Petition for Rehearing — Marvin v. Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #200 (No. 08-657)
Supreme Court brief2008
Ask Donna
What actually matters in this document.
Text
08-65 =
IN THE
Supreme Court of the United States
Lawrence D. Marvin,
Petioner
.
Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #200,
Respondents
On petition for Rehearing for Writ of Certiorari to the
Nebraska Supreme Court
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
(MR.) LAWRENCE D. MARVIN
Pro se
[OOF Building Suite 201
635 North Main Street
Fremont, Nebraska 68025
1-402-372-8978
American citizen pro se
bo
1
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
Do you the Court understand or comprehend
that the Respondents are still overtly en-
croaching on this Petitioner’s land and that in
so doing, they are still repeatedly creating
hazards to Life and Safety of Lawrence D.
Marvin-owner of Fee-Simple real estate, also
the hazards are a threat to Marvin’s family,
guests and the public invited onto the com-
mercial property; and the most shameful,
ridiculous and obnoxious fact is that these
present hazards are also a threat to the Life
and Safety of the Respondents, their members,
and their public guests all of whom may need
to use this designated permanent fire exit
egress walkway back to the public alley, in an
emergency. ?
Do you the Court comprehend that Petitioner
only removed the most flagrant obstruction,
which was a thirty six inch humongously
heavy item, which was intentionally place by
hired agents, right in the middle of the des-
ignated forty eight inch wide fire exit egress
permanent walkway route, that leads to the
public alley on the west end of both properties,
and such an obstruction violated our laws,
rules, and regulations of Life Safety Codes
under which Lawrence D. Marvin had a non-
delegatable duty and responsibility to remove
immediatly and that the Respondents also had
the same duty and responsibility under their
Liquor License and also under their buildings
2. continued)
occupancy limits permit from the government?
Why didn’t the Court comprehend that the
Respondent arrogantly, with impunity, vio-
lated the Court Order Remedy #23784, which
should give weight to reduce damages to 50%
or less; as joint Tortfeasor and/or stare decisis?
Why does this Court System look the other
way on trespass of posted property and writ-
ten request to leave, without reducing dam-
ages and waste?
Why doesn’t the Supreme Court comprehend
that the only real damage was to the warran-
ty?
Why doesn’t the Court comprehend that our
Constitution(s) reserve to the citizens all
rights not given to the government. So, if
Court Order #23784 is worthless; if Marvin’s
posted property signage is worthless; the
registered letter from Marvin to Respondent to
get off or the condenser is abandoned and
forfeited, is worthless; and the visits by the
local and State Fire Officials is worthless; and
the dealine of 48 hours has passed is worth-
less; then why shouldn’t damages be reduced
under self-help as self defense and minmizing
damages by preventing tragidies of death and
injuries of dozens of people, family, guests, and
public, which could run into the millions of
1
dollars or does the Court ever recall sending
~~]
10.
property owners to prison and the lawsuits
bankrupt said land owners?
Why shouldn't this Petitioner get some of the
damages and interest returned from the su-
persedeous bond which was trned over to the
Respndents? Or is this petitioner to finance
wrongful behaviors of the Respondents, who
can act abve the law with 100% impunity?
What is a joint tortfeasor, if the Respondents
can unilaterally create fiat leases without pay-
ment of consideration and acceptance by this
petitioner?
Why should this repeated wrongful behavior
presist, like we witnessed resistence to school
integration and school busing, until the Courts
decided to supervise the enforcement of their
court order, so when are you, the Court, going
to supervise the enforcement of Court Order
#23784 which created as a remedy for
Lawrence D. Marvin; this petitioner?
What is the value of stare decises of conver-
sion-Justification 342F Supp. 1048, 1062 if my
United States Supreme Court can’t reduce my
damages; but President Obama can have a
second chance from the Court at getting his
Oath of Office taken according to law?
iv
CERTIFICATE
I Lawrence D. Marvin as Petitioner do hereby swear
that this is my appeal, and that it if made is good faith and not
as a delay tactic.
This petition complies to the Rules as I have read
them and 1s 3000 words or less.
