Opposition Brief — Trecker v. Scag

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A | Bis Sun TEI D 13

No. 84-1428 | APR 12 1985

SxANDEr = STEVAS.

In The ——

Supreme Court of the United States

October Term, 1984

=."

THOMAS M. TRECKER,

Petitioner,

DANE T. SCAG, WISCONSIN MARINE, INC.,

and RANSOMES, SIMS AND JEFFERIES, LTD.,

Respondents.

RESPONDENTS’ BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO

THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

—_—, |

Ricwarp 8S. Gisss, Counsel of Record

Cray R. WiLLiaMs

Tuomas R. STrReEIFENDER

Gisss, Roper, Loots & WrLiaMs

735 North Water Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

(414) 273-7010

COCKLE LAW BRIEF PRINTING CO., (800) 835-7427 Ext. 333

BEST AVAILABLE COPY

QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW

1. Did the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Cir-

cuit abuse its discretion in assessing double costs and

reasonable attorneys fees against appellant’s counsel?

2. Where the Wisconsin Court of Appeals expressly

held that under Wisconsin law petitioner’s demand for

stock redemption was irrevocable, and where the Wiscon-

sin Supreme Court declined to review that decision, did

the Federal Appeals Court below properly refuse to re-

consider the same question of Wisconsin law?

PARTIES TO THE PROCEEDINGS

Thomas M. Trecker is the only captioned petitioner,

but it is obvious that the principai party seeking relief

is Attorney Hugh Braun, Trecker’s attorney. Therefore

ls caption as reflected in the Petition is not in compli-

ance with Rule 33.2(a)(4), Supreme Court Rules. Never-

theless, throughout the Respondents’ Brief the respond-

ents will refer to ‘‘Petitioners” in recognition of the real

interests being presented herein.

Pursuant to Rule 28.1, Supreme Court Rules, the

respondents hereby indicate that respondent Wisconsin

Marine, Ine. (now Ransomes, Inc.) is a wholly-owned sub-

sidiary of Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., a British

corporation that has no parent corporation.

ili

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Questions Presented for Review 200000

Parties to the Proceedings —... resend Pr EA il

i he ili

Table of Authorities —......... 0 ESE ADR N Vv

Statutory Provisions Involved WW. ix

Statement of the Case

en I 1

B. Correction of Petitioners’ Distortions and

St A A

NS 8

Argument

I. The Discretionary Power of this Court and

Courts of Appeal to Award Double Costs and

Damages for Frivolous Appeals is Well Estab-

lished, and its Exercise by the Court of Appeals

in this Case was Appropriate and Should not

be Disturbed 11

A. The “ourt’s Discretionary Authority to As-

sess Costs and Fees is Well-Settled 0. 11

B. Petitioners Were Afforded Ample Procedur-

al Due Process But Failed to Take Advan-

tage of Their Opportunities 00 | AB

Il. The Appellate Court’s Conclusion that the Pe-

titioners’ Appeal was Frivolous Was Correct

And Therefore Not An Abuse of Discretion... 19

IIL, The Court of Appeals did not Base its Assess-

ment of Costs and Fees Upon Either 28 U.S.C.

§ 1927 or Rule 11, Federal Rules of Civil Pro-

cedure, and Accordingly, Their Provisions are

not Properly Under Review _....... Sicsdedincenptentioonehs 26

TABLE OF CONTENTS—Continued

Page

IV. This Petition for Writ of Certiorari is Friv-

olous and Therefore Attorney Braun Should Be

Assessed Double Costs and Actual Attorneys’

I Sscecichceeinocintn J scinsitahiseaiagb aes iaacinalalaed” ae

III bscssheteteeseceoua npecaes enn oeten Sener 28

Naat Nees NEA OHEU AEE Oh Re OR AOU MENT NTN A ONG OSDIR sew 29

A. Order of the Court of Appcals for the Sev-

enth Circuit dated July 30, 1982000000. - del

B. Excerpts of Transcript of Proceedings of

June 28, 1978 in the Cireuit Court for Jef-

ferson County, Wisconsin 00... Pate the B-1

C. Excerpt of Brief of Respondents Before the

Court of Appeals for the Seventh Cireuit......... C-1

Reply Brief of Petitioners Before the Court

of Appeals for the Seventh Cireuit 0... D-1

Respondents’ Suggestion to Dismiss Without

GONE IIIS ecletecieccdideccncacameetiaies E-1

Statement by Trecker as to Need for Oral

Fe LARTER A LTTE aD F-1

. Petitioners’ Petition for Rehearing Before

the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Cir-

gpa G-1

. Order of the Court of Appeals for the Sev-

enth Circuit dated January 25, 1985, Award-

ing $3,465.00 in Attorneys’ Fees 0000000... H-1

Excerpt from Wisconsin Court of Appeals

opinion of July 21, 1982, Trecker v. Wiscon-

sin Marine, Inc., No. 81-1949 (July 21, 1982),

NG Te Se WR neiiicteas a aa abeeneeten ccm I-1

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES

Page(s)

Acevedo v. Immigration and Naturalization Service,

Fe ce Cate ee II ic rccmcnecctbeneteestnnicaoionns 12

Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90 (1980) nn eccssssemesceen 23, 24

Alyeska Pipeline Co. v. Wilderness Society, 421

Rene ee hes cncetorsd ene eeicis saakeeane 12

Amory v. Amory, 91 U.S. 356 (1875) 12

Bankers Trust Co. v. Publicker Industries, 641 F.2d

ie 1 ee ee 12

Boag v. MacDougall, 454 U.S. 364 (1982) 28

Board of Education of Rogers, Ark. v. McCluskey,

Se Sel AED Lec cccckcnd ct chaeem onsets 28

Deming v. Carlisle Packing Company, 226 U.S. 102

2 | SEE RN SOT OSS Rete

Der-Rong Chour v. Immigration and Naturalization

Service, 578 F.2d 474 (2d Cir. 1978) ay

Glidden Co. v. Zdanok, 370 U.S. 530 (1962) 2. 19

Good Hope Refineries, Inc. v. Brashear, 588 F.2d

Oe EO rN iets ee > a

Greenho'tz v. Nebraska Penal Inmates, 422 U.S. 1

(1979) 15

Hagerty v. Succession of Clement, 749 F.2d 217

CERT Si I cohcsaccciceetnotcci easiest 13

Hammond Packing Co. v. Arkansas, 212 U.S. 322

fe ReaD ERD Ra METS ae de an SMES Fe. 13

Haring v. Prosise, 462 U.S. 306 (1983) nese sseeeceeeee 24

Hoover v. Ronwin, — U.S. —, 104 8S. Ct. 1989,

80 L.Ed.2d 590 (1984) 19

Hovey v. Elltott, 167 U.S. 409 (1897) cee escseeeseceee 13

Kraemer v. Chemical Construction Corp., 456 U.S.

SE ane enres i entries ArH Arran Ie Ail 24

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES—Continued

Page(s)

Link v. Wabash Railroad Company, 370 U.S. 626

(1962) ...... 14

Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319 (1976) 15

Montana v. United States, 440 U.S. 147 (1979) .....23, 24, 26

Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471 (1972) cco 15

Parklane Hosiery Compuny v. Shore, 439 U.S. 322

I ri SetebiBisncissc wssaicas darecccatencinotecsaieae inde omaeeae: uae 23

Reckner v. Reckner, 105 Wis. 2d 425, 314 N.W.2d

Ree MAUI MIDI ob cca cin Sian ara a 24

Reid v. United States, 715 F.2d 1148 (7th Cir. 1983)... 13

Roadway Express, Inc. v. Piper, 447 U.S. 752 (1980)... 12

Singleton v. Wulff, 428 U.S. 106 (1976) eee 18

Societe Internationale v. Rogers, 357 U.S. 197 (1958)... 13

Southern Pacific R. Co. v. United States, 168 U.S. 1

(1897) Patios Dee ree 23

State ex rel Flowers v. DH&SS, 81 Wis. 2d 376,

Se ee: CD CUI i re 24

Tatum v. Regents of U. of Nebraska, — U.S. —,

Be A MII A MINI ss cninccscaccgeisnsirsenbecescsotepiirscscna ctmselesssiniasbien 26

Texas & Pacific R.R. Company v. Volk, 151 U.S.

IID sisi Sachiscasancinsoaniahsebbedonselaiceieala geile aaa REMI 27

TIF Industries, Inc. v. Colette, 713 F.2d 197 (6th Cir.

mea eee RI. cola 12

Trecker v. Scag, 747 F.2d 1176 (7th Cir. 1984) 5, 14, 24,

25, 28

Trecker v. Scag, 679 F.2d 703 (7th Cir. 1979)........... 1, 2, 3, 7,

21, 28

Trecker v. Scag, 569 F. Supp. 744 (E.D. Wis. 1983).....5, 23

vii

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES—Continued

Page(s)

Trecker v. Scag, 514 F. Supp. 364 (E.D. Wis. 1981)... 3,7

Trecker v. Scag, 500 F. Supp. 752 (E.D. Wis. 1980)... 2,7

Trecker v. Scag, 481 F. Supp. 861 (E.D. Wis. 1979)...... 2

Trecker v. Scag, 108 Wis. 2d 779 (Ct. App. 1982)........... 4

United States v. Nesglo, Inc., 744 F.2d 887 (1st Cir.

1984) 13

United States v. Potamkin Cadtilac Corp., 697 F.2d

491 (2d Cir. 1983), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 103

A. RRR cai tree a eae TR it oP Oe eee COE oO ae

Walker v. Dreville, T9 U.S. 440 (V871) ccc OT

West Wisconsin onsiatted Company v. bate 94 USS.

Youackim v. Miller, 425 U.S. 231 1 (086) EL LCE 18

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, STATUTES AND RULES

ee Ce a as abe Mili Pe ET 24

6 UAC. We ae aa a a seen 11

Tr ei ry I iste ciccsanteain ce resiic eee bas deveaeaenenennans 11, 15, 26

Cnn sl I ani ce 12, 13, 14, 15, 26

RS TR oe eel 24

Antitrust Improvements Act of 1980, Pub.L. 96-

a: SRE Ruma sete OBL ho) K SET AOD 12

Judiciary Act of 1978, Ch. 20, § 23, 1 Stat. 85 (1789)...... 11

R.S. § 1010 12

Rule 49.2, Rules of the Supreme Court of the

I a so ceeguleamadnonesia 26

Rule 17, Rules of the Supreme Court of the

ES ARS RAT iene Teer er ae Er ee CITI 27

Vill

TABLE OF AUTHORITIES—Continued

Page(s)

Rule 28, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure _...... 16

Rule 31, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure ......... 16

Rule 38, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure......5, 10, 11,

15, 26

Rule 1, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26

Rule 11, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ........... 26

Rule 37, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ................ 13, 14 !

OTHER AUTHORITIES

9 Moore’s Federal Practice, J 238.01 0 cece 1]

13 Moore’s Federal Practice, ¥ 849.03 coco 11, 26

16 Wright, Miller & Gressman, Federal Practice

and Procedure, § 3984 ccc ae NOW tele bet hare AAI 1]

EE ES RT

STATUTORY PROVISIONS INVOLVED

28 U.S.C. § 1912

§ 1912. Damages and Costs on Affirmance.

