Title: Steven R. Sears v. Ben McCrory
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 1080728
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: December 18, 2009

REL: 12/18/2009 
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e 
advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any 
t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may 
be 
made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1080728 
Steven R. Sears 
v. 
Ben McCrory 
Appeal from Shelby C i r c u i t Court 
(CV-08-1019) 
STUART, 
J u s t i c e . 
S t e v e n R. S e a r s 
i n i t i a t e d an e l e c t i o n 
c o n t e s t i n t h e 
S h e l b y 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
a l l e g i n g 
t h a t 
Ben M c C r o r y was n o t 
e l i g i b l e t o 
h o l d t h e o f f i c e o f 
mayor o f 
M o n t e v a l l o t o 
w h i c h he 
was 
e l e c t e d 
b e c a u s e , 
S e a r s 
a l l e g e d , 
M c C r o r y h a d f a i l e d t o 
1080728 
c o m p l y w i t h t h e r e p o r t i n g a n d d i s c l o s u r e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f 
t h e 
F a i r C a m p a i g n P r a c t i c e s A c t , § 17-5-1 e t s e q . , 
A l a . Code 1975 
( " t h e 
F C P A " ) . 
The t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d a summary j u d g m e n t i n 
f a v o r o f M c C r o r y , a n d S e a r s a p p e a l s . 
We a f f i r m . 
I . 
S e a r s , M c C r o r y , a n d R o g e r W h e e l e r were c a n d i d a t e s 
i n t h e 
M o n t e v a l l o 
m a y o r a l 
e l e c t i o n h e l d on A u g u s t 26, 2008. 
As 
c a n d i d a t e s 
f o r a 
l o c a l 
e l e c t e d 
o f f i c e , 
t h e y were 
r e q u i r e d 
u n d e r t h e FCPA t o f i l e 
p e r i o d i c f i n a n c i a l - d i s c l o s u r e r e p o r t s 
w i t h 
t h e l o c a l 
j u d g e 
o f p r o b a t e 
d e t a i l i n g 
b o t h 
c a m p a i g n 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s r e c e i v e d a n d c a m p a i g n e x p e n d i t u r e s made. A t 
a l l 
t i m e s r e l e v a n t t o t h i s a c t i o n , § 1 7 - 5 - 8 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 
A l a . Code 1975, 
s p e c i f i c a l l y r e q u i r e d t h a t s u c h r e p o r t s be f i l e d " [ b ] e t w e e n 50 
and 45 d a y s b e f o r e a n d b e t w e e n 10 a n d 5 d a y s b e f o r e t h e d a t e 
o f [ t h e ] e l e c t i o n . "
1 S e c t i o n 1 7 - 5 - 8 ( c ) f u r t h e r p r o v i d e s 
t h a t 
" [ e ] a c h 
r e p o r t u n d e r t h i s 
s e c t i o n s h a l l d i s c l o s e " : 
" ( 1 ) The amount o f c a s h o r o t h e r a s s e t s on h a n d 
a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d a n d f o r w a r d 
u n t i l 
t h e e n d 
o f 
t h a t 
r e p o r t i n g 
p e r i o d 
a n d 
d i s b u r s e m e n t s made f r o m same. 
" ( 2 ) The i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f e a c h p e r s o n who h a s 
made 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o s u c h c o m m i t t e e o r 
c a n d i d a t e 
1 S e c t i o n 1 7 - 5 - 8 ( a ) was amended e f f e c t i v e A u g u s t 1, 2009. 
The 
t i m e p e r i o d s 
r e m a i n u n c h a n g e d . 
2 
1080728 
w i t h i n 
t h e c a l e n d a r 
y e a r 
i n an a g g r e g a t e 
amount 
g r e a t e r 
t h a n one h u n d r e d 
d o l l a r s 
( $ 1 0 0 ) , 
t o g e t h e r 
w i t h t h e amount a n d d a t e o f a l l s u c h c o n t r i b u t i o n s ; 
p r o v i d e d , h o w e v e r , i n 
t h e 
c a s e o f 
a p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n 
c o m m i t t e e 
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n 
s h a l l 
mean t h e name a n d 
c i t y 
o f r e s i d e n c e 
o f e a c h 
p e r s o n 
who h a s made 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
c a l e n d a r 
y e a r 
i n an 
a g g r e g a t e 
amount 
g r e a t e r 
t h a n one h u n d r e d 
d o l l a r s 
( $ 1 0 0 ) . 
" ( 3 ) 
The t o t a l 
amount o f o t h e r c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
r e c e i v e d d u r i n g t h e c a l e n d a r 
y e a r b u t n o t r e p o r t e d 
u n d e r s u b d i v i s i o n ( c ) ( 2 ) o f t h i s 
s e c t i o n . 
" ( 4 ) E a c h l o a n t o o r f r o m a n y p e r s o n w i t h i n 
t h e 
c a l e n d a r 
y e a r i n an a g g r e g a t e 
amount 
g r e a t e r 
t h a n 
one 
h u n d r e d 
d o l l a r s 
( $ 1 0 0 ) , 
t o g e t h e r 
w i t h t h e 
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f t h e l e n d e r , t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f 
t h e e n d o r s e r s , o r g u a r a n t o r s , i f 
a n y , a n d t h e d a t e 
and amount o f s u c h 
l o a n s . 
" ( 5 ) The t o t a l amount o f r e c e i p t s f r o m a n y o t h e r 
s o u r c e 
d u r i n g s u c h 
c a l e n d a r 
y e a r . 
" ( 6 ) The g r a n d 
t o t a l o f a l l r e c e i p t s b y o r f o r 
s u c h c o m m i t t e e d u r i n g t h e c a l e n d a r 
y e a r . 