LAWRENCE D. MARVIN, pro se
™
PARTIES TO THE PROCEEDINGS
Lawrence D. Marvin
Pro se petitioner
IOOF Building
635 North Main Street
Fremont, Nebraska 68025
Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #200
represented by
S. Nicholas Boggy
Sidner, Svoboda, Schilke, Thomsen
Holtorf, Boggy, and Nick
340 East Military Avenue
Fremont, Nebraska 68025
v1
RELATED PROCEEDINGS
Court Order #23784 REMEDY for Marvin,
ordering FOE Aerie #200 to get off and stay off Mar-
vin’s land. (see Court Exhibit #3)
vil
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PG) Geet BAA PUN Oe © RERUN BAP. cstheseisconsisenesececesvovavassnicees i
AUN es ci escasvrontndsunveialinna tnincenivobeakuairas saleennne iv
PARTIES TO THE PROCEEDINGG.......................008 Vv
Ey eR og 8) A |e - v1
TABLE OF CONTENTS........ Labs ath cubcibonesenenetveg th aierene vil
RRP aes GPE BART PERFOR BA scsincstsesssnsvesiiernnsnesiosinsssices 1
Constitutional Provisions
Statutory Provisions
Evidentiary Provisions
Other Materials
Unconstitutional to require citizens to condone
and/or finance criminal behavior
Clean Hands Doctrine-Old English Court of
Equity
U.C.C. to enforce Civil Rights
PETITION FOR REHEARING FOR WRIT OF
Se EE ilo ioavisicitsasyxeunaerscanesiondaamcencsmuentssstuueions 2
eee MEE OY 6 cicessnccessssensessveseeneredvusenwcumsasncneesenen
a TN sas x nanvegs saiessassasigtisesoneeosacianiankenss ons 4
Vili
CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY................... rs)
Provisions Involved
STATEMENT OF "TRGE CABG 6. oxiicsivnescoeerenseseennees 6
Proceedings Below
Statement of Relevant Facts
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE PETITION FOR
FRY BIA issn svexvnseesinescyencsporepseneleeligeeedennan aaa 10
COTINCLATIIIIIIN cc snevnosnnsaneveniarecesessieneanseneenea ann 11
INDER TO APPENDS. «.+.:1<s00s.-0vsseueans eee 12
A) Dodge County Court
B) Dodge County Court history of case and its
final order
1) Nebraska Court of Appeals
D) Nebraska Supreme Court and Nebraska
Court of Appeals
E}) Dodge County Court
F) Dodge County Court
G) Supreme Court of the United States
1
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
NONE - Just general knowledge of three branches of
government.
The Declaration of Independence
The Constitution of the United States of America
84th Congress 2nd Session House Document #459
Government Printing Office
Washington, 1956
Major Joint Tortfeaser
Nebraska Revised Statutes
81-501 through 81-541 Assembly Building Permit
28-520 through 28-521 Trespass
28-300 through 28-311.01 Terrorism
Federal CFR 1910.36.
Abuse of Process
Abuse of Discretion
The Commercial Clause of U.S. Constitution with
Protection under the law. Civil Rights Act 1964
2
PETITION FOR REHEARING FOR
WRIT OF CERTIORARI
Petitioner Lawrence D. Marvin respectfully
appeals and prays that a Rehearing for a Writ of Cer-
tiorari be issued to put a stop to the repeated overt
wrongful behavior of Respondents of obstructing
Marvin's fire exit egress, and on modern day Terror-
ism, Hate Crimes, and repeated First Degree Crimi-
nal Trespass by the Respondent, and the Court’s
errors in no EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, or
mitigating circumstances to reduce the damages set
by the Dodge County Court of Nebraska, for Respon-
dent being a Joint Tortfeasor by overtly initiating
their wrongful trespass, and refusing to leave.
OPINIONS BELOW
¥ Dodge County Court reproduced appeal as
Case Number CI05-1045. Judgement March 9, 2007
Dodge County District Court Case Number
7-223. Same as County Court July 6, 2007
3. Nebraska Court of Appeals Case Number
A-07-0857. Same as County Court
4. Nebraska Supreme Court Case Number has
not been assigned. July 16, 2008. Refused Petition
for further review
oD. U.S. Supreme Court petition for Writ of Certio-
rari is denied
4
JURISDICTION
Nebraska Court System, had uncontested Ju-
risdiction, neither party objected to jurisdiction.
