant also acted as chief steward for the trade
shows. Service contractors* contacted defendant in his
8 Service contractors provided labor to exhibitors in Chicago trade
shows and expositions. Each service contractor operated under
a collective bargaining contract with Local 714 which required the
service contractor to obtain temporary employees from Local 714.
App. 6
capacity as chief steward to arrange for labor to perform
tasks in relation to the trade shows and expositions. The
position of chief steward did not receive compensation
from either Local 714 or the service contractor. The posi-
tion of chief steward was in no way connected to defen-
dant’s role as part-time business agent.
As chief steward, defendant selected union stewards for
the trade shows. Defendant alone appointed the union
stewards. If the work was to be conducted on one floor,
one union steward would be appointed. If the work was
conducted on separate floors or in different geographical
locations, a union steward would be appointed for each
work area. The position of union steward was separate
from chief steward. The union steward was an employee
of the service contractor who was paid at an hourly rate
which was higher than the rest of the work crew.‘ The
duties of the union steward included the following: pro-
tection of the jurisdiction of Local 714, handling payroll
matters, checking crews in in the morning and checking
crews out in the evening, investigating grievances, checking
job safety, ensuring that work is done smoothly, and gen-
erally caring for the welfare of the men in the crew. Testi-
mony by service contractors indicated that the union stew-
ard was expected to be physically at the job site. Absence
from the job site was permitted with the approval of the
employer as where the union steward was handling union
business.
It was proper for defendant as chief steward to appoint
himself to act as union steward for a particular job. De-
fendant’s exercise of the right to appoint himself union
*The evidence indicates that the hourly wage received by the
union steward was from $.50 to $1.00 higher per hour than that re-
ceived by the rest of the crew.
WiRerisiein 0 o~
App.7
steward led to the charges in this case. Generally stated,
defendant was charged with accepting money from the
service contractors for services as a union steward when
defendant did not in fact provide such service. More spe-
cifically, defendant was charged in Counts 4 through 11
with placing himself on the payroll of service contractors
as a union steward for trade shows held in Chicago when
defendant was in fact absent from Chicago. In addition,
defendant was also charged with being carried on more
than one payroll as union steward for the same hours on
the same day when the jobs were in different geographic
locations or on more than one floor in a building.
1) Section 186(b)(1) as an ‘‘indictable’’ offense.
Defendant argues that 29 U.S.C. § 186(b)(1) cannot be
the basis for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) since viola-
tion of § 186(b)(1) is a misdemeanor. Section 1962(c)
proscribes one form of racketeering activity. Section 1961
(1)(c) defines racketeering activity as:
any act which is indictable under Title 29, United
States Code, section 186 (dealing with restrictions
on payments and loans to labor organizations) .. .
Defendant argues that misdemeanors were not intended
to be within the scope of the meaning of ‘‘indictable’’.
Thus, defendant contends that the legislature erroneously
included § 186 as a form of racketeering activity and that
§ 186 should be stricken from the statute.
The district court agreed with defendant that the lan-
guage in § 1961(1)(c) is inconsistent but rejected defen-
dant’s contention that § 186 should be stricken from § 1961
(1)(c). The lower court held:
The wording of Section 1961(c) is patently incon-
sistent. The Court concludes that either Congress
App. 8
made a simple drafting error when it used the word
‘‘indictable’’ or, alternatively, Congress did not in-
tend to punish any act proscribed by Section 186.
According to the notes following Section 1961, it was
the intent of Congress that the provisions of the Or-
ganized Crime Control Act of 1970 be liberally con-
strued to effectuate its remedial purpose. That being
so, it is clear to the Court that, by inclusion of Section
1961(c), Congress intended those activities proscribed
by Section 186 to be punishable under Section 1962
irrespective of their designation as misdemeanors or
felonies.
This court does not find the language in § 1961(1)(c) to
be consistent since a misdemeanor as defined in 18 U.S.C.
§ 1(2)* can properly be prosecuted either by way of in-
dictment or information. See Fed.R.Crim.Pro. 7(a).*° Thus,
518 U.S.C. § 1 provides:
Notwithstanding any Act of Congress to the contrary:
(1) Any offense punishable by death or imprisonment for
a term exceeding one year is a felony.