" ( 7 ) The i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f e a c h p e r s o n t o whom 
e x p e n d i t u r e s h a v e b e e n made b y o r on b e h a l f o f s u c h 
c o m m i t t e e o r e l e c t e d 
o f f i c i a l 
w i t h i n t h e c a l e n d a r 
y e a r i n 
an a g g r e g a t e amount g r e a t e r t h a n one h u n d r e d 
d o l l a r s 
( $ 1 0 0 ) , t h e amount, 
d a t e , a n d p u r p o s e o f 
e a c h 
s u c h 
e x p e n d i t u r e , 
a n d , i f a p p l i c a b l e , t h e 
d e s i g n a t i o n 
o f e a c h 
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l 
amendment o r 
o t h e r 
p r o p o s i t i o n 
w i t h 
r e s p e c t 
t o 
w h i c h 
an 
e x p e n d i t u r e was made. 
" ( 8 ) The i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f e a c h p e r s o n t o whom 
an e x p e n d i t u r e f o r 
p e r s o n a l s e r v i c e s , 
s a l a r i e s , a n d 
r e i m b u r s e d e x p e n s e s g r e a t e r t h a n one h u n d r e d 
d o l l a r s 
($100) h a s b e e n made, a n d w h i c h i s n o t o t h e r w i s e 
r e p o r t e d o r e x e m p t e d f r o m t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f 
t h i s 
3 
1080728 
c h a p t e r , 
i n c l u d i n g t h e amount, d a t e , a n d p u r p o s e o f 
s u c h 
e x p e n d i t u r e . 
" ( 9 ) The g r a n d t o t a l o f a l l e x p e n d i t u r e s made b y 
s u c h 
c o m m i t t e e 
o r 
e l e c t e d 
o f f i c i a l 
d u r i n g 
t h e 
c a l e n d a r 
y e a r . 
" ( 1 0 ) 
The 
amount 
a n d 
n a t u r e 
o f d e b t s 
a n d 
o b l i g a t i o n s owed b y o r t o t h e c o m m i t t e e o r e l e c t e d 
o f f i c i a l , 
t o g e t h e r 
w i t h 
a 
s t a t e m e n t 
as t o t h e 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d c o n d i t i o n s 
u n d e r w h i c h a n y s u c h 
d e b t 
o r 
o b l i g a t i o n 
was 
e x t i n g u i s h e d 
a n d t h e 
c o n s i d e r a t i o n 
t h e r e f o r . " 
F i n a l l y , § 1 7 - 5 - 8 ( d ) 
a l s o 
r e q u i r e s 
t h a t 
e a c h o f t h e a b o v e -
d e s c r i b e d 
r e p o r t s be s i g n e d b y t h e c a n d i d a t e a n d a c c o m p a n i e d 
by t h e c a n d i d a t e ' s s w o r n a f f i d a v i t " s e t t i n g f o r t h i n s u b s t a n c e 
t h a t s u c h r e p o r t i s t o t h e b e s t o f h i s 
o r h e r k n o w l e d g e a n d 
b e l i e f i n a l l r e s p e c t s 
t r u e a n d c o m p l e t e , a n d , i f 
made by a 
c a n d i d a t e , 
t h a t he o r she h a s n o t r e c e i v e d any c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
o r made any e x p e n d i t u r e s w h i c h a r e n o t s e t f o r t h a n d c o v e r e d 
by s u c h 
r e p o r t . " 
B e t w e e n 
50 a n d 45 d a y s 
b e f o r e 
t h e A u g u s t 
26, 2008 
, 
m a y o r a l 
e l e c t i o n , S e a r s , 
M c C r o r y , 
a n d W h e e l e r 
e a c h 
f i l e d 
w a i v e r s s t a t i n g t h a t t h e y were exempt f r o m f i l i n g t h e t h e n due 
f i n a n c i a l - d i s c l o s u r e 
r e p o r t s 
m a n d a t e d b y § 17-5-8 
b e c a u s e 
t h e i r c a m p a i g n s h a d n o t r e a c h e d t h e 
minimum f i l i n g 
t h r e s h o l d . 
See 
§ 1 7 - 5 - 2 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 
A l a . 
Code 1975 ( s t a t i n g t h a t no p e r s o n 
4 
1080728 
s h a l l be 
c o n s i d e r e d 
a c a n d i d a t e 
f o r a 
l o c a l 
e l e c t e d 
o f f i c e 
w i t h i n 
t h e m e a n i n g 
o f t h e FCPA 
u n t i l 
he o r she has 
e i t h e r 
r e c e i v e d c o n t r i b u t i o n s o r made e x p e n d i t u r e s e x c e e d i n g $ 1 , 0 0 0 ) . 
The n e x t d i s c l o s u r e r e p o r t s were due t o be 
f i l e d b e t w e e n 
10 
and 5 d a y s b e f o r e t h e A u g u s t 26 e l e c t i o n , o r b e t w e e n A u g u s t 16 
and A u g u s t 2 1 . 
T h e r e i s no d i s p u t e 
t h a t S e a r s , M c C r o r y , and 
W h e e l e r a l l f i l e d some r e p o r t s 
w i t h i n t h a t t i m e p e r i o d , 
and 
t h e 
s u f f i c i e n c y o f t h e r e p o r t s 
f i l e d by S e a r s and W h e e l e r has 
n o t b e e n q u e s t i o n e d . 
H o w e v e r , t h e gravamen 
o f S e a r s ' s c l a i m 
a g a i n s t M c C r o r y i s t h a t t h e v a r i o u s 
r e p o r t s 
f i l e d by M c C r o r y 
b o t h w i t h i n and o u t s i d e t h a t t i m e p e r i o d were n o t 
s u f f i c i e n t l y 
c o m p l e t e a n d / o r t i m e l y so as t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e 
b e t w e e n - 1 0 -
a n d - 5 - d a y s ' r e p o r t i n g r e q u i r e m e n t o f t h e FCPA. 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
M c C r o r y 
f i l e d 
t h e f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t s 
w i t h 
t h e p r o b a t e 
c o u r t 
b e t w e e n A u g u s t 15 and S e p t e m b e r 
8: 
1. 