Where judgment is affirmed by the Supreme Court

or a court of appeals, the court in its discretion may ad-

judge to the prevailing party just damages for his delay,

and single or double costs.

Rule 38, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Damages for Delay

If a court of appeals shall determine that an appeal

is frivolous, it may award just damages and single or

double costs to the appellee.

98 U.S.C. § 1738

§1738 State and Territorial statutes and judicial pro-

eeedings; full faith and credit

The Acts of the legislature of any State, Territory,

or Possession of the United States, or copies thereof, shall

be authenticated by affixing the seal of such State, Ter-

ritory or Possession thereto.

The reeords and judicial proceedings of any court of

anv such State, Territory or Possession, or copies thereof,

shall be proved or admitted in other courts within the

United States and its Territories and Possessions by the

attestation of the clerk and seal cf the court annexed, if

a seal exists, together with a certificate of a judge of the

court that the said attestation is in proper form.

Such Acts, reeords and judicial proceedings or copies

thereof, so authenticated, shall have the same full faith

and eredit in every court within the United States and its

Territories and Possessions as they have by law or usage

in the courts of such State, Territory or Possession from

which they are taken.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

A. Factual Background

Petitioner Thomas M. Trecker and respondent Dane

T. Seag were 40% and 60% stockholders, respectively, in

respondent Wisconsin Marine, Inc. (“WMI”). Pursuant

to a stock purchase agreement between Trecker, Scag and

WMI, Trecker demanded redemption of his WMI stock

in December, 1973. No action was taken on the demand

until December of 1976, when it was formally rejected.

Trecker commenced a specific performance action against

WMI in state court in December, 1976, to compel per-

formance of the agreement for the redemption of his

stock. After a two-day trial the state court held the

agreement enforceable, and judgment was entered in May,

1978, compelling WMI to redeem Trecker’s then 34%! in-

terest for approximately $166,000 over a period of 18

months. Shortly after the entry of that judgment, WMI

sought leave of the state court to permit prepayment of

that judgment to permit Seag to enter an agreement with

a British firm, the respondent, Ransomes, Sims & Jef-

feries, Ltd. (“Ransomes”) for subscription to a 34% in-

terest in Wisconsin Marine, Inc. After a hearing, the

trial court allowed that prepayment.’

Although he was the prevailing party in his action

for specific performance of the stock redemption agree-

‘Capital contributions by Scag after December of 1973

reduced Trecker’s interest to 34.2%. Trecker v. Scag, 679 F.2d

703, 704 (7th Cir. 1979).

?Trecker's petition is heavily laced with aspersions and

base accusations of fraud and misrepresentation by the re-

Fig soo in the state court grotiediags, and particularly at

is hearing. This inexcusable attempt to place the respondents

in a bad light is discussed at length at pp. 7-9, infra.

ment, Trecker appealed the state trial court’s judgment in

his favor because he disputed the court’s choice of the date

of valuation of Trecker’s stock for purposes of applying

the terms of the redemption agreement. The Wisconsin

Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s choice of val-

uation date as an appropriate exercise of the court’s dis-

cretion. Trecker v. Scag, No. 78-016 (Nov. 27, 1979) (Slip

Op.). Trecker’s petition to the Wisconsin Supreme Court

for review of that decision was denied. Trecker v. Wis-

consin Marine Inc., 95 Wis. 2d 745, 293 N.W.2d 925 (1980)

(table).

In August, 1979, Trecker commenced a securities

fraud action in the United States District Court for the

Eastern District of Wisconsin alleging that the 34% in-

terest in WMI was sold to Ransomes for a price substan-

tially in excess of the amount for which Trecker’s stock

had been redeemed, and that Scag’s and WMI’s alleged

failure to disclose the fact of the negotiations or the de-

tails thereof violated federal securities laws. The district

court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss Treck-

er’s claims, insofar as they sought to ‘» »ose liability for

any alleged misrepresentations at the June 28, 1979 hear-

ing, reasoning that “even if the defendants were guilty

of an intentional misrepresentation as to the price Ran-

somes had agreed to pay for the WMI stock, the misrep-

resentation could not have caused the plaintiff’s alleged

damages.” Trecker v. Scag, 481 F.Supp. 861, 865 (E.D.

Wis. 1979)2 It then granted summary judgment dismiss-

ing Trecker’s action on the ground that it was barred hy

the applicable statute of limitations. Trecker v. Scag, 500

5Trecker did not appeal this ruling. See Trecker v. Scag,

679 F.2d 703, 704 (7th Cir. 1982).

F. Supp. 752 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Finally, it denied Trecker’s

motion for reconsideration of the summary judgment of

dismissal, rejecting Trecker’s fraudulent concealment ar-

guments and adding as a further basis for summary judg-

ment that because all of Trecker’s efforts to enforce his

rights under the contract requiring the redemption of his

stock took place before the respondents opened negotia-

tions, those negotiations could not have been material to

Trecker’s investment decision. Trecker v. Scag, 514 F.

Supp. 364 (E.D. Wis. 1981). Trecker appealed to the Unit-

ed States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Cireuit, which

reversed and vacated the district court’s rulings and re-

turned the case for a determination of whether, under

Wisconsin law, Trecker’s demand for redemption was ir-

revocable because, if it was, then the alleged fraud of the

defendants, which was alleged to have taken place after

Trecker’s redemption demand, could not be material with-

in the meaning of 4 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange

Act of 1934. Trecker v. Scag, 679 F.2d 703 (7th Cir. 1982).

In early 1980, while Trecker’s federal securities fraud

action was pending, Trecker moved to reopen the state

court proceeding on the ground that the defendants per-

petrated a fraud on the state court at the June 28, 1978,

hearing. The trial court denied Trecker’s motion, and

Trecker again took an appeal to the Wisconsin Court of

Appeals. On July 21, 1982, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals

affirmed the trial court’s refusal to reopen, holding that

the defendants’ sale of an interest in WMI to Ransomes

at a price exceeding the redemption price for Trecker’s

stock could not have affected Trecker’s decision to de-

mand redemption, and therefore could not constitute fraud,

heeatise Trecker’s “decision [to demand redemption] was

irrevocable.” Trecker v. Scag, No. 81-1949 (Ct. App. July

21, 1982), Slip Op. at 9.

Because of that decision by the Wisconsin Court of

Appeals expressly addressing the issue of irrevocability,

the defendants sought further reconsideration* of the sev-

enth circuit’s decision reversing the district court on the

issue of irrevocability. Although reconsideration was de-

nied, the seventh cireuit, on July 30, 1982, included the

following language in its order of denial:

Defendants now have the information we said

they lacked and should put before Judge Gordon, see

pages 13-14 of our June 3 slip opinion. When they do

so, we are confident that Judge Gordon will take ap-

propriate action unless the Supreme Court of Wis-

consin should disagree with the Wisconsin Court of

Appeals opinion.

Order dated July 30, 1982. [Appendix A] Trecker peti-

tioned the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review the Wis-

econsin Court of Appeals decision regarding irrevocabil-

ity, and review was denied. Trecker v. Wisconsin Marie

Inc., 108 Wis. 2d 790, 324 N.W.2d 778 (1982) (table).

Thereafter, based upon the Wisconsin Court of Appeals’

determination of the issue of irrevocability, and following

the implicit direction of the seventh circuit, the district

court again granted summary judgment dismissing the

plaintiff’s securities fraud action on the ground that, be-

cause the Wisconsin Court of Appeals had determined

that Trecker’s demand for redemption was irrevocable as

‘The respondents had petitioned for rehearing and rehear-

ing en banc after the seventh circuit’s reversal of Judge Gor-

don’s rulings, which petitions had been denied the day before

the Wisconsin Court of Appeals issued its decision on irrevoc-

ability. Therefore the respondents sought reconsideration of

the seventh circuit's denial of their petition for rehearing.

on rn: oe mare =~

of December of 1973, which was prior to WMI’s negotia-

tions with Ransomes, Trecker could not establish the ele-

ment of materiality required for a successful 10b-5 ac-

tion. Trecker v. Scag, 569 F. Supp. 844 (E.D. Wis. 1983).

Once again Trecker appealed to the Court of Appeals

for the Seventh Cireuit, arguing that the Wisconsin Court

of Appeals’ determination of the issue of irrevocability

did not foreclose the federal court’s re-examination of that

issue of state law. The seventh circuit on November 6.

1984, affirmed the district court’s dismissal of the action,

holding that the second Wisconsin Court of Appeals’ de-

cision had squarely resolved the outstanding dispositive

issue that had prompted the seventh circuit’s prior rever-

sal of the district court’s orders dismissing the action and

that federal courts were not free to re-examine questions

of state law fully and fairly litigated in state courts.

Trecker v. Scag, 747 F.2d 1176, 1179 (7th Cir. 1984). Based

upon what the court perceived as an appeal that had no

reasonable expectation of suecess, it coneluded that the

appeal was frivolous and assessed double costs and rea-

sonable attorneys’ fees against appellant’s counsel pur-

suant to its authority under Rule 38, Federal Rules of

Appellate Procedure. 747 F.2d at 1180. Trecker’s peti-

tion for rehearing, limited only to the issue of the assess-

ment of costs and attorneys’ fees, was denied on Deceni-

ber 7, 1984, and double costs of $220 and attorneys’ fees

of $3,465 against Attorney Braun personally were added

to the judgment.

B. Correction of Petitioners’ Distortions and Misstate-

ments.

Trecker’s and Braun’s petition makes repeated accu-

sations of fraud and misrepresentation by the respond-

ents in the state court proceedings in an obvious effort

to cast the respondents in a bad light. See, e.g., Petition

at 4 (“It was represented at that hearing that Trecker’s

34% interest in the company was being sold to Ransomes

for $124,176.00... .”);5 (“... Seag deliberately misrep-

resented that Trecker’s stock was to be sold to Ransomes

for $124,176.00 while in fact the agreement then in pos-

session of Seag and his counsel provided in {1 that the

stock was to be sold for $624,176.00”); 11 (“Trecker has

been victimized by an outrageous fraud... involving at

least a half million dollars.”); 12 (“After Trecker learned

of the fraud of Scag in misrepresenting the value at which

his interest in the company was sold to Ransomes... .”).

These unfounded accusations all arise from the June 28,

1978, hearing before the Jefferson County Circuit Court

on the motion of respondent WMI to accelerate payment

of the judgment previously rendered in favor of Trecker

in his state court action. That hearing before Judge Ger-

gen was lengthy and dealt almost exclusively with the ne-

gotiations between WMI and Ransomes and the terms of

their agreement.

The respondents have maintained consistently through-

out all of these proceedings that the agreement between

WMI and Ransomes contemplated that Ransomes would

contribute $124,176 (the book value of Trecker’s shares

as of December, 1973) toward the cost of redeeming Treck-

er’s shares, with Seag required to pay an additional

$40,000 to equal the ceurt-ordered redemption amount.

Ransomes was also to make a $300,000 capital contribu-

tion refundable if it chose later not to exercise its option

for the purchase of the remaining shares in the company.