(2) Any other offense is a misdemeanor.
(3) Any misdemeanor, the penalty for which does not ex-
ceed imprisonment for a period of six months or a fine of not
more than $500, or both, is a petty offense.
6 Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 7(a) provides:
(a) Use of Indictment or Information. An offense which
may be punished by death shall be prosecuted by indictment.
An offense which may be punished by imprisonment for a term
exceeding one year or at hard labor shall be prosecuted by in-
dictment or, if indictment is waived, it may be prosecuted by
information. Any other offense may be prosecuted by indict-
ment or by information. An information may be filed without
leave of court.
Apo. 9
an act committed in violation of § 186(b)(1) is ‘‘indict-
able’’ as that word is used in § 1961(1)(c). There is no
basis either in the legislative history of § 1961(1(c) and
§ 186(b)(1) or in the statutory procedure authorizing use
of an indictment for misdemeanor to support defendant’s
assertion that Congress erroneously included § 186 as a
form of racketeering activity.’
2) ‘Pattern of racketeering activity’’.
Defendant was charged with engaging in a ‘‘pattern of
racketeering activity” in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c).
Section 1961(5) defines pattern of racketeering activity:
(5) ‘‘pattern of racketeering activity’’ requires at
least two acts of racketeering activity, one of which
occurred after the effective date of this chapter and
the last of which occurred within ten years (excluding
any period of imprisonment) after the commission of
a prior act of racketeering activity;
Defendant relies on the definition of the term ‘‘pattern’’
found in United States v. White, 386 F.Supp. 882 (E.D.
Wis. 1974), to support his argument that the Government
failed to prove a ‘‘pattern of racketeering activity.’’ The
7 Defendant relied on United States v. Universal C.I.T. Credit
Corporation, 344 U.S. 218, 221-2 (1952), for the proposition that
when a choice has to be made between two readings of a criminal
statute, the broader alternative should not be chosen unless clear
legislative intent supports such a choice. We need not employ that
canon of construction in the present case since the statutory language
which is here under examination is susceptible to “a commonsensical
meaning.” 344 U.S. at 221.
This court also notes that Congress expressly stated that the pro-
visions of 18 U.S.C. 1961 et seq. should be liberally construed to
effectuate its remedial purpose. United States Code Congressional
and Administrative News, 91st Cong., 2nd Sess., P.L. 452 section
904, p. 4036.
App. 10
Government agrees with defendant that United States v.
White, supra, accurately sets forth the necessary relation-
ship for proof of a ‘‘pattern of racketeering activity.’’ The
Government further asserts that defendant was shown to
have engaged in acts which constitute a pattern of racke-
teering activity.
Judge Gordon in United States v. White, 386 F.Supp.
at 883-4, examined the meaning of the term ‘‘pattern’’:
I conclude that the defendant’s position is without
merit. In common usage, the term ‘‘pattern’’ is ap-
plied to a combination of qualities or acts forming a
consistent or characteristic arrangement. Use of the
term ‘‘pattern’’ in connection with two racketeering
acts committed by the same person suggests that the
two must have a greater interrelationship than simply
commission by a common perpetrator. The acts alleged
in count I are part of a particular continuing criminal
activity.
In my judgment, there is implicit in the statutory
definition of ‘‘pattern of racketeering activity’’ a re-
quirement that the government must prove such an
interrelatedness beyond a reasonable doubt in order
to obtain a conviction under § 1962(c). No claim is
made that only organized crime figures commit the
various crimes which are designated at § 1961 as
‘‘racketeering activity.’’ Absent a showing of a
‘‘pnattern’’ or interrelatedness of such activity,
§ 1962(c) could be used against the isolated acts of
an independent criminal; such was not the intended
target of the challenged statute.
See also United States v. Campanale, 518 F.2d 352, 363
n. 32 (9th Cir. 1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1050.
es
App. 11
We find that defendant was shown to have engaged in
continuous and related criminal activity over the four and
one-half year period covered by his indictment.
3) Conduct of Union Officers.