On A u g u s t 15, M c C r o r y 
f i l e d 
a two-page 
r e p o r t 
w i t h t h e p r o b a t e c o u r t . 
The 
f i r s t page was t h e 
o f f i c i a l 
" A p p o i n t m e n t 
o f 
P r i n c i p a l 
Campaign 
C o m m i t t e e " f o r m u s e d t o show c o m p l i a n c e w i t h § 
17-5-4, A l a . Code 1975, and w h i c h M c C r o r y 
h a d 
p r e v i o u s l y 
f i l e d .
2 
A t t h e b o t t o m o f t h i s f o r m , 
2 S e c t i o n 17-5-4 s t a t e s : 
" W i t h i n 
f i v e 
d a y s 
a f t e r 
any p e r s o n becomes a 
c a n d i d a t e 
f o r o f f i c e , 
s u c h p e r s o n 
s h a l l 
f i l e 
w i t h 
t h e 
S e c r e t a r y 
o f 
S t a t e 
o r j u d g e 
o f 
p r o b a t e , 
as 
5 
1080728 
2. 
3. 
M c C r o r y 
s i g n e d 
a s t a t e m e n t 
a f f i r m i n g t h a t 
" t o 
t h e 
b e s t 
o f 
my 
k n o w l e d g e 
and 
b e l i e f 
... 
t h e 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
c o n t a i n e d 
h e r e i n 
i s 
t r u e 
and 
c o r r e c t . " 
The 
s e c o n d page 
was 
t h e 
o f f i c i a l 
" F o r m 2" u s e d t o 
l i s t 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s r e c e i v e d 
by 
c a n d i d a t e s . 
I t 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t 
M c C r o r y ' s 
c a m p a i g n had 
r e c e i v e d o n l y two 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
-¬
$100 
on 
J u l y 18, 
2008, and 
$1,000 on 
J u l y 
20, 
2008. 
On 
A u g u s t 
19, 
M c C r o r y 
f i l e d 
t h r e e more p a g e s 
w i t h 
t h e 
p r o b a t e 
c o u r t . 
The 
f i r s t 
page 
was 
a n o t h e r 
s i g n e d 
A p p o i n t m e n t 
o f 
P r i n c i p a l 
C a m p a i g n C o m m i t t e e f o r m , and 
t h e n e x t two 
p a g e s 
were 
a n o t h e r Form 
2 
r e p o r t 
a g a i n 
l i s t i n g 
t h e 
two 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
t o t a l i n g 
$1,100 
f r o m 
t h e 
A u g u s t 
15 
r e p o r t , 
as 
w e l l as 
an 
a d d i t i o n a l 
13 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
r e c e i v e d b e t w e e n 
J u l y 25, 
2008, 
and A u g u s t 7, 2008, t o t a l i n g 
$2,160. 
On A u g u s t 22 
-- 
f o u r d a y s b e f o r e 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n 
and 
one 
day 
a f t e r t h e 
f i l i n g 
d e a d l i n e 
f o r 
t h e 
b e t w e e n - 1 0 - a n d - 5 - d a y s 
r e p o r t 
-- 
M c C r o r y 
f i l e d 
t h r e e more p a g e s w i t h 
t h e p r o b a t e 
c o u r t . 
The 
f i r s t 
page 
was 
a n o t h e r 
s i g n e d 
A p p o i n t m e n t 
o f 
P r i n c i p a l C a m p a i g n C o m m i t t e e f o r m . 
The 
s e c o n d 
page was 
t h e 
o f f i c i a l "Form 3" u s e d t o 
l i s t i n -
k i n d c o n t r i b u t i o n s r e c e i v e d by 
c a n d i d a t e s . 
I t 
i n d i c a t e d t h a t M c C r o r y ' s c a m p a i g n had 
r e c e i v e d 
two 
i n - k i n d c o n t r i b u t i o n s w o r t h 
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
$105 
f o r a d v e r t i s i n g and 
r e n t . 
The 
t h i r d page 
p r o v i d e d 
i n S e c t i o n 17-5-9, a s t a t e m e n t s h o w i n g 
t h e 
name o f n o t 
l e s s t h a n two 
n o r more t h a n f i v e p e r s o n s 
e l e c t e d t o s e r v e as t h e p r i n c i p a l c a m p a i g n c o m m i t t e e 
f o r 
s u c h 
c a n d i d a t e , 
t o g e t h e r 
w i t h 
a 
w r i t t e n 
a c c e p t a n c e 
o r 
c o n s e n t 
by 
s u c h 
c o m m i t t e e , 
b u t 
any 
c a n d i d a t e 
may 
d e c l a r e 
h i m s e l f 
o r 
h e r s e l f 
as 
t h e 
p e r s o n 
c h o s e n 
t o 
s e r v e 
as 
t h e 
p r i n c i p a l 
c a m p a i g n 
c o m m i t t e e , 
i n 
w h i c h 
c a s e 
s u c h 
c a n d i d a t e 
s h a l l 
p e r f o r m 
t h e 
d u t i e s 
o f 
c h a i r 
and 
t r e a s u r e r 
o f 
s u c h 
c o m m i t t e e p r e s c r i b e d by 
t h i s 
c h a p t e r . " 
6 
1080728 
was 
t h e 
o f f i c i a l 
"Form 
5" 
u s e d 
t o 
l i s t 
e x p e n d i t u r e s made b y c a n d i d a t e s . 
I t i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t 
M c C r o r y 
h a d 
p a i d 
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e 
and 
a d v e r t i s i n g e x p e n s e s t o t a l i n g 
$ 1 , 4 6 9 . 5 8 . 
4. 