~
o
CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY
PROVISIONS INVOLVED
This petition for Writ of Certioran implicates
the Fourteenth Amendment to our United States
Constitution, The Patriot Act of 2001, Ricco laws, as
well as failure to consider Nebraska Life Safety Stat-
utes, trespass statutes, Terrorism statutes, and con-
tempt of Court Order and refusal to leave Marvin’s
property, also federal CFR 1910.36 through 1910.36
(f) (2).
The Fourteenth Amendment in relevant part
as follows:
All persons born or naturalized in the United
States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,
are citizens of the United States and of the
State wherein they reside. No State shal!
make or enforce any law which shall abridge
the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any State deprive any
person of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law; nor deny to any person within
its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
U.S. Constitution Amend. XIV, sec. 1.
This petition for Writ of Certiorari also quotes
excerpts from Nebraska Revised Statutes 81-502,
81-514, 81-538, 81-527, Court Order #23784 which is
in Exhibit in file, and regulatory building occupancy
permits for Marvin’s assembly areas in his building.
NRS28-300 and 28-311;28-520 and 28-521
6
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
A. PROCEEDINGS BELOW
Petitioner was convicted of conversion, while
Paragraph 3. reads, “While it is uncontroverted that
the condenser unit belonging to the plaintiff was
trespassing on the defendant’s property, the Court
can find no defense for the defendant’s actions of con-
verting the plaintiffs property.”
The Court makes no comment that the peti-
tioner testified that the condenser was obstructing
plaintiffs exit egress and petitioner had the nondel-
egatable duty to remove the condenser unit. So, peti-
tioner is now petitioning the United States Supreme
Court on the enforce federal CFR1910.36 and other
remedies under Nebraska Revised statutes 81-501 to
81-538
7
B. STATEMENT OF RELEVANT FACTS
The Respondents overtly violated Court Order
Remedy #23784 which orders them to stay off Peti-
tioners land anc specifically states air-conditioning
units, which took from 1977 to 1987 to get the Re-
spondents moving towards compliance of removing
their air-conditioning units the day before contempt
was held, so they were purged of their contempt.
In April 2004 the Respondents did place a
large and heavy thirty six inch cube of an air cooling
unit right in the middle of the Forty Eight inch wide
designated permanent fire Exit egress pathway from
both buildings, as per this photograph, which very
clearly obstructs and/or blocks said egress as you can
very clearly see in the photos in Exhibits.
As a general rule, both buildings have had he
bulk of occupants in the evenings, so how would hu-
mans exiting in an emergency squeeze around or over
the top of said obstruction in the dark of night and in
near stampede? And guess who is the first person to
be liable for allowing such and impediment to remain
obstructing this permanent fire exit egress walkway
route. Also, isn’t this perpetual battle the major
reason for Marvin’s wife to divorce him and protect
her half of the assets from an impending disaster of
twenty million dollars and incarceration for negligent
homicide as has been the case in Rhode Island night
Club fire and obstructed exits. Also, fire officials
know of hundreds of similar disasters and the Courts
are also aware of these disasters and that is why
we have Life Safety Codes, but who enforces them.
Well, Lawrence D. Marvin obtained the Court Order
#23784, which the Respondents clearly and overtly
eo)
znored. Marvin sent a written request by registed
aail to get off or forfeit said item, which the Re-
pondents clearly and overtly ignored; Marvin had
he Local and State Fire Official intervene and said
atervention was clearly and overtly ignored by the
espondents; Also, the 48 hours waiting period was
ong past. So the 5 hours needed was given.