Defendant asserts that if his actions were illegal, he
was acting in the conduct of his own affairs and not in
the conduct of Local 714’s affairs. Defendant points to
argument by counsel for the Government which indicated
that both the service contractors and Local 714 were in-
jured by defendant’s conduct. Defendant contends that he
should have been charged as an ‘‘enterprise’’ in his in-
dividual capacity.
Paragraph 11 of Count one which charged violation of
§ 1962(c) stated in part:
. . . defendant herein, being an employee of and as-
sociated with Local 714, an enterprise engaged in and -
the activities of which affect interstate commerce, un-
lawfully and knowingly conduct and participate, direct-
ly and indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise’s
affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity. .. .
The language in Count one tracks the statutory language
of § 1962(c), which makes it unlawful for any person to
conduct or participate in the conduct of an enterprise’s
affairs through a ‘‘pattern of racketeering activity’’. ‘‘En-
terprise’’ is defined in § 1961(5).
The evidence demonstrated that defendant was conduct-
ing or participating in the affairs of Local 714 when he
committed the acts for which he was charged. Defen-
dant as chief steward conducted Local 714’s affairs in ap-
pointing himself as union steward, and accepting payments
as union steward from union contractors for services which
were not rendered. Thus, defendant’s argument is with-
out merit.
App. 12
4) Representative of employees or an employee of Local
714,
Violation of § 186(b)(1) can be proven in the present
ease if payments were made to any representative of
employees, § 186(a)(1), or to any labor organization, of-
ficer, or employee of a labor organization, § 186(a) (2).
Defendant alleges that the Government failed to prove
that defendant was a representative of employees of
Local 714. First, defendant contends that proof that he
was part-time business agent does not show representa-
tive status since his function as part-time business agent
was in no way connected to his activity as chief steward
or union steward. In addition, defendant also argues that
his role as union steward did not constitute a representa-
tive status since the collective bargaining agreement pro-
vided that the union steward represented employees only
if union representatives are not available.®
The Government contends that defendant was shown to
be both a representative of employees and an employee
of Local 714. The Government asserts that defendant was
8 Counts 2 through 74 of this indictment allege in substantially
the same language as follows:
“being a representative of employees employed in an industry
affecting commerce and an employee of a labor organization, as
that term is used in Title 29, United States Code, Section
186(a)(2), that is, a part-time Business Agent of Local 714,
International Brotherhood of Teamsters, did... .
Defendant appears to argue that the indictment alleges only repre-
sentative status based upon his position as part-time business agent
of Local 714. Defendant asserts that “part-time Business Agent”
limits “representatives of employees”.
We find this argument to be without merit. The indictment did
not define defendant's status as a representative of employees in
terms of his position as part-time business agent.
App. 13
shown to be a representative of employees due to the
nature of his role as union steward. The Government
also argues that defendant’s part-time position as business
agent was adequate proof of his status as an employee of
Local 714.
For the following reasons, we agree with the Govern-
ment.
First, evidence at trial demonstrated that defendant
was a representative of employees due to his activity as
union steward. The union steward represented the union
in any jurisdictional problem occurring on the job, in-
vestigated grievances, ensured that job conditions were
safe, check in the men in the morning and checked the
men out at night, ensured that union dues were paid up
by checking union cards, and generally looked out for
the welfare of the men. The record also indicated that
service contractors expected that the union steward would
be physically present at the job site unless excused to
perform union duties. We believe that these activities
qualified defendant as a representative of employees.’ See
United States v. Ryan, 350 U.S. 299 (1956); Brennan v.
United States, 240 F.2d 253 (8th Cir. 1957), cert. denied,
353 U.S. 931; Mechanical Cont. Ass’n. of Philadelphia v.
Local Union 420, 265 F.2d 607 (8rd Cir. 1959); Korholz
v. United States, 269 F.2d 897 (10th Cir. 1959), cert. denied,
® Although the collective bargaining contract between the service
contractors and Local 714 is not part of the record on appeal, it
appears that section 5 of the collective bargaining contract provided
that the union steward was to be elected by the employees and would
represent employees when union represntatives were not available.