The actual terms of the agreement between respondents

Ransomes and Wisconsin Marine, Inc. were articulated by

the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit as follows:

(1) Trecker’s stock must be fully redeemed as

@ pre-condition. (2) Ransomes would pay $124,176

toward the expenses of the redemption and make a

$500,000 contribution to WMI capital; it would re-

ceive shares equalling a 34.1% interest in WMI, and

no additional shares would be issued to dilute its in-

terest. (3) By September 1979 Ransomes would ei-

ther exercise an option to acquire the balance of

WMI’s shares or cancel the deal and have its entire

$624,176 refunded. (4) Scag would remain as presi-

dent of WMI for five years.

679 F.2d at 705.

Nothing in the June 28, 1978, hearing was to be

contrary. The proceedings at the June 28, 1978, hearing

have been examined by several courts in this litigation

and relevant excerpts of the transcript have been quoted

in several court opinions. See Trecker v. Wisconsin Ma-

rime, Inc., No. 81-1949 (July 21, 1982) Slip Op. at 6;

Trecker v. Scag, 500 F. Supp. 752, 755 (E.D. Wis. 1980);

Trecker v. Scag, 514 F. Supp. 364, 366 (E.D. Wis. 1981);

Trecker v. Scag, 679 F.2d 703, 707-08 (7th Cir. 1982).

An examination of Mr. Koch’s {[Seag’s attorney] remarks

at that hearing indicate that he repeatedly stressed the

fact that Ransomes was to pay $124,176 toward the cost

of redeeming Trecker’s stock, that Seag was personally

to pay the remaining approximately $40,000 to equal the

court-ordered redemption price, and that Ransomes was

also to make a $500,000 capital contribution refundable

if it later elected not to acquire the remainder of WMI.

[See Appendix B]. Mr. Braun’s comments at that hear-

ing indicate that he, too, was clearly aware of the nature

of the transaction and the sums of money involved. [See

Appendix B at 3]. Moreover, no court in these proceed-

ings has concluded that the respondents have perpetrated

any fraud at all. In fact, the very essence of the determina-

tion of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals on June 21, 1982,

and later of the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

when it virtually directed Judge Gordon to enter sum-

mary judgment in Treckcr’s 10b-5 action, is that there

was no fraud because the respondents’ negotiations did

not and could not have affected Trecker’s decision to seek

redemption of his stock. Accordingly, the petitioners’

accusations’ of fraud are irrelevant and improper and

should be disregarded as an obvious attempt to color

these proceedings.

ray

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT

Thomas M. Trecker appears as the sole named peti-

tioner in the caption of this matter, but it is clear that

the primary impetus for seeking a writ of certiorari comes

from petitioner’s counsel, who is protesting the assessment

of $3,685 of costs and attorneys’ fees. Only tangentially

does the petitioner challenge the merits of the court of

appeals’ affirmance of the district court, suggesting that

the decision must be reviewed in order to evaluate the ap-

propriateness of the court of appeals’ imposition of sanc-

tions.

SAnother example of the petitioners’ efforts to misstate

and distort the facts appears at p. 12 of their petition: “

Judge John B. Danforth denied the motion to reopen on the

ground that the fraud occurred after redemption . . .”” No-

where in his decision and opinion denying Trecker’s motion

to > did Judge Danforth state that any fraud had oc-

curred.

Federal courts have long been empowered to impose

sanctions in cases where appeals are taken for purposes

of delay. This court often, indeed routinely, made use of

that sanction and expressly acknowledged that it would

do so without hesitation. Courts of appeal have occa-

sionally deemed it appropriate to assess such damages

directly against an attorney, and occasionally jointly

against the attorney and the unsuccessful appellant.

The Seventh Cireuit Court of Appeal’s assessment

of counsel’s fees against Attorney Braun did not consti-

tute a denial of due process, contrary to Mr. Braun’s

assertion. Due proce ss is a flexible concept which calls

for varying procedural protections depending upon the

circumstances. In the present case the respondents’ de-

mand seeking costs and fees for a frivolous appeal were

clearly announced in the respondents’ principal brief be-

fore the court of appeals, and yet the petitioner and his

counsel chose not to address the issue in their reply brief.

Trecker and his counsel sought rehearing limited only

to this very issue, and even prepared a brief on this issue

to the court of appeals which contained, among other

things, an affidavit of Mr. Braun disclaiming any im-

proper motive for pursuing the appeal, but again they

failed to raise their constitutional concerns. Furthermore,

a practicing attorney and member of the bar of the court

of appeals should he charged with familiarity with the

rules of practice before that court and the applicable fed-

eral statutes gov;-rning the imposition of costs and dam-

ages, and should need less in the way of procedural pro-

tection than a non-attorney litigant. Counsel for the pe-

titioner received the procedural protections he was due.

Nor did the court of appeals err regarding the pre-

elusive effect of the second Wisconsin Court of Appeals’

decision on the irrevocability of Trecker’s stock redemp-

tion demand under Wisconsin law. The irrevocability

issue was fully litigated, having been considered twice by

the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, the second time as a

determination necessary to its holding in the case. The

Court of Appeals for the Seventh Cireuit virtually di-

rected the district court to grant summary judgment dis-

missing the action based upon the collateral estoppel ef-

fect to be given the Wisconsin Court of Appeals’ decision,

and having so guided the district court, it thereafter prop-

erly concluded that Trecker’s appeal to that same court

had no reasonable likelihood of success. Based upon

that objective assessment, it properly invoked its author-

ity under Rule 38, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure,

to assess double costs and counsel’s fees against Mr.

Braun.

This petition has even less merit than the petitioners’

appeal to the circuit court below. Havirg failed to show

the existence of any of the criteria generally applied by

this Court for granting such petitions, the petitioners

should be assessed double costs and attorney fees for yet

another frivolous appeal.

fo)

ARGUMENT

I. The Discretionary Power Of This Court And

Courts Of Appeal To Award Double Costs And

Damages For Frivolous Appeals Is Well Estab-

lished, And Its Exercise By The Court Of Ap-

peals In This Case Was Appropriate And Should

Not Be Disturbed.

A. The Court’s Discretionary Authority to As-

sess Costs and Fees is Well-settled.

The power of this Court and the courts of appeal

to assess damaves for delay in an appropriate case finds

its eencsis in the first session of Congress in 1789:

and whereupon such writ of error the Supreme or

a Cireuit court shall affirm a judgment or decree,

they shall adjudge or decree to the respondent in

error just damages for his delay, and single or double

costs at their discretion.

Judiciary Act of 1978, Ch. 20, § 23, 1 Stat. 85 (1789).

The subsequent history of that statute, and its incorpora-

tion into the rules governing practice before this Court,

was outlined in detail in West Viisconsin Railway Com-

pany v. Foley, 94 U.S. 100 (1877), in which the Court de-

cided that Supreme Court Rule 25 then in effect gave

the Court discretion to award an amount less than, but

not gr.ater than, the mandated 10% damages for delay.

94 U.S. at 103-104. This statutory authorization was

codified subsequently as R.S. § 1010; later as 28 U.S.C.

§ 878, and now, 28 U.S.C. $1912. This power is also rec-

ognized in Rule 49.2 of the Rules of Practice before this

Court, and in Rule 38, Federal Rules of Appellate Pro-

eedure. See 9 Moore's Federa! Practice, § 238.01 et seq.

and 13 Moore’s Federal! Practic ., © 849.03; 16 Wright, Mil-

ler, Cooper & Gressman, Federal Practice and Procedure,

§ 3984. Over the years this Court has frequently used

its power to assess damages in cases of frivolous appeals.

In Amory v. Amory, 91 U.S. 356, 357 (1875), the Court,

discussing R.S. § 1010, observed that

This gives us the only power we have to prevent

frivolous appeals, and writs of error; and we deem

it not improper to say that this power will be exer-

cised without hesitation in all cases where we find

that our jurisdiction has been invoked merely to gain

time.

See also Deming v. Carlisle Packag ng Company, 226 U.S.

102 (1912).

In addition to these statutory bases for an award

of costs or fees, this Court has recognized the “inherent

power” of courts to assess attorneys fees and costs in

situations where litigation is pursued in bad faith. Aly-

eska Pipel ne Co. v. Wildnerness Society, 421 U.S. 240,

258-259 (1975). Recently this Court affirmed that this

inherent power also extends to the assessment of costs

and attorneys fees against counsel who willfully abuse

the judicial process. Roadway Express, Inc. v. Piper,

447 U.S. 752, 764-67 (1980). Since Roadway was decided,

Congress amended 28 U.S.C. § 1927 to create a statutery

basis for such awards against attorneys. Antitrust Im-

provements Act of 1980, Pub... 64-349, § 3, 94 Stat. 1156.

Drawing on this wel!-settled and multi-based power, courts

of appeal have frequently assessed costs and attorneys

fees against offending counsel. See Acevedo v. Immigra-

tion and Naturalization Service, 538 F.2d 918 (2d Cir.

1976); Der-Rong Chour v. Immigration and Naturaliza-

tion Service, 578 F.2d 464 (2d Cir. 1978); Good Hope Re-

fineries, Inc. v. Brashear, 588 F.2d 846 (1st Cir. 1978);

Bankers Trust Co. v. Publicker Industries, 641 F.2d 1361

(2d Cir. 1981); United States v. Potamkin Cadillac Corp.,

697 F.2d 491 (2d Cir. 1983); TIF Instruments, Inc. v.

Colette, 713 F.2d 197 (6th Cir. 1983) (inherent authority) ;

Reid v. United States, 715 F.2d 1148 (7th Cir. 1983);

United States v. Nesg'o, Inc., 744 F.2d 887 (1st Cir. 1984);

Hagerty v. Succession of Clement, 749 F.2d 217 (5th Cir.

1984).

B. Petitioners were Afforded Ample Procedural

Due Process But Failed to Take Advantage

of Their Opportunities.

The petition... contend that before the court of

appeals could assess double costs and attorneys fees

against Attorney Braun for pursuing a frivolous appeal

in that court, it was required to grant an evidentiary

\ hearing. Such a cumbersome procedure is not required

by the Fifth Amendment nor by the Court’s recent ruling

in Roadway Express, supra. In Roadw 7 the district

court dismissed a civil rights class action and assessed

costs and attorneys fees for the entire lawsuit against

the plaintiffs’ counsel on a motion for sanctions under

Rule 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This

Court determined that the “costs” awardable under 2s

U.S.C. § 1927 did not include attorneys fees, and therefore

‘The petitioners also cite, but do not discuss, Hovey v.

Elliott, 167 U.S. 409 (1897). Hovey involved a tria! court's strik-

ing a defendant’s answer and entering a decree pro confesso

because the defendant disobeyed a prior court order. This

court held that this sort of punishment was beyond the scope

« of the trial court’s authority. The Hovey holding was modified

significantly in Hammond Packing Co. v. Arkansas, 212 U.S.

322 (1909), in which this Court rejected a due process challenge

to the same conduct by a trial court, holding that the trial court

utilized a permissible presusvigtion that the defendant’s failure

to comply with a pretrial order evidenced the defense’s lack of

merit. Id. at 381. See Societe Internationale v. Rogers, 357

U.S. 197, 206 (1958). Hovey is plainly inapposite, in that the

sanction imposed there was held beyond a trial court’s author-

ity, whereas here the sanction imposed by an apnellate court

was based upon well established statutory and inherent au-

thority endorsed and recognized by this Court and, as in Har-

mond Packing, arose from the lack of merit of the sanctioned

party’s position.

the district court’s reliance on that scetion was improper,

but that such an award was proper pursuant to Rule

37(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Proce lure and also

the trial court’s inherent power, although such a sanction

as attorneys feos should not be assessed ‘‘without fair

notice and an opportunity for hearing on the record.”