| Marvin knows that two wrongs do not make
. right, however, under duress of complying with
iis lawful obligations of his 1977 and 1998 Life and
safety updates for building occupancey levels, Mar-
yin is required by laws, rules and regulations to not
illow aisles, exits, and fire exit egress permanent
walkway routes to become or remain obstructed. So,
vith the history of the Respondents Fiat Lease which
chey drug out from 1977 to 1987, when the 48 hours
ziven to get off had long past, and the installation
only took five hours, then the installer could have
removed the unit without damage in less than five
hours. So, this entire charade, sting, terrorist act,
Hate Crime, or whatever should not have gone un-
punished by Court Order #23784, the local and State
Fire Officials, and by the Respondents themselves,
so Marvin was compelled under duress or coercion to
remove said obstruction. The Respondents did open
their barroom exit door and look out to see if Mar-
vin got electrocuted when they heard the loud minor
explosion of the high powered electrically charged
line was snipped. The Respondents refused to claim
the unit within 24 hours when contacted by Marvin’s
attorney, but the Respondents were clearly intent on
causing Marvin to finance their overt and wrongful
trespass which clearly makes them a joint Tortfeasor
9
so they should only get 50% or less; preferably noth-
ing, but since we need new case law they should only
get one dollar as Nominal damages so this case stays
on the books, and the Court can supervise it like the
Court had to supervise school integration and school
busing. This is what the Petitioner requests.
1@
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE PETITION FOR
REVIEW
The Court Syste acknowledges that the photos and
testimony clearly shows the area to be narrow and junky. But
they clearly ERROR in being oblivious that the thirty six
inch condenser is obstructing the forty eight inch wide exit
egress walkway in violation of NRS 81-514 or federal CFR
1910.36 as per this photograph.
The Court admits the TRESPASS but ERRORS in
not assessing first or second degree trespass on posted prop-
erty on which Court Order #23784 was a Remedy to keep
the Respondents off, and the Respondents refusal to leave on
receiving written notice from Marvin and verbal notice from
Fire Officials.
The Court does not admit that fiat leases without ac-
ceptance and consideration are invalid, illegal or void and the
Respondents had no right to place the condenser on Marvin’s
real estate and leave it as abandoned junk like the second unit
in the Exhibit. The Court System has errored in not
comprehending that the Respondents were the major
joint-tortfeasor who initiated their overt act of tres-
pass and refused to leave. They created the threats
to Life and Safety and up to now have done so with
impunity. Where is the shared costs and liability?
ile od
CONCLUSION
Does this petitioner have the God given Righ};+
and Constitutional right to say where his charity d«
lars go?
If two wrongs do not make a right, then why j,
overt wrongful acts of violating Court Order #237844
violating posted property, refusal to leave when
receiving written Notice of abandonment and forfei:_
ture; visits from the Fire Officials; after consulting
with their own attorney who represented the pro se,
contempt action in 1987 and Marvin’s request for
easement in 1998, and still on the job in 2004, over}
encroachments, namely three or more encroach-
ments.
We do have laws to protect Life and Safety ojr
all our people, including 9-11-01 Terrorism Act; Pa-.
triot Act; Hate Crimes; RICCO; and other laws, rulles
and regulations.
I want the damages reduced and see that I gret
a refund of damages and interest. I also certainly
feel that I am intitled to rents and legal fees for the
repeated overt wrongful acts of the Respondents
which were initiated by the Respondents, which
clearly shows they are a joint-tortfeasor and equally,
or more so, responsible for the damages and waste,
because, if they had not trespassed and refused to
leave, then Petitioner would not have had to use self
help.
ol-
Dated February 6, 2009
Respectfully submited
(Mr.) Lawrence D. Marvin
IOOF Building Suite 2D
635 North Main Street
Fremont, Nebraska 68025
(402) 372-8978
American Citizen pro se
12
APPENDICES
County Court of Dodge County
Case No CI05-1045
Nebraska Fraternal order of Eagles,
Aerie #200 - Plaintiff
vs
Lawrence D. Marvin - Defendant
March 9, 2007
This bench trial on the plaintiffs first and second
causes of action and the defendant’s counterclaim
came before the Court on December 11, 2006. Ap-
pearing in court were S. Nicholas Boggy as counsel
for the plaintiff and Daniel Bracht as counsel for and
with the defendant, Lawrence Marvin. The Court
heard sworn testimony from Samuel Denoyer, Ardon
Toelle, Bob Niles and Lawrence Marvin. The Court
received Exhibits 1 through 23 into evidence. The
Court heard argument from counsel and took this
matter under advisement with leave to file briefs in
this matter. The Court subsequently received a brief
from Mr. Boggy and Mr. Bracht.