The record indicates, however, that defendant as chief steward chose
union stewards. Nonetheless, the collective bargaining contract re-
flects that the union steward acted as a representative of employees.
App. 14
361 U.S. 929. We also note that defendant on August 17,
1976, was given an opportunity to raise questions concern-
ing proposed findings of fact by the district judge. De-
fendant in the district court did not question the validity
of the following finding of fact adopted by the lower court:
4. That David Kaye acted as a representative of
those employees of Service Contractors named in the
indictment who were members of Teamster Local 714
in matters of wages, hours and conditions of employ-
ment;
We also find that defendant’s position as part-time busi-
ness agent for Local 714 with a weekly salary of $100.00
supports a finding that defendant was an employee of a
labor organization within the meaning of § 186(a) (2). ‘‘Sec-
tion 186 has the clear purpose of declaring unlawful all pay-
ments or valuable gifts or loans made by an employer to an
officer, employee, or representative of a labor organization
which represents employees working for that employer.”’
United States v. Fisher, 387 F.2d 165, 169 (2nd Cir. 1967),
cert. denied, 390 U.S. 953.
In Fisher, supra, the defendant who was an officer of
the union contended that he was not an officer within the
meaning of § 186(b) since he had no power to sell out
the union or enter into sweetheart contracts. The defen-
dant in Fisher asserted also that he did not hear or pre-
sent employee grievances or negotiate on behalf of em-
ployees with the employer. The court in rejeccing this
argument stated:
Congress in 1959 foreclosed this argument when it
passed Section 186 to cover ‘‘any officer or employee’’
of a labor organization. Fisher, 387 F.2d at 168.
Ex...
App. 15
Thus, although defendant’s position as part-time busi-
ness agent did not relate to representation of employees
and did not carry the power to sell out the union or enter
into sweetheart contracts, defendant was nonetheless an
employee covered by § 186.°° We again note that defen-
dant did not challenge below the district court’s finding
of fact that defendant was an employee of Local 714.
We find to be without merit defendant’s contention that
Fisher requires a showing both that defendant was acting
as a business agent when engaged in illegal conduct and
1° Legislative history also supports the proposition that the receipt
of payments by any employee of a union without more constitutes
a violation of § 186:
Section 111: Amends section 302(a), (b), and (c) of the
Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, as amended, primarily
for the purpose of clarifying an ambiguity which presently exists.
Under present law it is illegal for an employer to pay or deliver
anything of value to a representative of his employees. The
amendments contained in this section would remove anv doubt
that all forms of bribery and extortion which might escape the
provisions of existing law would be prohibited under pain of
criminal penalties for conviction thereof. The intent of these
amendments to section 302(a) and (b) is to forbid any payment
or bribe by an employer of anyone who acts in the interest of an
employer whether technically an agent or not and to forbid the
receipt of any such bribe by any person, whether an individual.
an officer or employee of a labor organization or a committee
representing employees. Payment to and receipt of such pay-
mciits by any union officer or employee having the intent of in-
fluencing such officer or employee in respect to any of his actions.
decisions, or duties as a representative of employees or as such
union officer or employee would also be made a criminal offense.
(Emphasis Added)
United States Code Congressional and Administrative News, 86th
Cong., Ist Sess., P.L. 86-257, p. 2360.
App. 16
that defendant was performing officer duties and functions.
The court in Fisher only stated that even a person not
formally an officer could fall within the broad definition of
officer.
5) Willfulness.
The defendant claims that the Government failed to
prove that he acted willfully as is required by § 186(d).
This court in United States v. Incisio, 292 F.2d 374, 380
(7th Cir, 1961), stated:
We hold that the term ‘‘willfully violates’’ in Section
186(d) contemplates proof of an awareness of the.
restrictions of that section or a reckless disregard for
that section.
Defendant asserts that the Government did not prove
either awareness of the restrictions of § 186 or a reckless
disregard for that section.
For the following reasons, we believe that the Govern-
ment proved that defendant acted with a reckless disre-
gard for § 186.