On 
A u g u s t 
28, two d a y s 
a f t e r t h e e l e c t i o n , 
M c C r o r y 
f i l e d 
a 
f i v e - p a g e 
r e p o r t 
l a b e l e d 
" c o r r e c t e d 
c o p y . " 
I t was 
p r e f a c e d 
b y 
a 
n o t a r i z e d 
o f f i c i a l "Summary Form 1" i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t i t 
was t h e "10-5 Day P r e - E l e c t i o n 
R e p o r t " 
and 
w h i c h 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t 
M c C r o r y ' s 
c a m p a i g n 
h a d : 
(1) a b e g i n n i n g 
b a l a n c e 
o f $1,100; 
(2) 
i t e m i z e d 
c a s h c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f $2,160; (3) i n -
k i n d 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
o f $105; (4) no 
r e c e i p t s 
f r o m 
o t h e r 
s o u r c e s ; 
(5) 
e x p e n d i t u r e s 
o f 
$ 1 , 4 6 9 . 5 8 ; 
and 
(6) 
an 
e n d i n g 
b a l a n c e 
o f 
$ 1 , 7 9 0 . 4 2 . 
I t a l s o i n c l u d e d a c o p y o f t h e 
t w o -
page Form 2 r e p o r t 
p r e v i o u s l y 
f i l e d on A u g u s t 
19 w i t h t h e two c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
( t o t a l i n g $1,100) 
t h a t were a l s o 
l i s t e d on t h e A u g u s t 15 
r e p o r t 
c r o s s e d o u t w i t h t h e n o t a t i o n 
" c o v e r e d i n l a s t 
r e p o r t " w r i t t e n n e x t t o them. 
T h i s 
f i l i n g 
a l s o 
i n c l u d e d 
c o p i e s o f t h e Form 3 and Form 5 
f i l e d 
on A u g u s t 22. 
5. 
On S e p t e m b e r 8, M c C r o r y 
f i l e d 
a n o t h e r Summary 
Form 1 i n d i c a t i n g t h a t i t 
was an "Amended 
P r e ¬
E l e c t i o n 
R e p o r t " 
and 
w h i c h 
i n d i c a t e d 
c a s h 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f $1,100. 
On 
A u g u s t 
26, t h e m a y o r a l 
e l e c t i o n 
was 
h e l d . 
No 
c a n d i d a t e r e c e i v e d a m a j o r i t y o f t h e v o t e s c a s t , h o w e v e r , and 
a 
r u n o f f 
e l e c t i o n 
b e t w e e n 
S e a r s 
and M c C r o r y 
-- t h e two 
c a n d i d a t e s 
r e c e i v i n g t h e most 
v o t e s 
-- was 
s c h e d u l e d f o r 
O c t o b e r 
7, 
2008. 
F o l l o w i n g 
t h e r u n o f f 
e l e c t i o n , i t was 
d e t e r m i n e d t h a t M c C r o r y h a d p r e v a i l e d o v e r S e a r s b y a t a l l y o f 
7 
1080728 
412 v o t e s t o 403 v o t e s , and, on O c t o b e r 20, 2008, M c C r o r y 
was 
c e r t i f i e d as t h e w i n n e r o f t h e e l e c t i o n . 
T h a t same d a y , 
S e a r s 
f i l e d 
t h e 
i n s t a n t 
e l e c t i o n 
c o n t e s t p u r s u a n t 
t o § 1 1 - 4 6 - 6 9 , 
A l a . 
Code 1 9 7 5 ,
3 a l l e g i n g t h a t M c C r o r y was n o t q u a l i f i e d t o be 
a c a n d i d a t e i n t h e m a y o r a l e l e c t i o n b e c a u s e , S e a r s a l l e g e d , 
he 
had 
f a i l e d 
t o 
f i l e 
a 
p r o p e r 
f i n a n c i a l - d i s c l o s u r e 
r e p o r t 
b e t w e e n 10 and 5 d a y s b e f o r e t h e A u g u s t 26 g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n as 
r e q u i r e d by § 17-5-8 o f t h e FCPA. 
S e a r s a c c o r d i n g l y 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
M c C r o r y ' s 
c e r t i f i c a t e 
o f 
e l e c t i o n 
s h o u l d be 
d e c l a r e d 
v o i d . 
B o t h p a r t i e s 
t h e r e a f t e r moved f o r a summary j u d g m e n t , 
and, 
on J a n u a r y 21, 2009, t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t g r a n t e d 
M c C r o r y ' s 
m o t i o n and e n t e r e d a summary j u d g m e n t i n h i s f a v o r . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t s u b s e q u e n t l y d e n i e d a m o t i o n 
f i l e d by S e a r s a s k i n g i t t o 
3 S e c t i o n 11-46-69 
s t a t e s : 
" ( a ) The e l e c t i o n o f any p e r s o n d e c l a r e d e l e c t e d 
t o 
any 
o f f i c e o f a c i t y o r town may 
be c o n t e s t e d by 
any 
p e r s o n 
who 
was 
a t t h e t i m e 
o f t h e 
e l e c t i o n 
a 
q u a l i f i e d 
e l e c t o r 
o f s u c h 
c i t y 
o r town f o r any 
o f 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
c a u s e s : 
" ( 2 ) 
The 
p e r s o n 
whose 
e l e c t i o n 
t o 
o f f i c e 
i s 
c o n t e s t e d 
was 
n o t 
e l i g i b l e 
t h e r e t o a t t h e t i m e o f s u c h e l e c t i o n 
" 
8 
1080728 
a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e t h e j u d g m e n t , and, on M a r c h 19, 2009, 
S e a r s 
f i l e d h i s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l t o t h i s 
C o u r t . 
I I . 
The 
s t a n d a r d f o r r e v i e w i n g a summary j u d g m e n t 
i s 
w e l l 
s e t t l e d : 
" T h i s C o u r t ' s r e v i e w o f a summary j u d g m e n t i s de 
n o v o . 