447 US. at 767.’

Counsel’s improper conduct in Roadway Express oe-

curred at the trial court level, and therefore the sanctions

were imposed at that level, whereas the sanctions against

Mr. Braun in this case were assessed in an appellate court

upon its conclusion that counsel abused the appellate

process. Trecker v. Scag, 747 ¥.2d 1176, 1179-80 (7th Cir.

1984). Unlike the authority of the district court in

Roadway, the appellate court in this ease drew upon long-

recognized authority to assess damages in frivolous ap-

peals. These distinctions bear significantly upon the pro-

cedura! due process warranted in this case.

In Link v. Wabash Railroad Company, 370 US. 626

(1962), this court affirmed a district court’s dismissal of

a civil case with prejudice for failure to prosecute after

plaintiffs’ counsel failed to appear at a scheduled pretrial

conference, The petitioner's argument therein that the

district court’s dismissal without a preliminary adversary

hearing violated notions of due process was rejected:

The adequacy of notice and hearing respecting pro-

ceedings that may affect a party's rights turn, to a

considerable extent, on the knowledge on which the

circumstances show such party may be taken to have

Following the Court’s lead, the joint Conference Report

on P.L. 96-349, the Anti-Trust Improvements Act which amend-

ed 28 U.S.C. § 1927, indicated that sanctions under amended

§ 1927 should be accompanied by “appropriate” due process

safeguards. 1980 U.S. Cong. Code & Ad. News 2783.

of the consequences of his own conduct. The ecireumn-

stances here were such as to dispense with the neces-

sity for advanced notice and hearing.

370 U.S. at 632 [Emphasis supplied]. This Court has

frequently recognized that due process is a flexible econ-

cept which calls for variable procedural protections as

are warranted by a particular situation. Greenholtz v.

Nebraska Penal Inmates, 442 U.S. 1, 12 (1979); Morrissey

v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 481 (1972). In Mathews v. El-

dridge, 424 U.S. 319, 335 (1976), the Court stated that

The function of legal process, as that concept is em-

bodied in the Constitution, and in the realm of fact

finding, is to minimize the risk of erroneous decisions.

Because of the broad spectrum of concerns to whieh

the term must apply, flexibility is necessary to gear

the process to the particular need; the quantum and

quality of the process due in a particular situation

depend upon the need to serve the purpose of mini-

mizing the risk of error.

The petitioner seeking relief in this case is Mr. Braun,

a licensed practicing attorney admitted to practice before

the Bar of the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Cireuit

and, presumably, this Court. Mr. Braun should be aware

of the authority of the Courts of Appeals pursuant to 28

U.S.C. §$1912 and 1927 and Rule 38, Federai Rules of

Appellate Procedure. Furthermore, as a practitioner, Mr.

Braun should be charged with knowledge of the conse-

quences that may befall a litigant or litigant’s counsel in

pursuing dilatory or frivo'ous litigation. Consequently,

his need to be forewarned of such consequences is signili-

cantly less compelling than would he the need of a lay

litigant.

More importantly, in keeping with the above-men-

tioned guidelines for the sufficiency of due process protec-

tions, it cannot be argued seriously that Mr. Braun was

not accorded sufficiint procedural due process in con-

nection with the imposition of sanctions in this case. The

petitioners disingenuously state that “no notice was given

to counsel of the court’s intention to impose sanctions

nor was any opportunity provided for a hearing at which

couns:! could present evidence justifying the taking of

the appeal.” Petition at 9. But Trecker and his counsel

were forewarned of the respondents’ request for sanc-

tions. The principal brief of the defendants-respondents

in the seventh cireuit stated at page 12:

The conclusive and binding effect of the Wisconsin

determinations coupled with the prior holding of this

Court, makes the situation so clear that appellant’s

position is frivolous. His appeal should be dismissed

on that ground. We urge that this Court make that

determination and not only affirm the judgment of

the lower court but require the appellant to pay the

defendant-appellee and his counsel extraordinary costs

because of this unnecessary appeal.

“That this court has the power to do so is so clear

that supporting authority is not required.”

[Appendix C]. Rules 28(¢) and 31(a), Fedcral Rules of

Appellate Procedure, authorize the appellant to file a

reply to the respondent’s brief, and give the appellant

14 days after service of the respondent’s brief to do so.

The insubstantial reply brief filed by the petitioners in

the seventh cireuit failed to address the respondent’s as-

sertion that the appeal was frivolous and further failed

to addrvss the appropriateness of, or the procedure for,

assessing costs and fees, despite the fact that they were

clearly on notice of the respondents’ intention to seek such

sanctions. [Appendix D]. The aforementioned rules pro-

vided a clear opportunity for the appellant-petitioner to

advise the court of its position on the question of frivo-

lous appeals or assessments of costs and fees, but for

some reason the appellant-petitioner chose to forego that

opportunity. Such a failure is particularly noteworthy

in a case where the petitioner now claims that the court

of appeals, in acting upon the defendants-respondents’ un-

opposed request, committed a ‘‘clear violation of the due

process clause... .” {Petition for writ of certiorari, at 9.]

Nor was tlie respondents’ brief the only notification

received by the petitioners that the respond: nts consid-

ered the petitioner’s appeal frivolous. Contemporaneous-

ly with the filing of the respondents’ brief containing the

above-quoted language, the respondents filed a ‘‘Sugges-

tion to Dismiss Without Oral Argument” pursuant to Rule

34, Federal Rules of Appellaie Vrocedurce, and Seventh

Cirenit Rule 14(f). [See Appendix E.] The first reason

presented therein was that the appeal was frivolous. As

noted above, not only did the petitioners fail to address

the issue of frivolousness or the assessment of costs and

fves in their reply brief, but in response to the respond-

ents’ suggestion to dispense with oral argument they filed

a “Statement by Trecker as to Need for Oral Argument”

[Apnendix F] again failing to address the propri ty of

assessing costs and fees, or to indicate that ora! argument

might be necessary to consider that very issue.

In addition to foregoing all timely (i.e., before the

fact) opportunities to raise what they now perceive to be

the constitutional implications of the assessment of costs

and fees against counsel for frivolous litigation, even

after the court of appeals issued its decision on November

7, 1984, assessing double costs and fees against Mr. Braun

personally, the petitioners again failed to raise their con-

stitutional concerns. They filed a petition for rehearing

limited solely to the imposition of double costs and rea-

sonable attorneys fecs, accompanied by a supporting mem-

orandum and an affidavit of Hugh R. Braun claiming

that the appeal was not ‘aken in bad faith, that it was not

frivolous, and that the imposition of costs and fees should

be reversed. But in the petitioners’ effort to secure a

rehearing it was never suggested that the imposition of

costs and fees was constitutionally infirm or that a hearing

was required, although it is clear that the petitioner and

Mr. Braun could have done so at that time. [Appendix

G].

Finally, the petitioners inexplicably failed to offer

any objection to the respondents’ Bill of Costs and At-

torneys Fees, a fact which did not go unnoticed by the

court of appeals. See Order of January 25, 1985, award-

ing $3,465.00 in fees. (‘‘Defendants-appellees request

$3,465.00 as reasonable attorneys’ fees and no objection

has been received.”) {Emphasis added.| [Appendix H].

Ordinarily the Supreme Court does not consider an

issue not passed upon by the courts below. Youackim v.

Miler, 425 U.S. 231 (1976); Singleton v. Wulff, 428 U.S.

®Robert J. Martineau, a noted authority on appellate prac-

tice and procedure, suggests that due process is satisfied if,

before an appellate court sanctions an attorney under its stat-

utory or inherent power, the attorney is afforded an oppor-

tunity to present written arguments on the issue, and that

where, as here, the request for sanctions comes from a party

during the normal course of briefing or motion practice before

the appellate court, the normal opportunities for responding

to such a request are sufficient. Martineau, “Frivolous Ap-

peals: The Uncertain Federal Response,” 1984 Duke L.J. 845,

873, 884 (1984). Obviously, by Martineau’s standards, Attor-

ney Braun was not denied due process.

106 (1976). With respect to constitutional issues, only in

unusual circumstances where an issue is considered “juris-

dictional” will this Court consider such an issue when it

is not raixed at the earliest practicable opportunity. See

Glidden Co. v. Zdanok, 370 U.S. 530, 535-26 (1962). The

petitioners claim in their petition before this Court that

the court of appeals’ assessment of costs was constitution-

ally defective, while before the court of appeals the peti-

tioners, even in their petition for rehearing, raised no

due process claims at all. Having failed to bring those

concerns before the court of appeals when they had a clear

opportunity to do so, they should now he foreclosed from

doing so before this Court. See Hoover v. Ronwin, — USS.

—, 104 S. Ct. 1989, 80 L.Ed.2d 590, 603 n.25 (1984).

Under these circumstances the appellate court’s im-

position of double costs and attorneys fees was not an

abuse of discretion and should not be reviewed by this

Court.

II. The Appellate Court’s Conclusion That The Pe-

titioners’ Appeal Was Frivolous Was Correct

And Therefore Not An Abuse Of Discretion.

Litigation between Mr. Trecker and the responden‘s

herein involved trial court proceedings in hoth the state

eireurit court for Jefferson County, Wisconsin, and the

United States District Court for the Eastern District of

Wisconsin. Trecker appealed twice to the Wisconsin

Court of Appeals and twice to the Wisconsin Supreme

Court, where review was denied, and twice to the United

States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. In the

second of those federal court appeals, the seventh circuit

concluded as follows:

The conclusion that this appeal is frivolous seems in-

escapable. In the first appeal, we remanded for a de-

termination whether Wisconsin law permitted a re-

demption demand to be withdrawn. After the deci-

sion of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, we indicated

in no uncertain terms that its decision disposed of that

issue unless the Wisconsin Supreme Court reached a

different conclusion. Trecker v. Scag, No. 81-1888 (7th

Cir. July 30, 1982). When the Wisconsin Supreme

Court declined to review the case, it should have been

apparent to plaintiff’s counsel that we would affirm

the granting of summary judgment in favor of de-

fendants.

Plaintiff's arguments on appeal lack any arguable

merit at all. We ean think of no other reason for this

appeal other than delay, harassment or ‘sheer ob-

stinaney.’ Id. Plaintiff could not have had any ‘rea-

sonable expectation of altering the district court’s

judgment,’ id., in light of our order of July 30, 1982.

747 F.2d at 1179-80. In view of the long history of this

litigation, it is apparent that the conclusion of the seventh

circuit was based upon a greater familiarity with these

proceedings than is typically present.

There can be little if any question that the seventh

circuit was correct in its determination that the petition-

ers’ second appeal was frivolous. The application of the

doctrine of collateral estoppel—the issue which the ap-

pellant-petitioners now claim must be re-examined yet

another time—was soundly and correctly decided in ac-

cordance with proceedings in Trecker’s state court action.