This court further defined reckless conduct in the con-
text of a § 186 violation in United States v. Keegan, 331
F.2d 257, 262 (7th Cir. 1964), cert. denied, 379 U.S. 828.
The court there stated:
Whether or not defendant was reckless is subjec-
tive and difficult of proof. Reckless conduct, in this
context, consists of two elements: knowledge of the
material facts surrounding the proscribed conduct
and knowledge that this conduct is likely to be il-
legal. See Hall, General Principles of Criminal Law
120 (2d ed. 1960).
Pa wow
App. 17
The first element, knowledge of the facts, is to be
determined by the subjective method, i.e., whether
defendant has actual knowledge. The second ele-
ment, while requiring subjective knowledge, may be
proved by the objective method, i.e., whether a reason-
able man would be aware that such conduct would like-
ly be illegal. Hall, op. cit. supra 120, 155, 165.
The court in Keegan in approving an instruction which
gave only the first element of reckless conduct stated:
Instructing the jury as to the first element of
‘‘reckless’’ and withholding from it the second ele-
ment was done in United States v. Alaimno (D.C.M.D.
Pa.), 191 F.Supp. 625 (1961) aff’d 3 Cir., 297 F.2d 604,
cert. denied, 369 U.S. 817, 82 S.Ct. 829, 7 L.Ed.2d 784,
as follows:
‘*A person who is a representative of employees
employed in an industry affecting commerce may
be held to have wilfully violated § 186(b) upon a
showing that he received or accepted money from
the employer of such employee (or from the agent
of such employer) with knowledge (1) that he was
receiving or accepting money, and (2) that the
person who was giving him the money was an
employer of employees (or the agent of such
employer) that he represented.’’ Id. 181 F.Supp.
at 627.
We hold that the jury was properly instructed on
the term ‘‘willfully violates.’’
331 F.2d at 262.
In the present case, we have no doubt that defendant
received money with knowledge that the funds were com-
ing from employers (service contractors) of employees
App. 18
whom he represented. In addition, the second element was
also satisfied since a reasonable man would be aware of
possible illegality in serving on multiple payrolls for the
same time period where the jobs were on different floors or
in different geographical locations or accepting payment
for work while out of town.
6) Exception under § 186(c)(1).
Defendant offers two theories to support his assertion
that he falls within the exception of § 186(c)(1). First,
defendant argues that he acted openly for the service
contractors in ‘‘matters of labor relations or personnel
administration.’’ Defendant also contends that the money
received by him was compensation for employee services.
The Government, on the other hand, contends that
§ 186(c)(1) is not applicable to this case. First, the Gov-
ernment argues that defendant was not paid for services
rendercd as an employee since he was paid for services as
a union steward by multiple employers in separate loca-
tions for the same time periods. Since all of the employers
stated that the union steward’s physical presence was ex-
pected unless permission was given to be absent, the
Government asserts that defendant could not have earned
money received from the service contractors. The Govern-
ment relies on United States v. Motzell, 199 F.Supp. 192
(N.J. 1961), to support its position. In Motzell, the court
considered the propriety of simultaneously working for
multiple employers and concluded that such activity would
not fall within § 186(c)(1):™
It is true that there ave instances where a man can
with all propriety be engaged in two separate employ-
11 The court in Motzell, however, found defendant to be innocent
because he had not acted willfully.
ee a eee Me See ee ee
App. 19
ments at the one and the same time. The practice is,
unfortunately, increasing due to our economy, where
to make ends meet men have more than one employ-
ment. But these secondary employments are so-called
after hour or week-end jobs, not performed at the one
and the same time that the employee is performing
work for the other employer.
It is, likewise, true that in this particular instance
Cherbonnier was working for more than one company
or client. But there is a great difference. Cherbonnier
was being paid by his clients while Motzell, represent-
ing the employee members of the Union, was being
paid by the Company employer.
If this practice (ie., working for two employers)
would be approved as not contravening the statute,
where, along the line would it stop? Some would argue
that one could indulge in such activities for two com-
panies, some would say five, some would say ten. It
is this Court’s opinion that such a practice could and
would constitute a form of extortion by a union upon
a company or companies that the Act is designed to
forbid. The Court, therefore, concludes that the ac-
tions of the defendant, Motzell, as pertains to the sec-
ond count, were proscribed by the Act and we, there-
fore, come to the question of whether such actions were
wilful.