W i l l i a m s v. S t a t e Farm Mut. 
A u t o . 
I n s . 
Co., 
8 
8 
6 So. 
2d 
72 , 74 
( A l a . 2 0 0 3 ) . 
We 
a p p l y t h e same 
s t a n d a r d 
o f 
r e v i e w 
as 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
a p p l i e d . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
we must d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e movant 
has made a p r i m a f a c i e s h o w i n g 
t h a t no g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t 
e x i s t s 
and 
t h a t 
t h e 
movant 
i s 
e n t i t l e d 
t o a j u d g m e n t 
as 
a m a t t e r 
o f l a w . 
R u l e 
5 6 ( c ) , A l a . R. C i v . P.; 
B l u e C r o s s & B l u e S h i e l d 
o f  
A l a b a m a v. 
H o d u r s k i , 899 
So. 
2d 
949, 
952-53 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 4 ) . 
I n m a k i n g 
s u c h 
a 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n , we 
must 
r e v i e w t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e 
l i g h t most f a v o r a b l e t o 
t h e n o n m o v a n t . 
W i l s o n v. Brown, 496 So. 2d 756, 
758 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 6 ) . 
Once t h e movant makes a p r i m a 
f a c i e 
s h o w i n g 
t h a t t h e r e i s no g e n u i n e 
i s s u e o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t , 
t h e 
b u r d e n 
t h e n 
s h i f t s 
t o 
t h e nonmovant 
t o 
p r o d u c e 
' s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e ' as t o t h e e x i s t e n c e 
o f 
a 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t . 
B a s s 
v. 
 
S o u t h T r u s t Bank o f B a l d w i n C o u n t y , 
538 
So. 
2d 
794, 
797-98 
( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) ; 
A l a . Code 
1975, 
§ 
1 2 - 2 1 - 1 2 . 
' [ S ] u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e 
i s e v i d e n c e o f s u c h 
w e i g h t 
and q u a l i t y t h a t f a i r - m i n d e d p e r s o n s i n t h e e x e r c i s e 
o f 
i m p a r t i a l 
j u d g m e n t 
c a n 
r e a s o n a b l y 
i n f e r 
t h e 
e x i s t e n c e o f t h e f a c t s o u g h t t o be p r o v e d . ' 
West v.  
F o u n d e r s 
L i f e 
A s s u r . Co. 
o f F l a . , 547 
So. 
2d 
870 , 
871 
( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) . " 
Dow 
v. A l a b a m a 
D e m o c r a t i c 
P a r t y , 897 
So. 
2d 
1035, 
1038-39 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 4 ) . 
I I I . 
9 
1080728 
The 
o n l y 
i s s u e f o r us 
t o d e c i d e 
i n t h i s c a s e i s w h e t h e r 
M c C r o r y 
c o m p l i e d 
w i t h 
t h e 
r e q u i r e m e n t 
o f 
t h e 
FCPA 
t h a t 
c a n d i d a t e s 
f o r 
p u b l i c 
o f f i c e 
f i l e 
a f i n a n c i a l - d i s c l o s u r e 
r e p o r t b e t w e e n 10 and 
5 d a y s b e f o r e 
t h e e l e c t i o n i n w h i c h t h e y 
a r e 
a 
c a n d i d a t e .
4 
S e a r s 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
§ 17-5-8 
o f 
t h e 
FCPA 
r e q u i r e s e a c h c a n d i d a t e 
t o 
f i l e a s i n g l e r e p o r t b e t w e e n 10 
and 
5 d a y s b e f o r e 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n t h a t 
i n c l u d e s : 
(1) 
c o m p l e t e 
and 
d e t a i l e d 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
on 
a l l c o n t r i b u t i o n s and 
e x p e n d i t u r e s ; 
(2) a summary s t a t e m e n t o f a l l r e c e i p t s and 
e x p e n d i t u r e s 
f o r 
t h a t 
c a l e n d a r 
y e a r ; 
and 
(3) 
a n o t a r i z e d 
a f f i d a v i t 
a t t e s t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
r e p o r t 
i s t r u e 
and 
c o m p l e t e . 
He 
a l s o a l l e g e s 
t h a t 
none o f 
t h e 
r e p o r t s 
f i l e d 
by 
M c C r o r y met 
t h i s 
r e q u i r e m e n t . 
4 B e f o r e 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
M c C r o r y 
had 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n c o n t e s t 
f i l e d by S e a r s was 
u n t i m e l y b e c a u s e S e a r s d i d 
n o t 
f i l e i t i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n b u t 
i n s t e a d 
w a i t e d 
u n t i l 
a f t e r t h e 
r u n o f f e l e c t i o n . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d i d 
n o t 
s t a t e 
i t s r a t i o n a l e f o r e n t e r i n g 
a summary j u d g m e n t 
i n 
f a v o r o f M c C r o r y , and S e a r s has 
a c c o r d i n g l y d e v o t e d a p o r t i o n 
o f h i s a p p e l l a t e 
b r i e f 
t o t h e a r g u m e n t t h a t 
t h i s 
a c t i o n 
was 
t i m e l y 
f i l e d . 
However, on May 
15, 2009, a f t e r t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
i t s j u d g m e n t 
i n 
t h i s 
c a s e , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
r e l e a s e d 
i t s 
o p i n i o n 
i n S m i t h v. 
B u r k h a l t e r , 
[Ms. 
1080202, May 
15, 
2009] 
So. 
3d 
, 
( A l a . 2 0 0 9 ) , i n w h i c h we 
c l a r i f i e d 
t h a t 
an 
e l e c t i o n 
c o n t e s t 
c a n n o t be 
f i l e d 
u n t i l 
a f t e r a c a n d i d a t e 
i s 
" d e c l a r e d 
e l e c t e d . " 
Thus, S e a r s w o u l d have b e e n u n a b l e 
t o 
f i l e 
an e l e c t i o n c o n t e s t 
b e f o r e 
t h e 
r u n o f f e l e c t i o n was 
h e l d 
and 
a w i n n e r d e c l a r e d ; 
a c c o r d i n g l y , 
t h i s e l e c t i o n c o n t e s t 
was 
t i m e l y 
f i l e d . 