When the seventh circuit first vacated Judge Gordon’s

prior decisions and remanded, it did so with the following

observation:

All that Trecker can now be saying in this Rule 10b-5

action is that if he had known of Ransomes’ negotia-

tions during the pendency of his redemption suit, he

would have abandoned it and held on to his shares.

If Trecker could have done that, then neither mate-

riality nor scienter is precluded and he has stated a

claim under Rule 10b-5. ... We regret further com-

plications in an already protracted and internecine

struggle, but the case should not have been resolved,

and on remand cannot go forward, without an ade-

quate development by the parties of this important

aspect of Wisconsin law.

Trecker v. Scag, 679 F.2d 703, 709-10 (7th Cir. 1982) [Em-

phasis added].

About six weeks after the seventh circuit vacated

Judge Gordon’s decisions, and one day after it denied

Scag’s petitions for rehearing, the Wisconsin Court of

Appeals issued a decision in Trecker’s state court appeal

affirming the Jefferson County trial court’s denial of his

motion to reopen its previously entered judgment. Trecl--

er v. Wisconsin Marine, Inc., No. 81-1949 (July 21, 1982),

Slip. Op. at 8-9. [Appendix [] Holding that Trecker’s re-

demption demand was irrevocable, the Wisconsin Court

of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s determination that

any change in the value of Wisconsin Marine stock after

December 31, 1976, the date of valuation, was irrelevant,

as it could not affect Trecker’s position as a creditor of

the company, and therefore could not have been instru-

mental in procuring the trial court judgment, a factor es-

sential to a finding of fraud on the court. Jd. at 10-11.

The respondents immediately moved for a reconsid-

eration of the denial of rehearing based upon the newly

issued decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. While

the seventh cireuit did not disturb its prior rulings, its

order denying reconsideration’ contained the following

statement:

Defendants now have the information we said they

lacked and should be put before Judge Gordon ..

When they do so, we are confident that Judge Gor-

don will take appropriate action unless the Supreme

Court of Wisconsin should disagree with the Wiscon-

sin Court of Appeals opinion.

[Appendix A]. The Wisconsin Supreme Court denied

Trecker’s petition for review and accordingly, the district

court granted the defendants’ summary judgment motion

dismissing Trecker’s 10b-5 action, citing the above-quoted

language from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals’ July 21,

1982, opinion and holding as follows:

Although the context was fraud on the court rather

than materiality, there can be no doubt that the Wis-

consin court of appeals had before it the issue disposi-

tive of the case at bar. Only if Mr. Trecker could

have changed his decision to redeem his shares after

learning of the Ransomes negotiations would the non-

disclosure have been a fraud on the trial court. Sim-

ilarly, only if Mr. Treecker could have changed his

investment decision after learning of the Ransomes

negotiations would the non-disclosure be material un-

der SEC Rule 10b-5. The Wisconsin court of appeals

resolved this issue of state law unambiguously[.]...

°The petitioners also attempt to skew the equities in this

matter by suggesting that the appeal was not frivolous because

they lost in an ex parte proceeding to which they were not able

to respond, Petition at 9, that had they been able to do so,

“the matters would have ended at that time,” Petition at 10,

and that the appeal was simply their opportunity to challenge

the seventh circuit’s order directing the entry of summary judg-

ment. Petition at 11. The astonishing lack of logic of this

position is that the seventh circuit found the substance of the

petitioner's arguments meritless, and those arguments would

— been no less meritless had they been presented slightly

earlier.

On October 12, 1982, the Wisconsin supreme court de-

nied the plaintiff’s petition for review; thus, the state

court of appeals’ pronouncement on state law is au-

thoritative. Applying that law to this Rule 10b-5 ac-

tion, I must grant the defendants’ motion for sum-

mary judgment on the ground that non-disclosure of

the negotiations between WMI and Ransomes was

immaterial to Mr. Trecker’s decision to redeem his

shares because, under state law, he could not have

changed his decision after learning of the negotia-

tions.

Trecker v. Scag, 569 F. Supp. 744, 747 (E.D. Wis. 1983)

[Emphasis supplied].

Even after the seventh circuit virtually directed the

district covrt to enter summary judgment based upon the

Wisconsin Court of Appeals’ clarification of the state law

issue, Trecker again sought an appeal before the seventh

circuit, claiming that the Wisconsin Court of Appeals’

July 21, 1982 determination of state law should not have

been given collateral estoppel effect. The Court of Ap-

peals for the Seventh Circuit properly rejected that posi-

tion.

Collateral estoppel is a common-law doctrine to the

effect that “[o]nee an issne is actually and necessarily

determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, that de-

termination is conclusive in subsequent suits based on a

different cause of action involving a party to the prior

litigation.” Montana v. United States, 440 U.S. 147, 153

(1979). See also Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90, 93-94

(1980); Parklane Hosiery Company v. Shore, 439 U.S.

322, 326 (1979); Southern Pacific R. Co. v. United States,

168 U.S. 1, 48-49 (1897). Where a state court judgment or

determination is sought to be given collateral estoppel

effect, 28 U.S.C. § 1738, the statutory ccunterpart of U.S.

Const. Art. I, § 4, requires federal courts to accord it the

same preclusive effect as would the courts of that state.

Haring v. Prosise, 462 U.S. 306, 76 L.Ed.2d 595, 603-04

(1983) ; Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. at 96.

The doctrine is applicable, however, only where the

parties have had “a full and fair opportunity to litigate

the issue to be precluded.” Kremer v. Chemical Construc-

tion Corp., 456 U.S. 461, 480-81 n.22 (1982); Allen v. Mc-

Curry, supra, at 95; Montana v. United States, supra, at

153. This is also in substance the same standard for appli-

cation of the doctrine of collateral estoppel used by Wis-

consin courts. See State ex rel Flowers v. DH&SS, 81 Wis.

2d 376, 387, 260 N.W.2d 727, 734 (1978); Reckner v. Reck-

ner, 105 Wis. 2d 425, 436, 314 N.W.2d 159, 165 (Ct. App.

1981). To be the product of a full and fair opportunity to

litigate, such that a judgment is entitled to collateral es-

toppel effect, the state proceedings producing the judg-

ment “need do no more than satisfy the minimum pro-

cedural requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment’s due

process clause in order to qualify for the full faith and

credit guaranteed by federal law.” Kremer v. Chemical

Construction Corp., swpra, at 482.

The seventh cireuit found that Trecker had had a

full and fair opportunity to litigate the redemption with-

drawal issue in state court. Trecker v. Scag, 747 F.2d 1176,

1179 (7th Cir. 1984). In reaching that determination, the

court recognized that the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in

its second decision acknowledged that Trecker had argued

the redemption withdrawal issue. Trecker pressed the

same issue again before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in

his petition seeking review of the Court of Appeals’ July

21, 1982 decision.

It could not be contended seriousiy that the deter-

mination of the irrevocablity of Trecker’s stock redemp-

tion demand was not accompanied by minimal procedural

due process. The issue was considered tangentially by the

Wisconsin Court of Appeals early in the state court liti-

gation when it affirmed the trial court’s selection of De-

cember 31, 1976, as the stock evaluation date.'® The issue

was again presented in connection with Trecker’s effort

to reopen the state court judgment of specific perform-

ance on the ground of fraud on the court, and it was square-

ly framed and decided as the dispositive issue in the Wis-

consin Court of Appeals’ decision of July 21, 1982, affirm-

ing the trial court’s denial of Trecker’s motion to reopen

the judgment. Finally, it was duly raised in Trecker’s

petition for review before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

This is not the procedural history of an issue that has not

been accorded procedural due process; rather, it illus-

trates as intensive a course of judicial scrutiny and con-

sideration as can be brought to bear on a legal issue.

These judicial proceedings, each of which provided

the petitioners many opportunities to present their argu-

ments to the Wisconsin courts, prompted the seventh cir-

euit rightly to conclude that “There is no doubt that the

plaintiff received a full and fair opportunity to litigate

this issue in the Wisconsin courts and he has pointed to

nothing in the record which would suggest otherwise. Hav-

ing lost in state court, he cannot ask the federal courts to

reconsider the same question.” Trecker v. Scag, 747 F.2d

\0The seventh circuit did not accord that determination

collateral estoppel effect because it viewed the state appeals

court’s determination as “dicta.” See Trecker v. Scag, 747 F.2d

1176, 1179 (7th Cir. 1984).

at 1179. This conclusion was an appropriate application

of coilateral estoppel which furthered the salutary pur-

pose of protecting the respondents “from the expense and

vexation attending multiple lawsuits, conserv[ing] judic-

ial. resources, and foster[ing] reliance on judicial action

by minimizing the possibility of inconsistent decisions.”

Montana v. United States, 440 U.S. at 154-55.

III. The Court Of Appeals Did Not Base Its Assess-

ment Of Costs And Fees Upon Either 28 U.S.C.

§ 1927 Or Rule 11, Federal Rules Of Civil Pro-

cedure, And Accordingly, Their Provisions Are

Not Properly Under Review.

The court of appeals relied upon Rule 38, Federal

Rules of Appellate Procedure, for its authority to assess

double costs and attorneys fees. It did not invoke 28 U.S.C.

§ 1927, nor did it rely on Rule il, Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, which, like all of the federal rules of civil pro-

cedure, “govern the procedure in the United States dis-

trict courts in all suits of a civil nature,” Rule 1, Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure, and likewise is not applicable.

Instead, Attorney Braun was sanctioned for violating a

standard of professional conduct and appropriate use of

judicial process that has evolved over nearly 200 years

and that is not in need of clarification.

IV. This Petition For Writ Of Certiorari Is Frivol-

ous And Therefore Attorney Braun Should Be

Assessed Dovble Costs And Actual Attorneys’

Fees.

This Court has the authority to assess double costs

and attorneys’ fees when an appeal or petition for writ

of certiorari is frivolous. Tatum v. Regents of the U. of

Nebraska, — U.S. —, 103 S.Ct. 3084 (1983); Rule 49.2,

Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States; 28

U.S.C. $$ 1912 and 1927. See also 13, Moore’s Federal

Practice § 849.03 at S.C. 49-7. Historically, when a writ

of error had no plausible ground to support it, or if there

was nothing in the record to show error in the court below,

this Court awarded damages. See Deming v. Carlisle Pack-

aging Company, 226 U.S. 103 (1912); Texas & Pacific

RR. Company v. Volk, 151 U.S. 73 (1894); Walker v. Dre-

ville, 79 U.S. 440 (1871).

Measured by these standards, the petition for writ of

certiorari submitted by Trecker and Attorney Braun is

frivolous. To the extent it challenges the appellate court’s

assessment of double costs and attorneys’ fees against

Attorney Braun personally, it fails to establish that the

court’s exercise of discretidOn was inappropriate or un-

accompanied hy appropriate procedural protections. To

the extent that it seeks once again to relitigate the irre-

vocability of Trecker’s stock redemption demand and the

collateral estoppel effect to be given to the state court’s

determination of that issue, it simply does not raise legal

arguments of substance.

The petitioners have established none of the criteria

governing review by this Court pursuant to Rule 17, Su-

preme Court Rules. Rather, they ask this Court to accept

review to correct a claimed “patently erroneous state

eourt ruling” on a “fundamental rule[] of contract law.”