The Court, from the evidence presented and
being duly advised in the premises, hereby finds and
orders as follows:
PLAINTIFF’S FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION
1. The tort of conversion is any distinct act of
dominion wrongfully exerted over another’s personal
13
property in denial of or inconsistent with the nghis of
the owner or secured party. Otto Farms v. First Na-
tional Bank of York, 228 Neb. 287, 422 N.W. 2d 331
(1988); Jessen v. Blackard, 159 Neb. 103, 65 N.W. 2d
345 (1954).
2. The plaintiff has met its burden of proof for
the tort of conversion based on the defendant’s letter
(Exhibit No. 4) and the defendant’s testimony on di-
rect examination by Mr. Boggy in which he stated he
knew it was the plaintiffs property, he took pruning
shears and cut the electrical and freon lines, he did
not advise the plaintiff that he had the unit, that he
considered the property forfeited, and that he owned
it.
3. While it is uncontroverted that the con-
denser unit belonging to the plaintiff was trespassing
on the defendant’s property, the Court can find no
defense for the defendant’s actions of converting the
plaintiffs property. The measure of damages regard-
ing the conversion of the condenser unit, is the mar-
ket value of the converted property at the time and
place of conversion. Otto Farms, 228 Neb. at 293,
422 N.W. 2d at 336. See also NJI 2d 4.27 (Damages
- Conversion of Property). The testimony of Arden
Toelle and Exhibits 12 and 13 establish the market
value of the converted property at the time of conver-
sion.
4. The plaintiff has pled special damages for
the spoilage of food and beverage resulting from the
defendant’s conversion of the condenser unit. Accord-
ing to Nebraska Jury Instructions, special damages
may be pled and evidenced in a conversion action.
NJI 2d 4.27-1. The plaintiff established special dam-
ages by the testimony of Bob Niles and Exhibit 16.
14
The Court further finds that the spoilage of inven-
tory is the proximate cause of the defendant’s conver-
sion for the condenser unit and that special damages
should be awarded. The Court is not allowing the
payment of plaintiffs officials for amounts that have
not been expended by the plaintiff. therefore, the la-
bor damages stated in Exhibit 17 will not be allowed.
PLAINTIFF’S SECOND CASE OF ACTION
5. The plaintiffs second cause of action for
damages to the plaintiffs concrete wall is denied for
lack of proof of damages. The Court will not address
the issue of statute of limitations defense due to the
lack of proof of damages. For this reason, the plain-
tiffs second cause of action for damages is denied.
The Court further finds that the county court lacks
subject matter jurisdiction to enter any form of in-
junctive relief as to the conduct of the parties in this
matter.
DEFENDANT'S COUNTERCLAIM
6. The defendant’s counterclaim is denied for
lack of proof of damages.
JUDGMENT
7. The Court awards damages for conversion
in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant in
amount of $4,005.28, and special damages in favor of
the plaintiff and against the defendant in the amount
of $1,089.00 for a total judgment of $5,094.28, plus
costs of this action in the amount of $42.00.
BY THE COURT:
15
Fa | r rt r TY De = Pee raciz=a
B)) County Court of Dodge Cou nty Nepraska
Case No Cl 107-223
Nebraska Fraternal Order of Eagles,
Aeric #200 - Plaintiff
Lawrence D. Marvin - Defendant
July 6, 2007
The matter of the appeal from the decision
of t2e County Court came on for hearing on July
3 9007. The Appellant/Defendant was present in
ey30n and represented by his attorney, Daniel P.
Brecht. The attorney for the Appellee/Plaintiff S.
Nicholas Boggy was present in person. Evidence was
received. Arguments made.
Judgment of the County Court was filed on
March 9, 2007 and the Appellant/Defendant timely
filed a Notice of Appeal on April 6, 2007. The Bill of
Exceptions was filed on May 9, 2007. The Statement
of Errors was filed approximately 41 days later, on
June 29, 2007.
In appeals from the County Court, the District
Court shall review the case for error appearing on
the record made in the County Court. Consideration
of the cause will be limited to errors properly as-
signed and discussed.
When reviewing a judgment for errors appear-
ing on the record, the inquiry is whether the deci-
sion conforms to the law, is supported by competent
evidence and is neither arbitrary, unreasonable nor
16
capricious.
