Case Title: Jones v. Kind

Citation: 61 So. 2d 188

Docket Number: 

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 1952-10-24T00:00:00Z

Document:
61 So. 2d 188 (1952)
JONES et al.
v.
KIND.

Supreme Court of Florida, Special Division B.
October 24, 1952.
*189 Richard W. Ervin, Atty. Gen., Mallory H. Horton, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Manuel M. Garcia, Tampa, for appellants.
E.F.P. Brigham and Phillip Goldman, Miami, for appellee.
MATHEWS, Justice.
David Kind, plaintiff in the Court below, appellee here, filed a bill for declaratory decree, injunction and other relief against D.C. Jones, Chairman, and others, as and constituting the Florida State Racing Commission, and Miami Beach Kennel Club, Inc., a Florida corporation.
The appeal is from a final decree based upon the bill of complaint, the answers and a stipulation made before the Chancellor.
The purpose and intent of the bill of complaint was to obtain a judicial construction of the powers, duties and rights of the respective parties under Chapter 550, Florida Statutes 1941, as amended, F.S.A., and the legality of any rules and regulations adopted by the Racing Commission and action taken or contemplated to be taken by the Racing Commission under the authority of said laws and any rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
It appears that the specific question to be determined was whether or not the Commission, under the laws and rules and regulations in question, had the power and authority to require a stockholder to dispose of his stock in a corporation conducting racing because in the opinion of the members of the commission the stockholder is undesirable and his presence in racing in Florida in the capacity of a stockholder is regarded by the members of the commission as being undesirable and hurtful in this state and because of "public opposition" to the stockholder's connection with Florida racing.
After the hearing and argument the Chancellor entered an "opinion and declaratory decree." This opinion and declaratory decree sets forth very clearly the issues presented and the final disposition of the case. Pertinent parts of the opinion and decree are:
We find no error in this decree.
There is no yardstick or limitation as to what would make, in the opinion of the members of the Commission, the stockholder "undesirable" and would cause him to be "regarded by all members of the Commission" as being undesirable and hurtful in this state and because of "public opposition" to the stockholder's connection with Florida racing.
To many people who are opposed to pari-mutuel racing in Florida, all persons owning stock in a corporation conducting a race track may be "undesirable" and such people may be a part of the "public" which would constitute "public opposition" to the particular stockholder's connection with Florida racing and to all other persons owning stock in Florida racing. The words "undesirable" and "public opposition" are very elastic terms. To the owners of stock of a competing race track all stockholders of another race track may be undesirable and the owners of the stock or the competing corporation may be a part of the public which would be in opposition to stockholders owning stock in another corporation conducting racing. Many people in the state (a part of the public) are opposed to race tracks, poolrooms, barrooms, cocktail lounges and many other things which may be distasteful to them, but which have been legalized and licensed to operate in this state.
It appears to be the contention of the appellants that they have uncontrolled, unbridled and unlimited authority to determine who is undesirable as a holder of stock in a corporation conducting racing or that public opposition to the stockholder's connection with Florida racing is sufficient justification for the Commission to order the stockholder to dispose of his stock. The law in question does not attempt to grant any such authority or power to the appellants and so far as the record shows they have not attempted to arrogate to themselves any such power.
Chapter 26832, Laws of Florida 1951, F.S.A. § 550.181 and note, was not involved *192 in this proceeding. In their brief the appellants request a construction of the Statute of 1951 and an advisory opinion from this Court as to the powers and duties of the State Racing Commission to promulgate a uniform rule and regulation of general application, which in its effect would empower or authorize the Racing Commission to require a stockholder of a permit-holder to dispose of his stock upon accusation and proof of conduct or affiliation detrimental to racing.
The appellants admit that this question was not raised in the proceeding in the Court below and was not passed upon.
We are not authorized to render advisory opinions to any board, bureau or officer of this state, except as provided for in Section 13, Article 4 of the Constitution of the State, F.S.A., with reference to opinion of the Justices of the Supreme Court as to the interpretation of any portion of the Constitution upon any question affecting the executive powers and duties of the Governor.
Affirmed.
SEBRING, C.J., ROBERTS, J., and FABISINSKI, Associate Justice, concur.