Petition at 14. Aside from the fact that the petitioners

have made no showing of any error in a state court pro-

’

ceeding (no doubt because none has occurred), the peti-

tioners confuse contract law with the law of judgments.

The state coart has determined not only that Trecker’s

demand foi uemption under the contract was irrevoc-

able, but alsu that, once he reduced his demand to judg-

ment and obtained specific performance, he could not re-

open that judgment, even for alleged fraud on the court.

See Trecker v. Wisconsin Marine, Inc., No. 81-1949 (July

21, 1982) (Slip. Op.). Furthermore, although the respond-

ents submit that no error occurred in the state courts’ de-

termination of state law, error correction is not a primary

function of this Court and is not a proper basis for seek-

ing review. See Board of Education of Rogers, Ark. v.

McCluskey, 458 U.S. 966, 971 (1982) (Stevens, J., dissent-

ing); Boag v. MacDougall, 454 U.S. 364, 367-68 (1982)

(Rehnquist, J., dissenting).

Trecker and Braun have compounded frivolous ap-

peal upon frivolous appeal, and, as in the court of appeals

helow, they should be made to bear the financial burden

of carrying this “protracted and internecine struggle,”

Trecker v. Scag, 679 F.2d at 710, to yet another level of

unnecessary judicial consideration.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the respondents respect-

fully request that the petition for writ of certiorari to the

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

to review its decision in Trecker v. Scag, 747 F.2d 1176

(7th Cir. 1984) be denied with double costs and actual at-

torneys’ fees awarded to respondents.

Respectfully submitted,

Ricwarp 8S. Gises, Counsel of Record

Cray R. WiLtLiaMs

Tuomas R. SrreirENDER

Of Counsel:

Gisss, Rover, Loots & WiLLiaMs

735 North Water Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

(414) 273-7010

APPENDIX

A-1

APPENDIX A

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

Chicago, Illinois 60604

July 30, 1982

Hon. WALTER J. CUMMINGS, Chief Judge

Hon. LUTHER M. SWYGERT, Senior Circuit Judge

Hon. RICHARD A. POSNER, Circuit Judge

THOMAS M. TRECKER,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

No. 81-1888 vs.

DANE T. SCAG, WISCONSIN MARINE, INC., and

RANSOMES, SIMS and JEFFERIES, LTD.,

Defendants-A ppellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the

Eastern District of Wisconsin.

No. 79 C 694

Myron L. Gordon, Judge.

ORDER

Defendants’ motion for leave to file the Wisconsin

Court of Appeals July 21, 1982 opinion in Trecker v. Wis-

consim Marine, Inc., is granted. The motion to reconsider

the denial of the petition for rehearing is denied.

Defendants now have the information we said they

lacked and should put before Judge Gordon, see pages 13-

14 of our June 3 slip opinion. When they do so, we are

confident that Judge Gordon will take appropriate action

unless the Supreme Court of Wisconsin should disagree

with the Wisconsin Court of Appeals opinion. Nothing

in our slip opinion requires a change in the light of the

Wisconsin Court of Appeals July 21 opinion in Trecker

v. Wisconsin Marine, Inc.

B-1

APPENDIX B

Relevant parts of Mr. Koch’s [Mr Scag’s attorney] state-

ments to court at that hearing are as follows:

Mr. Koch:

. a current deal that we have while it

was in process was so far from comple-

tion that we weren’t really in a position

to definitely say that we would be able to

redeem in cash. At the present time in

order to accomplish what we have to ac-

complish to further our agreement with

this other company, Mr. Seag had to

mortgage his house to pay the difference

between $124,000 some odd dollars which

was the December, 1973 value of the

stock and the amount of this judgment

whatever that figure is, Scag has to come

up with the difference and put that in

the company and then in addition to that

the company with the consent of the bank

is going to be permitted to come up with

the other $120,000, you know, that we

had tu have $160 some thousand. [TR.

386 |

& * *

. Now, I’d like to point out several im-

portant facts. Number one, is that Scag

has to come up with additional $40,000

some dollars to this deal for which he'll

never recoup a penny of it. As a result

of this this company is going to pay the

additional $124,000 and an additional

$500,000 worth of working capital. Then

the company will then continue its opera-

tion for a year until I believe it is Sep-

tember of 1979. Up until that time this

company that’s acquiring this business

has a right to call off the whole deal at

any time and at that point in time Wis-

consin Marine will then have to pay back

Mr. Koch:

Mr. Braun:

Mr. Koch:

Mr. Braun:

B-2

under a prescribed arrangement the mon-

ey that was advanced by this company.

(Tr. 388-89]

* * Sl

. we got a half a million dollars we

are going to get as working capital for

this company and if he [Trecker] ob-

structs our deal maybe he should be re-

quired to put up a half-a—$624,000 bond

is what Ransoms [sic] is coming up with

to guarantee that we’re taken care of

in the event that something goes wrong

here because that’s what we are being

deprived of, $624,000 in cold hard eash.

(Tr. 395-96]

* * *%

Mr. Braun has intimated that we are

toying with the truth and I frankly take

umbrage with it plus the fact that Mr.

Braun was, as I said, offered an oppor-

tunity to look at the contract plus the

fact that in the contract pursuant to my

affidavit I said that the value of Treck-

er’s stock over $124,176 has to be brought

up by Mr. Scag with the exception of

50% of the interest but 124,000 of the

principal over that figure Seag has to

come up with the difference. [Tr. 407-08]

The stock should be held for security for

the eventual disposition.

Wait a minute here, I’ve got this contract

that I’m going to have $625,000 poured

into the company. [Tr. 420]

Your honor, I’d like to make an offer of

proof with reference to this matter....

That if Mr. Prieve were required to tes-

tify he would explain the formula under

B-3

which this company is being sold, that

essentially this formula is that Ransoms

[sic], Simms [sic], is advancing $500,000

to Wisconsin Marine, Ine. for working

capital and if the company continues to

be viable for a period of one year or

perhaps 18 months the date set out in

the affidavit 1 believe is September 30th

of 1979, that then all of the stock of

Wisconsin Marine, Ine. will be purchased

by the British affiliate. [Tr. 424-26]

C-1

APPENDIX C

{Page 12 of Respondents’ Brief]

be determined under State law’ and in the circumstances

by the Wisconsin State Courts. Those rights have been

clearly and finally adjudicated and this Court must give

full force and effect to those determinations.

The conclusive and binding effect of the Wisconsin

determinations coupled with the prior holding of this

Court make the situation so clear that appellant’s posi-

tion is frivolous. His appeal should be dismissed on that

ground. We urge that this Court make that determination

and not only affirm the judgment of the lower court but

require the appellant to pay to the defendant-appellee and

his counsel extraordinary costs because of this unneces-

sary appeal.

That this Court has the power to do so is so clear

that supporting authority is not required. This case has

a long and egregious history. We believe that from the

beginning the appellant’s position has been so basically

unfounded, and particularly this appeal, that such remedy

is appropriate in this case.

fa’

CONCLUSION

The circumstances of this appeal are peculiar and

perhaps unique, for after its original decision reversing

the earlier summary judgment, this Court very clealy

pointed the way after the Wisconsin Court of Appeals

held that appellant

3Trecker v. Scag, 679 F2d 703, 709 (1982). “His right to

redeem was governed by state law...”

D-1

APPENDIX D

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

Docket No. 83-2725

THOMAS M. TRECKER,

Plaintiff-A ppellant,

vs.

DANE T. SCAG,

WISCONSIN MARINE, INC. and

RANSOMES, SIMS AND JEFFERIES, LTD.,

Defendants-Appellees.

On Appeal from the United Staies District Court

for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

The Honorable Myron L. Gordon, District Judge

REPLY BRIEF OF PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT

Hugh R. Braun

Counsel for Plaintiff-

Appellant

GODFREY, TRUMP & HAYES

1200 First Savings Plaza

250 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4278

Telephone: (414) 278-8500

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Table of Cases, Statutes and Regulations il

Facts 1

Page

Argument

The Decisions Of The Wisconsin Court Of

Appeals IV On November 27, 1979 And

July 21, 1982 Holding That Trecker’s

Demand For Redemption Could Not Have

Been Withdrawn At Anytime After December

29, 1973 Should Not Be given Collateral

Estoppel Effect In The Pending See. 10(b)

Action. 3

Since The Issue Of Collateral Estoppel

Basie To The Second Appeal Has Already

Been Decided, Summary Reversal Should

Be Considered. 7

Conelusion

TABLE OF CASES

Butler v. Stover Brothers Trucking Co., 546

F.2d 544 (1977)

Trecker v. Scag, 679 F. 2d 703 (1982) 6,8

TABLE OF STATUTES AND REGULATIONS

Sec. 10(b), Securities and Exchange

Act of 1934; 15 USC §78}j 3

FACTS

Regarding the facts set out in the brief filed on be-

half of Seag, WMI and Ransomes, the court’s attention

is directed to the following language found at page 1 of

that brief:

“The reason judgment in Judge Gergen’s court

provided for payment of the redemption amount in

three payments, was not only because of the then fi-

nancial position of the company but also because that

is what the agreement provided, just as it had pro-

D-3

vided five percent interest, which was awarded to

Trecker as part of his judgment. (App. 157).”

This quoted language is inaccurate and extremely mis-

leading on an important point. It should be compared to

the provision of the Stock Purchase Agreement to which

it refers:

{

“2. Voluntary Separation

In the event that the Stockholder desires to leave

the employment of the Company and terminate his

employment, he shall sell back the stock which he owns

of the Corporation to the Company for its book value

or the original issuance price, whichever is the high-

er. The price to be patd for the stock shall be paid

in equal quarterly installments without interest over

a one year pertod. However, if the separation takes

place between the date of this agreement and Decem-

ber 31, 1973, no payment shall be required until March

31, 1974. However, interest shall acerue at the rate

of 5% per annum from the date of the original note

issuance.” (emphasis added)

Note the provision for payment in equal quarterly

installments without interest over a one-year period. Be-

cause the demand for redemption was made on December

29, 1973, the initial payment was not due until March 31,

1974. Between December 29, 1973 and Mareh 31, 1974,

it would appear that Trecker was entitled to five pereent

interest on the book value of the stock. On Mareh 31,

1974, the first quarterly payment was due. Thereafter,

Trecker was not entitled to interest and the subsequent

quarterly payments would have been due on June 30, Sep-

tember 30 and December 31, 1974.

Contrary to the contention iu the Seag brief, the

Stock Purchase Agreement made no provision for delayed

payment. Failure to pay in four quarterly installments

OI.

D-4

starting on Mareh 31, 1974, was a breach of contract.

This breach was apparently not intentional because Wis-

consin Marine, ine. never had sufficient money to pay

Trecker pursuant to the agreement through and including

the date of judgment, which was entered on May 23, 1978.

It was solely because of the lack of funds that Judge

Gergen provided in the judgment for Wisconsin Marine,

Ine. to pay for Trecker’s stock in three installments, ‘‘One-

third forthwith, one-third on January 31, 1979 and one-

third on October 30, 1979 ...”.

In all other respects, Trecker relies on the facts as

stated in his principal brief.