Upon reviewing the record on appeal from
the Dodge County Court, and after presentation of
the arguments, the COURT FINDS AND ORDERS
THAT:
1. The County Court did not err in regard to
the law and that there was competent evidence to
support the finding that the Plaintiff had met its bur-
den of proof for the tort of conversion. Additicnally,
assuming without deciding that the County Court
erred in the receipt of Exhibit 16, such err would be
harmless as other testimony setting forth the amount
of damages had previously been received without
objection. Therefore, the Court finds that the award
of special damages was established by competent evi-
dence and , therefore, was not err. Lastly, the Court
finds that the County Court did not err in entering
judgment in favor of the Plaintiff and against the
Defendant and in denying the Defendant’s Counter-
claim.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Judg
ment of the Dodge County Court be and hereby is
affirmed.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this matter
be, and hereby is, remanded to the Dodge County
Court for execution of the Judgment in accordance
with this Order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of
the District Court certify a copy of this order to the
Dodge County Court, along with costs incurred in
this court.
Dated this 6th day of July, 2007
BY THE COURT
17
Gc IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS
Case N. A-07-857
Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #200, Appellee
Lawrence D. Marvin, Appellant.
May 27, 2008
SIEVERS, MOORE, and CASSEL, Judges.
SIEVERS, Judge.
Pursuant to authority granted to this court under
Neb. Ct. R. of Prac. 11B(1) (rev. 2006), this case was
ordered submitted without oral argument.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #200
(Eagles) owns property at 649 North Main Street in
Fremont, Nebraska, where the business and social
activities of the lodge are conducted. Immediately to
the south is property owned by Lawrence D. Marvin.
The property line between the Eagles’ real estate and
Marvin's real estate lies approximately 12 inches
south of the Eagles’ building and the Eagles have an
easement of approximately 36 inches on the north
edge of Marvin’s real estate. The easement is limited
in purpose to that of a fire escape and exit plus an
entrance to the building located on the Eagles’ real
estate. From the photos and testimony the area in
question could be described as a rather junky and
18
and narrow alleyway or walkway.
Sas aacoltse G1 A aawothFhlaadu asthe
court for Dodge County, a judgment was entered on
February 27, 1980, in which the court found that the
Eagles had encroached upon Marvin’s property “by
erecting two air conditioning units without [Mar-
vin’s} permission.” After finding that Marvin had no
adequate remedy of law, the Eagles were enjoined
from encroaching upon Marvin’s property “as set
forth above and [Eagles] is ordered to remove the two
air conditioning units within 90 days from [the] date
hereof.’ In approximately 1987, there was additional
litigation between these parties to enforce the above-
described injunction by a contempt proceeding. That
matter did not proceed to judgment, as the Eagles re-
moved the offending unit from the area of easement.
In early April 2004, it was determined that
the Eagles’ walk-in cooler, where various food and
beverage items were stored, was going bad. The air
conditioner/condenser, then located on the roof of the
Eagles building, was checked and it was determined
that a new unit was necessar with a degree of ur-
gency. Evidence adduced by the Eagles was that
because of the need to get the new unit operaticnal
quickly, it was placed temporarily on cement blocks
between Marvin’s building and the Eagles’ building-
-on the easement area--rather than up on the roof
where the old unit was located. The Eagles’ evidence
was that no one in a position of authority a the time
of these occurrences was aware of the past litigation
and court orders involving the easement between the
two buildings.
On April 16, 2004, the Eagles received a letter
a ee ee
13
from Marvin which is in evidence as exhibit 4. Sum-
marized, the letter asserted that the new air condi-
tioner/condenser was trespassing on Marvin’s land
and that he had asked the Fremont Fire Chief and
the Deputy Nebraska Fire Marshall to have the Ea-
gles remove the air conditioner/condenser within 48
hours. Marvin’s letter asserted that he would “en-
force my right, at my convenience and in my way...”
after 48 hours from when the Eagles received his
letter if the unit was not removed. Marvin’s letter
closed with the assertion: “I consider said air condi-
tioning unit donated and forfeited to me.”
After receiving Marvin’s letter, Robert Niles,
the secretary of the Eagles, made arrangements for
a survey with the intent that if the unit was not in a
proper place or was in violation of earlier court pro-
ceedings, it would be moved.