Secondly, the Government also asserts that the defendant
did not act openly for service contractors in matters of
labor relations or personnel administration. The Govern-
ment claims that the evidence showed that union stewards
acted on behalf of the union and employees and not on be-
half of the service contractors.
App. 20
This court agrees with the Government that § 186(c) (1)
cannot properly be invoked in this case, First, as we
have already indicated, the union steward acted on behalf
of Local 714 and employees of the service contractors.
The union steward protected union jurisdiction, investi-
gated grievances, ensured that job conditions were safe,
checked union cards to ensure that dues were paid up, and
generally looked out for the welfare of the men. Thus, al-
though the employer may have benefited from the per-
formance of these functions by the union steward, the
union steward did not act on behalf of the employer in
matters of labor relations or personnel administration. In
addition, we do not believe that the evidence showed that
defendant received compensation by reason of his services
as an employee. On the contrary, the Government properly
pointed out that physical presence was repeatedly referred
to as a requisite to performance of the role as union stew-
ard. We do not find that defendant who was out of town
or was acting as union steward for multiple jobs in sep-
arate locations received ‘‘compensation for, or by reason
of, his service as an employee.’’ *
12 Our conclusion that compensation received by defendant was not
legitimate wages is supported in part by the following legislative
history to § 186 which condemns union employees and representa-
tives who act to further self-interest or personal profit:
For centuries the law has forbidden any person in a position
of trust to hold interests or enter into transactions in which
self-interest may conflict with complete loyalty to those whom
they serve. Such a person may not deal with himself, or ac-
quire adverse interests, or make any personal profit as a result of
his position. The same principle has long been applied to trus-
tees, to agents, and to bank directors. It is equally applicable
to union officers and employees. The ethical practices code of
(footnote continued)
ee .
App. 21
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district
court is hereby affirmed.
A true copy:
Teste:
Clerk of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
(footnote continued)
the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial
Organizations states—
It is too plain for extended discussion that a basic ethical
principle in the conduct of union affairs is that no responsi-
ble trade union official should have a personal financial in-
terest which conflicts with the full performance of his
fiduciary duties as a workers’ representative.
After the McClellan committee hearings no one can dispute
the simple fact that although the vast majority of union officials
are honest and conscientious men, a small number have ignored
this basic standard of conduct. No one would deny that the con-
duct is wrong. The wrongs should not be ignored by the Fed-
eral Government. The national labor policy is founded upon
collective bargaining through strong and vigorous unions. Play-
ing both sides of the street, using union office for personal
financial advantage, undercover deals, and other conflicts of
interest corrupt, and thereby undermine and weaken the labor
movement. The Congress should check the abuses in order to
foster the national labor policy. The Government which vests
in labor unions the power to act as exclusive bargaining repre-
sentative must make sure that the power is used for the benefit
of workers and not for personal profit.
United States Code Congressional and Administrative News, 86th
Cong., Ist Sess., P.L. 86-257, pp. 2330-31.
App. 22
APPENDIX B
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
Chicago, Lllinois 60604
July 8, 1977.
Before
Hon. Witxt1am J. Bauer, Circuit Judge
Hon. Haruincton Woop, Jr., Circuit Judge
Hon. ALLEN SuHarp*, District Judge
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
No. 76-1814 vs,
DAVID KAYE,
Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Lllinois,
Eastern Division.
No. 74 CR 882
Aurrep Y. Kirxuanp, Judge
On consideration of the petition for rehearing and sug-
gestion for rehearing in banc filed in the above-entitled
cause by defendant-appellant, no judge in active service
has requested a vote thereon, and all of the judges on the
original panel have voted to deny a rehearing. Accord-
ingly,
IT IS ORDERED that the aforesaid petition for rehear-
ing be, and the same is hereby, DENIED.
* Honorable Allen Sharp, Judge, United States District Court
for the Northern District of Indiana, is sitting by designation.
ee ee
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