THE DECISIONS OF THE WISCONSIN COURT

OF APPEALS IV ON NOVEMBER 27, 1979 AND

JULY 21, 1982 HOLDING THAT TRECKER’S DE-

MAND FOR REDEMPTION COULD NOT HAVE

BEEN WITHDRAWN AT ANYTIME AFTER DE-

CEMBER 29, 1973 SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN COL-

LATERAL ESTOPPEL EFFECT IN THE PEND-

ING SEC. 10(b) ACTION.

The briefs of the parties make very clear that there

is a single overriding issue presented to the court for

resolution. That is, whether Trecker had the right to

withdraw his demand for redemption at anytime prior to

May 23, 1978 when judgment was entered in his state

court redemption action. If his demand for redemption

could not have been withdrawn, the fraud of Seag and

his counsel was not material. If Trecker could have with-

drawn his demand, the fraud of Seag and his counsel was

material and the case should be returned to the district

court for trial to establish the damages arising out of

the fraud.

D-5

Trecker concedes that the Wisconsin Court of Ap-

peals IV in its decisions on November 27, 1979 and July

21, 1982 stated that his demand for redemption could not

have been withdrawn at anytime after it was made on

December 29, 1973. (App. 109, 122, 161). Trecker con-

tends that these holdings of the Wisconsin Court of Ap-

peals IV should not |e given collateral estoppel effect be-

cause the issue of his right to withdraw was never ‘‘fully

and fairly litigated” in the state court before Judge Ger-

gen who granted Trecker judgment of specific perfor.

ance, and set the date on which his stock should be valued;

nor was it litigated before Judge Danforth who considered

Trecker’s motion to re-open judgment after the fraud

had been discovered.

Whether Trecker could withdraw his demand for

redemption simply was not before Judge Gergen, and he

did not consider any aspect of that issue. Judge Dan-

forth did not understand that the primary basis of Treck-

er’s claim of fraud was nondisclosure before judgment.

Danforth assumed that the fraud Treckcr complained of

occurred after judgment and, therefore, denied the re-

opening. (App. p. 154). The Court of Appeals [V under-

stood this deficiency in Danforth’s analysis, but chose to

disregard it and decided the issue on the appeal record.

(App. p. 108). This certainly does not constitute a ‘‘full

and fair litigation” of whether Trecker could have with-

drawn his demand for redemption.

Had Trecker been advised by Seag on February 24,

1978 that a letter of intent had been signed with Ran-

somes for the sale of WMI, he would have asked Judge

Gergen to dismiss his stock redemption action or at least

hold it in abeyance until the offer was confirmed. In

10 thi Perit Sibel

D-6

dealing with such a request, Judge Gergen would have

necessarily had to consider the following matters:

1. The language of the agreement. There is nothing

in the language of paragraph 2 of the Stock Purchase

Agreement which would permit the conclusion that a de-

mand for redemption was irrevocable. Judge Gergen did

not discuss this problem because the issue was not before

him.

2. Breach of the obligation to purchase Trecker’s

stock. Trecker demanded redemption of his stock on

December 29, 1973. Under the language of the Stock

Purchase Agreement, WMI became obligated to buy his

stock over a one-year period in four quarterly install-

ments commencing on March 3, 1974. Those installments

would have become due on March 31, June 30, September

30 and December 31, 1974. WMI did not make those pay-

ments because it was not in a financial position to do so,

a condition which continued up to and including the date

of judgment, May 23, 1978. If Judge Gergen had been

confronted with the issue of Trecker’s right to withdraw

his demand for redemption, he would necessarily have

discussed the effect of WMI’s breach of the stock Purchase

Agreement. Trecker could have argued persuasively that

he should not be bound by a Stock Purchase Agreement

which had been 1materially breached by WMI through its

failure to pay for his stock according to the terms of the

agreement. Judge Gergen did not discuss the effeet of

WMI’s breach of the contract because the issue of Treck-

er’s right to withdraw his demand for redemption was

not before him.

3. Trecker’s pledge of credit. If Judge Gergen had

confronted the issue of Trecker’s right to withdraw his

D-7

demand for redemption, he would also necessarily have

had to deal with the fact of Trecker and his wife pledging

all of their assets to sustain the credit of WMI and to

permit its continued growth in the years between 1973

and 1978. As late as 1975, Trecker and his wife were

called upon to make an additional guarantee for a $500,-

000.00 loan which was necessary after a serious fire at

the company plant. These guarantees were not released

until March, 1978. Judge Gergen did not diseuss this

problem because the issue of Trecker’s right to withdraw

his demand for redemption was not before him.

This analysis should demonstrate conclusively that

the issue of Trecker’s right to withdraw his demand for

redemption was never “full and fairly litigated” in the

state court. Butler v. Stover Brothers Trucking Co., 546

F.2d 544 (7th Cir., 1977). It was this kind of analysis

that Judge Cummings made in his June 3, 1982 decision

(679 F.2d 703, 1982) when he said at page 709:

‘The defendants did argue that a state court find-

ing—that Trecker had become a creditor rather than

a shareholder of WMI as of his 1976 redemption

demand—amounted to a decision that his election

was irrevocable then, and that this finding should be

given collateral estoppel effect in the federal litiga-

tion. The district court correctly rejected that con-

tention, 500 F.Supp. at 753. The state court was

only concerned with choosing an appropriate valna-

tion date, not with whether Trecker could have

changed his mind about the lawsuit.”

This holding of the Seventh Cireuit should not have

been disregarded by Judge Gordon; further, it should not

be reversed in this appeal.

einem

D-8

SINCE THE ISSUE OF COLLATERAL ESTOP-

PEL BASIC TO THE SECOND APPEAL HAS AL-

READY BEEN DECIDED, SUMMARY REVERS-

AL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

On December 14, 1983, Richard 8S. Gibbs, attorney for

the defendants-appellees, made a separate motion for

summary disposition of the appeal. Trecker concurs that

summary disposition should be considered.

In dismissing this action in the district court, Judge

Myron Gordon held that the rulings of the Court of Ap-

peals IV that Trecker could not withdraw his demand for

redemption, had to be given collatcral estoppel effect.

it has been pointed out repeatedly in these briefs that

ith Seventh Circuit in its June 3, 1982 decision had un-

«quivocally determined that the ruling of the state courts,

holding Trecker’s demand for redemption irrevocable,

should not be given coilateral estoppel effect. Unless the

Seventh Circuit seriously considers t e possibility of re-

versing itself on this issue, there is little point in granting

this appeal full consideration including oral argument.

The court is urged to hold that the collateral estoppel

issue was ¢eleary and precisely ruled on in its previous

decision, and return the case to the district court for

trial.

CONCLUSION

The brief filed on behalf of Seag, WMI and Ransomes

does not meet Trecker’s argument that the right to with-

draw his demand for redemption was never “fully and

fairly litigated” in the state court; nor does it meet

Trecker’s argument that the collateral estoppel issue has

D-9

already been decided in his favor in the June 3, 1982

decision of the Seventh Cireuit Court of Appeals in this

case. 679 F.2d 703 (1982).

The case should be returned to the district court for

trial. Cireuit court Rule 18 should apply.

Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin this 4th day of Jan-

uary, 1984.

/s/ Hugh R. Braun

Attorney for Thomas M. Trecker

E-1

APPENDIX E

JNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

Docket No. 83-2725

THOMAS M. TRECKER,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

vs.

DANA T. SCAG, WISCONSIN MARINE, INC. and

RANSOMES, SIMS AND JEFFERIES, LTD.,

Defendants-Appellees.

SUGGESTION TO DISMISS WITHOUT

ORAL ARGUMENT

Appellees by their counsel suggest that the appeal

herein should be dismissed and the judgment of the Dis-

trict Court be affirmed without oral argument. The rea-

sons therefor are:

1. The appeal is frivolous.

2. The Wisconsin Courts have authoritatively de-

cided the dispositive issue.

3. ‘The facts and legal arguments are adequately pre-

sented in the briefs and record and the decisional process

would not be significantly aided by oral argument. (See

FRAP 34 and Cireuit Rule 14(f).

Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin this 14th day of De-

cember, 1983.

/s/ Richard 8S. Gibbs

Attorney for the Defendants-

Appellees

GIBBS, ROPER, LOOTS & WILLIAMS

735 North Water Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

(412) 273-7010

F-1

APPENDIX F

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

Docket No. 83-2725

THOMAS M. TRECKER,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

Vs.

DANA T. SCAG, WISCONSIN MARINE, INC. and

RANSOMES, SIMS AND JEFFERIES, LTD.,

Defendants-Appellees.

STATEMENT BY TRECKER AS TO

NEED FOR ORAL ARGUMENT

Trecker, the plaintiff-appellant, requests oral argu-

ment pursuant to the provisions of App. Rule 34 and Cir-

cuit Rule 14(f) for the following reasons:

1. The customary rule of oral argument should not

be altered in this case. While Scag, WMI and Ransomes

may argue that the appeal is frivolous, the case involves

a monstrous and outrageous fraud, clearly in violation of

See. 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.

The defendants deliberately failed to disclose negotiations

for the sale of Trecker’s stock in the course of his state

court redemption action. The effect of the fraud is that

Trecker was paid $165,000.00 for his 400 shares in WMI

on June 28, 1978. On June 30, 1978, the same amount of

stock was sold to Ransomes for $624,176.00. Thereafter,

Seag sold his 600 shares in WMI to Ransomes for an un-

disclosed amo nt.

2. The issue on appeal is whether the rulings of the

Wisconsin Court of Appeals IV on November 27, 1979 and

July 21, 1982, that Trecker had made an irrevocable elec-

tion to have his stock redeemed in 1973, should have col-

lateral estoppel effect in the district court. That precise

F-2

issue was decided in Trecker’s favor in this case on June

2, 1983. 679 F.2d 703 (7th Cir., 1983). When the case was

returned for trial, District Judge Gordon dismissed it

again, on the same ground relied on his first dismissal,

namely, that Trecker’s demand in December, 1973 to have

his stock redeemed was irrevocable. The only basis for

this disregard of the Seventh Circuit’s decision on the

issue of collateral estoppel was that on July 21, 1982 the

Wisconsin Court of Appeals IV re-affirmed its 1979 rul-

ing that Trecker’s demand for redemption was irrevocable;

the matter was before the Court of Appeals TV on Treck-

er’s application to re-open the state court stock redemp-

tion action judgment, which Trecker claimed was pro-

eured by fraud.

Trecker suggests in his reply brief at page 7 that

under these circumstances, Judge Gordon’s second dis-

missal of this action should be summarily reversed. If

the court chooses not to take such action, it should grant

oral argument as part of its full review.

3. While the decision of the Court of Appeals IV

on June 3, 1983 accurately summarized the facts and pre-

cisely analyzed the issues of law, oral argument would aid

the court in evaluating Judge Gordon’s remarkable re-

fusal to follow its direction on remand and its holding on

the collateral estoppel issue.

Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin this 29th day of June,

1984.

/s/ Hugh R. Braun

Attorney for Thomas M. Trecker

P.O. ADDRESS:

GODFREY, TRUMP & HAYES

1200 First Savings Plaza

250 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4278

Telephone: (414) 278-8500

G-1

APPENDIX G

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

Docket No. 83-2725

THOMAS M. TRECKER,

Plaintiff-A ppellant,

vs.