However, on April 26, Niles learned that the
air conditioner/condenser was gone so he called po-
lice, as well as Arden Toelle of Toelle Refrigeration.
Toelle testified that when he arrived he found that
the electrical lines to the air conditioner/condenser
had been cut, although power was still in the line;
the refrigeration lines were gone; and the entire unit
was gone. Toelle located a replacement unit in South
Dakota and installed it on April 28, 2004. Niles
testified that the removal of the air conditioner/con-
denser caused the Eagles to loose beverage and food
products in the cooler having a value of $1,089.72,
and they had the cost of getting and installing a new
unit.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The Eagles sued Marvin on July 7, 2005. In
20
legal elements necessary to prove a conversion. Mar-
vin admittedly removed the air conditioner/condens-
er and admittedly still had it in his possession at the
time of the trial. It is true that the evidence shows
a technical trespass by placement of the air condi-
tioner/condenser within the area of the easement and
outside of the purposes of the easement.
Conversion has been defined as “...any distinct
act of dominion wrongfully exerted over another’s
personal property in denial of or inconsistent with
his rights therein.” Allen v. Dealer Assistance, Inc.,
207 Neb. 455, 460,299 N.W.2d 744,747 (1980). In
Polley v. Shoemaker, 201 Neb. 91,266 N.W.2d 222
(1978), the Supreme Court pointed out that the tort
of conversion is confined to those “major interferenc-
es with the chattel, or with the plaintiffs rights in it,
which are so serious, and so important as to justify
the forced judicial sale to the defendant.” 201 Neb. at
95, 266 N.W.2d at 225.
We do not believe that it can seriously be
contended that the cutting of the power and refriger-
ant lines to the air conditioner/condenser along with
hauling it away and secreting it from the Eagles does
not satisfy the requirement of a serious or major
interference with the chattel owned by the Eagles.
Marvin’s defense, as we understand it, is that be-
cause a trespass was occurring and he is under a
duty to mitigate damages, cutting the unit loose from
its connections and hauling it away was mercly miti-
gation of damages. Marvin advances the argument
despite the absence of any evidence of definable dam-
ages flowing from the placement of the unit over the
boundary line for this brief period of time. Obvious-
ly, Marvin engaged in self-help but such went beyond
21
simply getting the unit off of his easement. Rather,
Marvin damaged the unit by cutting the power and
refrigerant lines, took possession of it, and secreted it
from the Eagles.
The facts of this case indisputably prove a
conversion. While it is relatively easy to imagine cir-
cumstances in which self-help would be justified and
lawful in the face of a trespass in order to mitigate
damages, the trespass by the Eagles was hardly of
the kind that Marivn would be justified in bypassing
the lawful remedies and resorting to self-help--partic-
ular of the kind engaged in here.
Marvin complains of the trial court’s admis-
sion of exhibit 16, a handwritten listing of food items
that the Eagles claimed were spoiled by removal of
the air conditioner/condenser. The supporting testi-
mony for exhibit 16 was from Robert Niles, secretary
of the Eagles club, who testified that one of his job
duties was to pay bills, including for food and bever-
ages. Niles testified that he, along with Mark and
Rose Grude, the cooks, sat down and examined in-
voices and bills as well as the weights of the damaged
meat and prepared the list. However, Niles admit-
ted that the writing was Rose Grude’s and therefore
he did not prepare the document. However, Niles
further testified that he was present and person-
ally examined the invoices for the price per pound as
well as the poundage of the spoiled meat which Rose
Grude wrote down to formulate exhibit 16, totaling
$1,089.72 for lost food and beverage. The district
court found that even if exhibit 16 was improperly
admitted over the hearsay and foundation objection
of Marvin, there was testimony proving the
22
amounts contained thereon and therefore the judg-
ment for damaged food and beverage was not errone-
ous. After reviewing the evidence, the district court
did not err in so concluding.