I n 
h i s 
b r i e f 
t o 
t h i s 
C o u r t , 
M c C r o r y 
a c k n o w l e d g e s t h e h o l d i n g o f S m i t h and 
t h a t t h e o n l y i s s u e f o r 
o u r 
r e v i e w 
i s w h e t h e r he 
c o m p l i e d w i t h t h e FCPA. 
10 
1080728 
However, M c C r o r y , q u o t i n g B r y a n v . H u b b a r d , 6 So. 3d 4 9 1 , 499 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 8 ) , a r g u e s t h a t " [ t ] h e l e g i s l a t u r e ' s 
p r i m a r y p u r p o s e 
i n 
e n a c t i n g 
t h e FCPA was t o r e q u i r e 
c a n d i d a t e s 
f o r p u b l i c 
o f f i c e 
i n A l a b a m a 
t o 
d i s c l o s e 
c a m p a i g n 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
and 
e x p e n d i t u r e s 
b e f o r e an e l e c t i o n , " a n d , he a r g u e s , t h e r e p o r t s 
he f i l e d b e f o r e t h e e l e c t i o n , when c o n s i d e r e d 
t o g e t h e r , d i d i n 
f a c t p r o v i d e c o m p l e t e and f u l l d i s c l o s u r e o f a l l c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
r e c e i v e d and e x p e n d i t u r e s 
made. 
We a g r e e w i t h M c C r o r y t h a t t h e s i g n e d 
r e p o r t s he 
f i l e d 
b e f o r e 
t h e A u g u s t 
26 
e l e c t i o n d i d p r o v i d e 
t h e 
d i s c l o s u r e 
r e q u i r e d by t h e FCPA. 
Those r e p o r t s d e t a i l e d e v e r y c a m p a i g n 
c o n t r i b u t i o n r e c e i v e d and e v e r y e x p e n d i t u r e 
made by M c C r o r y , 
and any c i t i z e n d e s i r i n g t o r e v i e w 
t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n b e f o r e t h e 
e l e c t i o n c o u l d have h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o do s o . The r e p o r t s 
f i l e d 
b y M c C r o r y 
a f t e r t h e e l e c t i o n -- on A u g u s t 
28 and 
S e p t e m b e r 8 -- d i d n o t d i s c l o s e any p r e v i o u s l y u n i d e n t i f i e d 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s o r e x p e n d i t u r e s ; 
i n s t e a d , t h e y a p p e a r t o be an 
a t t e m p t t o c l a r i f y t h e p r e v i o u s 
f i l i n g s 
and t o s u m m a r i z e i n 
one 
r e p o r t 
a l l t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r e v i o u s l y 
s u b m i t t e d . 
Of c o u r s e , 
i t 
i s n e v e r t h e l e s s 
t r u e t h a t t h e r e p o r t 
f i l e d 
by 
M c C r o r y on A u g u s t 22, w h i c h d i d c o n t a i n new 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
11 
1080728 
r e g a r d i n g 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
and 
e x p e n d i t u r e s , 
and 
w h i c h 
was 
o u t s i d e 
t h e b e t w e e n - 1 0 - a n d - 5 - d a y p e r i o d b e f o r e 
t h e e l e c t i o n , 
was 
u n t i m e l y . 
I n D a v i s v. 
R e y n o l d s , 
592 
So. 
2d 
546, 
555-56 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 1 ) , t h i s C o u r t c o n s i d e r e d 
a s i m i l a r e l e c t i o n 
c o n t e s t 
i n w h i c h a d o c u m e n t r e q u i r e d 
t o by 
f i l e d u n d e r t h e FCPA 
was 
f i l e d by 
t h e c a n d i d a t e , 
b u t 
n o t w i t h i n t h e p e r i o d r e q u i r e d 
by 
t h e FCPA. 
We 
s t a t e d : 
"The 
[FCPA] was 
e n a c t e d by 
t h e 
L e g i s l a t u r e 
i n 
1988. 
I t s p r i m a r y 
l a u d a b l e 
p u r p o s e was 
t o 
r e q u i r e 
c a n d i d a t e s f o r p u b l i c o f f i c e 
i n A l a b a m a t o 
d i s c l o s e 
c a m p a i g n 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
and 
e x p e n d i t u r e s 
p r i o r 
t o 
e l e c t i o n s . 
I t 
r e p e a l e d 
p a r t s 
o f 
t h e 
C o r r u p t 
P r a c t i c e s A c t , 
§ 17-22-1 e t s e q . , 
[ A l a . Code 1975,] 
w h i c h r e q u i r e d 
d i s c l o s u r e 
o n l y 
a f t e r t h e 
e l e c t i o n . 
To a c c o m p l i s h t h i s p u r p o s e , t h e l e g i s l a t u r e i n c l u d e d 
s a n c t i o n s 
f o r 
v i o l a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
s t a t u t e . 
