Document: 336 U.S. 187 69 S.Ct. 497 93 L.Ed. 599 McCOMB, Adm'rv.JACKSONVILLE PAPER CO. et al. No. 110. Argued Dec. 14, 15, 1948. Decided Feb. 1949. Bessie Margolin, of Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Mr. Louis Kurz, Jacksonville, Fla., respondents. [Argument Counsel from page 188 intentionally omitted] Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion Court. 1 This is a civil contempt proceeding arising out Walling v. Jacksonville Paper Co., 317 564, 63 332, 87 460, which we decided January 18, 1943. The District Court had held that none respondent's employees in specified classes were covered by Fair Labor Stand rds Act. 52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C. § 201 seq., U.S.C.A. seq. We sustained judgment United States Appeals, Fleming 5 Cir., 128 F.2d 395, reversed Court, modifying it slightly to include larger class than Appeals be covered. 2 On remand without further hearing, entered decree enjoining respondents violating Act any following particulars: (1) paying designated less 30¢ an hour date October 24, 1945, or 40¢ thereafter, except as permitted orders Administrator under 8 14 Act; (2) employing such workweek longer 40 hours unless they receive compensation employment excess at rate not one and one-half times regular are employed; (3) failing keep preserve records prescribed Administrator, particularly worked each workday total wages paid workweek. 3 Respondent took no appeal this order. was In 1946 instituted alleging complied with minimum wage, overtime, record-keeping provisions many respects. He prayed required terminate their continuing violations order purge themselves contempts make payment amounts unpaid due affected employees. found decree. It set up completely false fictitious method computing regard actually unlawful adopted plan gave wage increase guise bonus yet excluded pay purpose overtime; classified some executive administrative plain violation regulations 13(a)(1) (4) employed piece-workers maximum them overtime compensation.1 4 'wilful' decree; there case showing 'specific' provision former 'prohibiting doing specific thing.' power on application enforce compliance its ordering statutory wages. accordingly considered amended complaint seeking broadening previous injunction. F.Supp. 599, 608. All parties appealed. affirmed judgment, 167 448. ruled violated couched terms respects also warranted concluding 'wilful contempt' since neither law nor injunction specifically referred condemned practices violate 6 here petition writ certiorari granted because importance problem administration 7 First. absence wilfulness does relieve contempt. Civil distinguished criminal sanction court compensate losses damages reason noncompliance. See Mine Workers, 330 258, 303, 304, 67 677, 701, 91 884; Penfield Co. Securities & Exchange Commission, 585, 590, 918, 921, 1117; Maggio Zeitz, 333 56, 68, 68 401, 407. Since remedial, matters what intent defendant did prohibited act.2 fashioned so grant withhold benefits dependent state mind laid duty obey statute. An act cease merely may have been done innocently. force vitality judicial decrees derive more robust sanctions. And withholding remedial relief wholly discretionary judge, Brandeis wrote unanimous Union Tool Wilson, 259 107, 111, 112, 42 427, 428, 429, 66 848. private public rights sought protect important measure remedy. Second. As noted directed dealing wages, keeping records. There it. By enjoined those provisions. Decrees generality often necessary prevent where proclivity conduct has shown. May Stores National Relations Board, 326 376, 390, 391, 203, 211, 212, 90 145; Crescent Amusement 323 173, 186, 65 254, 260, 89 160. Respondent's record persistent would indicate kind case. Yet if extenuating circumstances too burdensome operation, apart appeal. Respondents could petitioned modification, clarification construction Regal Knitwear 324 9, 478, 481, 661. But take course either. They undertook own determination meant. knew acted peril. For alerted against 9 lie mouths say immunity scheme enjoined. Such rule give tremendous impetus program experimentation disobedience supra, 69, 408. instant excellent illustration how operate accountability contumacy. avoided today Hence new particular plan. Thereafter defendants work Immunity once obtained whole series wrongs perpetrated enforcement goes naught. 10 That result only proclaims necessity narrow invite easy evasion; emphasizes danger attitude expressed courts below will withheld precise arrangement discharge both statute imposed 11 need impeach findings lower c urts evade decree, hold warrant imposition calculated risk when threat measures designed avoid legal consequences unwitting victims law. Having caught toils, endeavoring extricate themselves. full well crossing forbidden line. Accordingly aim punitive, can burden uncertainty shoulders. 12 Third. doubts concerning respondents, contempt, caused lay side question whether suing restrain Act, entitled restitution Cf. Porter Warner Holding 328 1086, 1332. effect court's proceedings determined requirements relief. entail variety acts, production books. supra. require money alimony cases. Gompers Buck's Stove Range 221 418, 442, 31 492, 498, 55 797, 34 L.R.A., N.S., 874; Oriel Russell, 278 358, 364, 365, 49 174, 175, 73 419. 13 present relates §§ not, however, compute weekly monthly amount employee correct Nor contain names payees. provides formula simply computed. If gone step made computation, listing employee, then all fours circumstance changing payrolls fluctuating rates impractical type mark material difference. direction payments pursuant formula. powerless made, lost most effective premium placed violations. fact another suit might brought collect payments3 is, course, immaterial. sit supinely waiting litigant initiative. Vindication authority through depend whimsical fortuitous circumstances. complainant4 back go material. dealing—the authorizes,5 issued, long disobeyed. 15 Reversed. 16 RUTLEDGE concurs result. 17 RANKFURTER, whom JACKSON concurs, dissenting. 18 Obedience must secured command court. To secure obedience function should explicit commands strict exacting compliance. indefinite tyranny. 19 this, after formulated adjudicated within administrator's come into existence, punished Standards such, suffer penalties imprisonment, but latter conviction jury. issued he exposed severe imposes, imprisonment benefit jury trial. reasons indicated again cannot properly basis incorporating reference broad See, e.g., Swift States, 196 375, 396, 25 276, 279, 518; New York, N.H. H.R. Interstate Commerce Comm., 200 361, 404, 26 272, 282, 50 515; Board Express Publishing Company, 312 426, 435, 61 693, 699, 85 930. These considerations become increasingly increasing use injunctions duties. 20 general principles governed decisions Circuit Appeals; control decision here. two while now complained Wage Hour Division Department constituted fair consideration injunction, charged. underlying takes eight pages printed particularizes great detail contains omnibus clauses prohibiting consideration, treated adjudication 'as injunctive heretofore case, enter Memorandum Opinion.' agreed view (with minor modification relevant). short, lacking clearness finding disobedience, proper starting point proceedings. At least, warrantable interpretation disentitled our theirs. 21 reversing conclusion rendering far-reaching import injunctions. Today's ruling happens concern employer. Tomorrow employees, yesterday past. One grievances led Norris-LaGuardia 101 labor Ambiguity lurks thus instrum nt severity. Behind vague inclusiveness like before us hazard retrospective punishment courts, generally enjoin foundation avoiding very evil justly assumed allowable vagueness varies put. ought encourage setting aside forbid explicitness sufficient justify 22 I affirm Appeals. trivial others discontinued. High Injunctions (4th ed., 1905) 1416 Section 16(b) authorizes suits recover unlawfully withheld. who authorized 11(a) bring actions character involved Inland Steel 306 153, 157, 59 415, 417, 83 557; Morgan, 307 183, 193, 194, 795, 800, 801, 1211; Public Service Commission Brashear Freight Lines, 621, 628—630, 784, 788, 789, 1083. 17.

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