DANA T. SCAG, WISCONSIN MARINE, INC. and

RANSOMES, SIMS AND JEFFERIES, LTD.,

Defendants-Appellees.

MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR

REHEARING REGARDING THE ASSESSMENT OF

DOUBLE COSTS AND REASONABLE

ATTORNEY’S FEES

Hugh R. Braun

Counsel for Plaintiff-

Appellant

GODFREY, TRUMP & HAYES

250 East Wisconsin Avenue

Suite 1200

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4278

Telephone: (414) 278-8500

FACTS

The Court has assessed double costs and reasonable

attorney’s fees against plaintiff’s counsel. This extraor-

dinary action was taken because the Court believes that

counsel should have understood from its Order of July

30, 1982 that an appeal from a dismissal of the pending

action in the District Court would not be successful.

Counsel brings this motion for rehearing on the lim-

ited issue of the imposition of double costs and reasonable

attorney’s fees.

G-2

THE JULY 30, 1982 ORDER

Before this appeal was taken and during the proceed-

ings before the District Judge, the import of the July 30,

1982 Order was carefully analyzed. The Seventh Circuit

was apparently saying that the July 21, 1982 decision of

the Wis. Court of Appeals TV, holding that Trecker’s de-

mand for redemption was irrevocable, was to be given

collateral estoppel effect in the District Court. Why then

did plaintiff’s counsel proceed to oppose the motion to

dismiss the case in the District Court and eventually ap-

peal the dismissal to the Seventh Cirenit? The appeal |

was taken for the following reasons:

The July 30, 1982 order was formulated in response

to Seag’s motion to recondsider the denial of his pe-

tition for rehearing of the decision which had returned

the case to the District Court for trial. Trecker v.

Scag, 679 F.2d 703 (7th Cir. 1982). Under Rule 40(a)

Fed. R. App. P, Treecker had no opportunity to be

heard on the issue of whether the 1982 ruling of the

Wis. Court of Appeals IV should be given collateral

estoppel effect in the District Court. The order of

July 30, 1982 was an ex-parte order which had the

| effect of dismissing his case.

Did not counsel have an absolute duty to submit

Trecker’s arguments that the 1982 ruling of the Wis.

Court of Appeals IV, like its 1979 ruling, should not

be given collateral estoppel effect? In another forum

might counsel not be held to have breached a pro-

fessional duty to his client by not objecting to the

very determination that dismissed the case.

the District Court, the existence of the July 30, 1982

Order preclued acceptance of his arguments there.

The only way Trecker could have his arguments heard

While Trecker’s position was briefed and argued in

Tree

| on the depositive issue of the case was to appeal to

G-3

the Seventh Circuit where the July 30, 1982 Order

had been promulgated.!

EVIDENCE OF BAD FAITH

All of the arguments submitted by Trecker in his

orief were rejected as frivolous and raising them seemed

to the Court to be evidence of bad faith. Concerning those

conclusions, the Court is asked to consider:

1. The application of the doctrine of collateral es-

toppel was an extremely difficult issue in this case. The

capable trial judge first ruled against the application of

the doctrine 481 F.Supp. 861 (E.D. Wis. 1979); he later

reversed his position on the issue. 514 F.Supp. 364 (K.D.

Wis. 1981). The Seventh Cireuit in 679 F.2d 703 (7th

Cir. 1982) held that Judge Gordon was right in 1979 when

he held that the Wis. Court of Appeals IV ruling was not

to be given collateral estoppel effect in the District Court.

This is a very complex ease. Both State and Federal

Courts have had difficulty with the issues. Thus it ap-

pears to be more like the circumstances in Gilles v. Bur-

ton Construction Co., 736 F.2d 1142 (7th Cir. 1984) where

the Court declined to impose sanctions and quite differ-

ent from the circumstances in Reid v. United States, 715

F.2d 1148 (7th Cir. 1983), where there was objective evi-

dence of harassment, and sanctions were imposed.

‘jn retrospect it may have been wise for plaintiff’s counsel

to ask for a review of the July 30, 1982 Order when it was is-

sued, although Rule 40 does not provide for such a challenge.

Had the Seventh Circuit permitted Trecker’s response on the

import of the 1982 Wis. Court of Appeals IV ruling, and then

issued an order directing the District Court to dismiss the case

unless the Wisconsin Supreme Court disagreed, the matter

would have clearly ended at that time.

SS)

eaten a oN

G-4

2. The affidavits of counsel support the conclusion

that there could not possibly have been a basis for this

appeal other than the hope of prevailing. There is no evi-

dence of intent to delay, harassment of obstinancy. Why

would Trecker return to this Court with a frivolous ap-

peal? There must have been some honest hope of pre-

vailing.

3. The imposition of double costs and attorney’s fees

as a sanction on counsel for bringing what is judged to

be a frivolons appeal can impose a significant financial

burden. But the more serious consequence is the effect

of the ruling on counsel’s relation with his clients, and his

standing in the local community and the loca! Bar. Prose-

euting a frivolous appeal can be considered professional

misconduct in Wiseonsin. Sommer v. Carr, 99 Wis. 2d

789; 299 N.W.2d 856 (1981). There may have been evi-

dence in this record of bad judgment, but is there any evi-

dence in the record to establish bad faith?

CONCLUSION

There must be an end to litigation. There must be

respect for the Courts. There must be acceptance of a

final determination. Accordingly, the sole relief sought

under the pending motion is reconsideration of the im-

position of double costs and fees on plaintiff’s counsel

personally.

Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin this 19th day of No-

vember, 1984.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Hugh R. Braun

G-5

In The

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

For the Seventh Cireuit

No. 83-2725

THOMAS M. TRECKER,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

DANE T. SCAG, WISCONSIN MARINE,

INC., and RANSOMES, SIMS AND

JEFFERIES, LTD.,

Defendants-A ppellees.

AFFIDAVIT OF COUNSEL REGARDING

THE ASSESSMENT OF DOUBLE COSTS AND FEES

STATE OF WISCONSIN )

) ss

MILWAUKEE COUNTY _ )

HUGH R. BRAUN, being first duly sworn, respect-

fully states as follows:

1. That the affiant is the attorney of record for

Thomas M. Trecker in the captioned appeal; that he makes

this affidavit in connection with the determination by the

Court of the appropriateness of assessment of double costs

and reasonable attorney’s fees against plaintiff’s counsel

personally.

2. That this appeal was not commenced for reasons

of delay; as Trecker’s primary objective was redress of

a claimed fraud invol’ing more than Five Hundred Thou-

sand Dollars ($500,000.00), the expeditious disposition of

this case was in his interest.

mer GENET? re

a te A

Pi Ne: Corie nS iP orm

G-6

3. That the appeal was not perfected for any reasons

of harassment; that Trecker’s original demand for redemp-

tion of his stock was prompted by dire financial need;

that while Trecker’s financial condition has improved, he

was not in a position financially to harass the defendant

Scag or the other two corporate defendants.

4. That this appeal was not motivated by obstinancy

or stubbornness; that all of the litigation relating to Mr.

Trecker’s stock in Wisconsin Marine, Inc. imposed severe

financial burdens on him; that affiant fashioned fee ar-

rangements which accommodated these problems; that the

sole economic benefit that could have arose from this ap-

peal depended on winning the appeal.

5. That the only purpose of this appeal was the rea-

sonable expectation that the Seventh Circuit, upon a full

evaluation of the decision of Judge Danforth on reopen-

ing, and the affirmance of that decision by Wisconsin

Court of Appeals IV, would deny it collateral estoppel

effect because it did not involve a full and fair litigation

of the issue of whether Trecker could have withdrawn his

additional demand for redemption.

6. That at the time this appeal was perfected, coun-

sel had clearly in mind the full contents of the Seventh

Cireuit’s order dated July 30, 1982; that Trecker, how-

ever, had not been given an opportunity to present to the

court his view of the significance of the July 21 decision

of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals TV because the July

30, 1982 order of the Seventh Circuit was formulated in

connection with the defendants’ petition for rehearing;

that Trecker was not permitted to participate in that pro-

ceeding under Rule 40(a) Fed. R. App. P.; counsel be-

lieved he had a compelling duty to submit Trecker’s argu-

G-7

ments regarding the significance of the July 21, 1982 de-

cision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals IV to the Sev-

enth Circuit, since the entire case now turned on the in-

terpretation of that decision. That the only way Treck-

er’s arguments could be heard by the Seventh Circuit is

through this appeal.

Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin this 19 day of No-

vember, 1984.

/s/ Hugh R. Braun

Subscribed and sworn to before

me this ..... day of November, 1984.

Notary Public, State of Wisconsin

Be INE: helinchnviceentnenicnnneamintenininn

H-1

APPENDIX H

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

For the Seventh Circuit

Chicago, Illinois 60604

January 25, 1985

Appeal from the United States District Court for the

Eastern District of Wisconsin.

By the Court:

No. 79-C-694

Myron L. Gordon, Judge.

THOMAS M. TRECKER,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

No, 83-2725

Vs.

DANE T. SCAG, WISCONSIN MARINE, INC.,

and RANSOMES, SIMS AND JEFFERIES, LTD.,

Defendants-A ppellees.

This matter comes before the court for its considera-

tion upon the “BILL OF COSTS ON APPEAL” filed

herein on November 20, 1984, by counsel for the defend-

ants-appellees.

By published opinion of November 6, 1984, the judg-

ment of the district court was affirmed and double costs

and “reasonable attorneys’ fees were assessed against

plaintiff’s counsel.” Defendants-appellees request $3,465.-

00 as reasonable attorneys’ fees and no objection has been

received. Accordingly,

IT IS ORDERED that attorneys’ fees, in the amount

of $3,465.00, are awarded to defendants-appellees.

I-1

APPENDIX I

{[Exeerpt from Trecker v. Wisconsin Marine, Inc., No. 81-

1949 (July 21, 1982), Slip. cp. at 8-9]

Trecker argues that had the trial court known that

all of the stock of Wisconsin Marine was to be sold

to Ransomes, the court would have allowed him to

withdraw his stock redemption demand. That option

was not available to Trecker. On our opinion in

Trecker, supra, at 9-10, we stated:

“On December 29, 1973, Trecker exercised his

right to convert his equity interest in the cor-

poration to debt. He gained the certainty that

he would be paid before the claims of the re-

maining equity holders, and lost the right to par-

ticipate in the continued growth of the corpora-

tion if it prospered. ... [I]t is not equitable for

a potential litigant to adopt a “wait-and-see” po-

sition and choose his remedy with the benefit of

hindsight. Trecker’s arguments place him in the

enviable position of making a demand that his

stock be redeeemed, and then waiting to see if the

corporation’s stock increased or decreased in val-

ue. Had the value of the stock decreased after

Trecker’s notice to the board in 1973, it is unlike-

ly that Trecker would have requested specific

performance; instead he would have sued at law

for the value of the stock on December 29, 1973.”

Trecker’s rights as against Wisconsin Marine wre

fixed on December 29, 1973. He cannot convert his

interest in the corporation from equity to debt and

back again, aceordirg to the corporation’s changing

financial circumstances. His decision is irrevocable.

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.