F o r 
a 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
f i l e 
a s t a t e m e n t r e q u i r e d by 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
p r i o r 
t o 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n , § 17-22A-21 
[now 
§ 17-5-18] 
p r o v i d e s 
t h e 
h a r s h e s t 
p e n a l t y 
o f a l l : 
"'A 
c e r t i f i c a t e 
o f 
e l e c t i o n o r 
n o m i n a t i o n 
s h a l l 
n o t 
be 
i s s u e d 
t o any 
p e r s o n 
e l e c t e d 
o r n o m i n a t e d t o 
s t a t e o r 
l o c a l 
o f f i c e 
who 
s h a l l 
f a i l 
t o 
f i l e 
any 
s t a t e m e n t o r 
r e p o r t 
r e q u i r e d by 
t h i s 
C h a p t e r . ' 
"Thus, 
any 
c a n d i d a t e 
who 
f a i l s 
t o 
f i l e 
a 
s t a t e m e n t 
t h a t 
i s 
r e q u i r e d 
t o 
be 
f i l e d 
by 
t h e 
[ F C P A ] , 
p r i o r 
t o 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n 
f o r 
t h e 
p u r p o s e 
o f 
i n f o r m i n g 
t h e 
v o t i n g 
p u b l i c 
o f 
t h e 
s o u r c e s 
o f 
h i s 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s 
and 
t h e 
s u b j e c t 
o f 
h i s 
e x p e n d i t u r e s , 
s h a l l 
f o r f e i t t h e e l e c t i o n . 
" F o r 
t h e 
c a n d i d a t e who 
d o e s n o t 
f a i l 
t o 
f i l e 
a 
s t a t e m e n t b e f o r e 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n , b u t 
who 
f i l e s 
s u c h a 
12 
1080728 
s t a t e m e n t 
l a t e , § 1 7 - 2 2 A - 2 2 ( b ) [now § 
1 7 - 1 7 - 3 5 ( b ) ] 
p r e s c r i b e s a n d a p p l i e s p u n i s h m e n t i n t h e f o r m o f a 
c r i m i n a l p e n a l t y . 
"These two d i s t i n c t s a n c t i o n s , f o r f e i t u r e o f t h e 
e l e c t i o n f o r t h o s e c a n d i d a t e s who 
f a i l t o f i l e t h e 
d i s c l o s u r e s t a t e m e n t s 
r e q u i r e d b y t h e s t a t u t e 
p r i o r 
t o t h e e l e c t i o n , a n d c r i m i n a l 
f i n e s f o r c a n d i d a t e s 
who 
f i l e 
s u c h 
d i s c l o s u r e 
s t a t e m e n t s 
p r i o r t o t h e 
e l e c t i o n b u t n o t w i t h i n t h e t i m e p r e s c r i b e d b y t h e 
s t a t u t e , 
c a r r y o u t t h e l e g i s l a t i v e 
i n t e n t o f 
f u l l 
d i s c l o s u r e b e f o r e t h e e l e c t i o n ; b u t t h e s e s a n c t i o n s 
do 
n o t 
r e q u i r e 
a 
c a n d i d a t e 
who 
d i s c l o s e s h i s 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s a n d e x p e n d i t u r e s b e f o r e t h e e l e c t i o n 
(but n o t w i t h i n t h e t i m e p r o v i d e d b y t h e s t a t u t e ) t o 
f o r f e i t t h e e l e c t i o n . 
T h a t s a n c t i o n i s 
t o o h a r s h t o 
v i s i t upon a c a n d i d a t e who h a s n o t f a i l e d t o 
f i l e 
t h e s t a t e m e n t s 
r e q u i r e d , b u t h a s m e r e l y 
f i l e d 
them 
l a t e . 
A f t e r 
a l l , 
t h i s 
c a n d i d a t e i s t h e c a n d i d a t e 
c h o s e n b y t h e p e o p l e as t h e i r 
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , 
e v e n 
t h o u g h h i s 
d i s c l o s u r e s t a t e m e n t was f i l e d u n t i m e l y . 
The 
p e o p l e ' s 
c h o i c e 
s h o u l d 
p r e v a i l 
e v e n 
i f 
t h e 
c a n d i d a t e i s 
i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e t i m e c o n s t r a i n t s o f 
t h e 
s t a t u t e , i f 
he f i l e s h i s d i s c l o s u r e 
s t a t e m e n t s 
p r i o r t o t h e e l e c t i o n . 
"A 
f a i r 
r e a d i n g 
o f t h e 
[FCPA] 
l e a d s 
one 
i n e s c a p a b l y t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e L e g i s l a t u r e 
made a 
c l e a r 
d i s t i n c t i o n 
b e t w e e n 
p e n a l t i e s 
t h a t 
w o u l d 
a p p l y t o t h o s e 
c a n d i d a t e s who 
f a i l 
t o 
f i l e 
d i s c l o s u r e 
s t a t e m e n t s 
a n d 
t h o s e 
c a n d i d a t e s 
who 
m e r e l y 
f i l e them l a t e . 
I t 
i s 
n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t 
i t 
d i d s o . I t 
was d e s i g n e d t o d i f f e r f r o m t h e C o r r u p t 
P r a c t i c e s 
A c t , w h i c h 
p r o v i d e d 
o n l y 
t h e 
h a r s h 
s a n c t i o n o f r e m o v a l o f t h e c a n d i d a t e ' s name f r o m t h e 
b a l l o t . 
The p u r p o s e 
o f t h e [FCPA] i s t o a i d t h e 
v o t i n g 
p u b l i c 
i n c h o o s i n g 
i t s s t a t e 
a n d 
c o u n t y 
o f f i c i a l s . 
I t s p u r p o s e 
i s n o t t o d e n y t h e v o t i n g 
p u b l i c 
i t s c h o i c e o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , e v e n i f 
he o r 
she h a s 
f a i l e d 
t o meet a 
s t a t u t o r y 
d e a d l i n e f o r 
f i l i n g 
d i s c l o s u r e 
s t a t e m e n t s , so l o n g as he o r she 
13 
1080728 
n e v e r t h e l e s s h a s f i l e d t h e s t a t e m e n t s 
p r i o r t o 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n . 
f l 
"The 
[FCPA] marks a new d a y i n 
A l a b a m a c a m p a i g n 
p r a c t i c e s . 
I t r e q u i r e s f u l l a n d c o m p l e t e 
d i s c l o s u r e 
by 
a l l c a n d i d a t e s f o r 
p u b l i c 
o f f i c e o f t h e s o u r c e s 
o f 
a l l c o n t r i b u t i o n s a n d 
t h e 
s u b j e c t 
o f 
a l l 
e x p e n d i t u r e s . 