CONCLUSION
Marvin’s assignments of error are without
merit and the affirmance of the county court’s judg-
ment by the district court is hereby affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
23
D) NEBRASKA SUPREME COURT
AND NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS
OFFICE OF THE CLERK
P.O. BOX 98910
2413 STATE CAPITOL BUILDING
LINCOLN, NE 68509
(402) 471-3731
July 16, 2008
Daniel P. Bracht
BRACHT LAW FIRM
127 E. Walnut Street*
P.O. Box 252
West Point, NE 68788
IN CASE OF: A-07-000857, Fraternal Order of
Eagles Aerie #200 v. Marvin
The following internal procedural submission
or filing by a party:
Pet Appellant for Further Review & Brf sub-
mitted or filed 06/23/08 has been reviewed by the
court and the following order entered:
Petition for further review overruled
Respectfully,
CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT
AND COURT OF APPEALS
24
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Due to the reduced number of cases awaiting sub-
mission to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals,
and as part of the courts’ continuing efforts to reduce
case-processing time, future requests for brief
date extensions will be closely scrutinized. See
Neb. Ct. R. of Prac. 6F and 9A. Pursuant to Neb. Ct.
R. of Prac. 10A, if an appellant’s default for failure
to file briefs is issued, appellant “is required to file
a brief within 10 days after receipt of such notice.
Appellant’s failure to file a brief in response to the
notice of default subjects the appeal to dismissal.”
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THESE RULES
WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
25
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
DODGE COUNTY, NEBRASKA
CASE NO. CI07-223
FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES, Aerie#200,
Plaintiff,
VS
LAWRENCE D. MARVIN,
Defendant.
AUGUST 20, 2008
Now on this 20th day of August, 2008, this
matter came before the Honorable John E. Samsor,
District Judge, on the mandate of the Nebraska
Court of Appeals filed herein on the 19th day of Au”
gust, 2008. .
The Court being fully advised in the premis?®
FINDS, ORDERS, ADJUDGES, AND DECREES: |
1. That the Mandate of the Nebraska Court of
Appeals affirming the appeal of the judgment of tP®
Court shall be spread upon the Judgment records of
this Court as required by law; and
2. That the costs of appeal to the foregoing
court are hereby ordered to be paid by Appellant qnd
are taxed at $122.00.
BY THE COURT:
26
F) IN THE COUNTY COURT OF DODGE
COUNTY, NEBRASKA
FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES, Aerie #200,
Plaintiff,
VS.
LAWRENCE D. MARVIN,
Defendant.
AUGUST 25, 2008
THIS MATTER came on for hearing on the 28th day
of July, 2008, on the Motion of the Plaintiff for an
order directing that payment of the supersedeas bond
in the amount of $5,500.00 deposited with this Court
by the Defendant be paid to the Plaintiff. The Plain-
tiff appeared by its attorney, S. Nicholas Boggy. The
Defendant, Lawrence D. Marvin, appeared person-
ally and pro se. Evidence was adduced and the Court
being advised in the premises finds as follows:
1. On the 16th day of July, 2008, the Nebras-
ka Supreme Court overruled the Defendant’s petition
for further review.
2. Subsequent to the Supreme Court’s ruling,
the Defendant filed a “Desire of Stay of the Mandate
or Motion Recalling the Mandate” with the Nebraska
Supreme Court.
3. On the 15th day of August, 2008, the Ne-
braska Court of Appeals issued a mandate for this
Court to enter judgment in conformity with the judg-
ment and opinion of this Court, which mandate was
filed with the District Court of Dodge County on
27
August 19, 2008, and with this Court on August 20,
2008.
4. Through July 28, “008, the total amount
of the judgment, including interest, plus costs, was
$5,698.08.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Clerk
of the County Court shall pay the sum of $5,500.00,
earlier deposited by the Defendant, Lawrence D.
Marvin, to the Plaintiff, Fraternal Order of Eagles,
Aerie #200.
BY THE COURT:
28
x) Supreme Court of the United States
Office of the Clerk
Washington, DC 20543-0001
January 21, 2009
Mr. Lawrence D. Marvin
100F Building
Suite 201
635 North Main Street
Fremont, NE 68025
R: Lawrence D. Marvin
V. Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #200
No. 08-657
Dear Mr. Marvin:
The Court Today entered the following order
in the above-entitled case: The petition for a writ of
certiorari is denied.
Sincerely,
William K Suter, Clerk
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.