I t r e q u i r e s t h i s d i s c l o s u r e p r i o r t o 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n . 
I f i t i s n o t made 
b e f o r e 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n , t h e c a n d i d a t e may n o t be c e r t i f i e d t o 
t h e 
o f f i c e i f 
he w i n s t h e e l e c t i o n , § 17-22A-21 [now § 
1 7 - 5 - 1 8 ] . 
I t r e q u i r e s t h i s d i s c l o s u r e 
s h o r t l y 
a f t e r 
one becomes a c a n d i d a t e . 
I f i t 
i s n o t made 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
t i m e 
r e q u i r e d , b u t b e f o r e 
t h e e l e c t i o n , t h e 
c a n d i d a t e i s s u b j e c t t o t h e p e n a l t i e s p r o v i d e d b y § 
1 7 - 2 2 A - 2 2 ( b ) [now § 1 7 - 1 7 - 3 5 ( b ) ] . 
I t s p u r p o s e i s t o 
i n f o r m 
t h e v o t i n g 
p u b l i c 
o f t h e 
s o u r c e 
o f a 
c a n d i d a t e ' s 
f i n a n c i a l 
s u p p o r t . 
T h i s 
p u r p o s e i s 
s e r v e d by t h e s a n c t i o n s p r o v i d e d f o r i n t h e 
A c t . 
T h i s C o u r t h a s no a u t h o r i t y t o e n l a r g e t h e s a n c t i o n s 
p r o v i d e d f o r 
i n t h e l e g i s l a t i o n 
i t s e l f . " 
( F o o t n o t e 
o m i t t e d . ) 
Thus, 
l i k e 
t h e c a n d i d a t e 
i n D a v i s , 
M c C r o r y was "a c a n d i d a t e who d i s c l o s e [ d ] 
h i s 
c o n t r i b u t i o n s a n d 
e x p e n d i t u r e s 
b e f o r e t h e e l e c t i o n 
( b u t n o t w i t h i n t h e t i m e 
p r o v i d e d by t h e s t a t u t e ) . " 
592 So. 2d a t 5 5 5 . 
He d i d 
t h e r e f o r e v i o l a t e t h e FCPA; h o w e v e r , we h a v e h e l d t h a t " [ t ] h e 
p e o p l e ' s 
c h o i c e 
s h o u l d 
p r e v a i l 
e v e n i f 
t h e c a n d i d a t e i s 
i n 
v i o l a t i o n o f t h e t i m e c o n s t r a i n t s o f t h e s t a t u t e , i f he 
f i l e s 
h i s d i s c l o s u r e s t a t e m e n t s 
p r i o r t o t h e e l e c t i o n . " 
592 So. 2d 
a t 555. A c c o r d i n g l y , S e a r s was n o t e n t i t l e d t o t h e r e l i e f he 
14 
1080728 
s o u g h t -- t h e r e v o c a t i o n o f M c C r o r y ' s c e r t i f i c a t e o f e l e c t i o n 
-- 
and 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t p r o p e r l y e n t e r e d 
j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r 
o f 
M c C r o r y .
5 
I V . 
S e a r s 
i n i t i a t e d 
t h i s 
a c t i o n 
by 
f i l i n g 
a 
c o m p l a i n t 
a l l e g i n g t h a t M c C r o r y was 
n o t 
q u a l i f i e d 
t o be 
a c a n d i d a t e 
i n 
t h e A u g u s t 2008 m a y o r a l e l e c t i o n f o r M o n t e v a l l o 
b e c a u s e , S e a r s 
a l l e g e d , M c C r o r y d i d n o t 
t i m e l y 
f i l e 
a f i n a n c i a l - d i s c l o s u r e 
r e p o r t as r e q u i r e d by § 17-5-8 o f t h e FCPA. 
However, b e c a u s e 
M c C r o r y 
d i d 
i n 
f a c t 
d i s c l o s e 
b e f o r e 
t h e 
e l e c t i o n a l l 
t h e 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
r e q u i r e d by 
t h e FCPA, 
a l b e i t 
o u t s i d e 
t h e 
p e r i o d 
m a n d a t e d by 
§ 17-5-8, he 
was 
n e v e r t h e l e s s 
e l i g i b l e 
f o r 
t h a t 
e l e c t i o n , 
and 
t h e 
c e r t i f i c a t i o n 
o f 
e l e c t i o n he 
s u b s e q u e n t l y 
r e c e i v e d a f t e r g a r n e r i n g t h e most v o t e s 
i n t h e r u n o f f e l e c t i o n 
i s 
v a l i d . 
D a v i s , 
592 
So. 
2d a t 555-56. 
T h e r e i s no 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e 
o f 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t 
i n 
t h i s 
r e g a r d , 
and 
t h e 
summary 
j u d g m e n t e n t e r e d 
by 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i s a c c o r d i n g l y due 
t o 
be 
a f f i r m e d . 
AFFIRMED. 
5 A l t h o u g h M c C r o r y ' s 
u n t i m e l y 
f i l i n g 
may 
s u b j e c t 
h i m 
t o 
c r i m i n a l p e n a l t i e s u n d e r § 1 7 - 1 7 - 3 5 ( b ) , A l a . Code 1975, 
t h o s e 
p e n a l t i e s 
c a n n o t 
be 
s o u g h t 
o r 
i m p o s e d 
i n 
a 
c i v i l 
a c t i o n 
b r o u g h t by 
a p r i v a t e c i t i z e n s u c h as 
S e a r s . 
15 
1080728 
Cobb, C . J . , and L y o n s and B o l i n , J J . , c o n c u r . 
M u r d o c k , J . , c o n c u r s i n t h e 
r e s u l t . 
16