Task: songer_typeiss

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals.
Your task is to determine the general category of issues discussed in the opinion of the court. Choose among the following categories. Criminal and prisioner petitions- includes appeals of conviction, petitions for post conviction relief, habeas corpus petitions, and other prisoner petitions which challenge the validity of the conviction or the sentence or the validity of continued confinement. Civil - Government - these will include appeals from administrative agencies (e.g., OSHA,FDA), the decisions of administrative law judges, or the decisions of independent regulatory agencies (e.g., NLRB, FCC,SEC). The focus in administrative law is usually on procedural principles that apply to administrative agencies as they affect private interests, primarily through rulemaking and adjudication. Tort actions against the government, including petitions by prisoners which challenge the conditions of their confinement or which seek damages for torts committed by prion officials or by police fit in this category. In addition, this category will include suits over taxes and claims for benefits from government. Diversity of Citizenship - civil cases involving disputes between citizens of different states (remember that businesses have state citizenship). These cases will always involve the application of state or local law. If the case is centrally concerned with the application or interpretation of federal law then it is not a diversity case. Civil Disputes - Private - includes all civil cases that do not fit in any of the above categories. The opposing litigants will be individuals, businesses or groups.

HARTIGAN, Senior Circuit Judge
(by designation).
This is an appeal from an order and judgment of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered June 8, 1964, overruling objections to a master’s report and awarding appellee $1,094,779.94 in damages. Said master’s report was submitted May 1, 1964, after further hearings were conducted in accordance with a judgment of this court entered December 26, 1963. Baker v. Simmons Company, 325 F.2d. 580 (1st Cir. 1963). In an earlier opinion we affirmed the district court’s issuance of an injunction. Baker v. Simmons Company, 307 F.2d 458 (1st Cir. 1962).
After we remanded this case on December 26, 1963, the district court referred it to the master to permit the parties to examine the accountant previously used by the master in preparing his findings. Appellant now contends that the master, in his second report, merely rubber-stamped his first report and that in any event his report is not supported by the evidence. At the second hearing appellant was content only to cross-examine the accountant, introducing no witnesses of his own in rebuttal. The master was entitled to rely on the accountant’s testimony and, therefore, to adhere to his earlier assessment of damages.
Appellant also contends that he was prejudiced by remarks made by the district judge, heard by the master, to the effect that appellant was a “crook” and that he desired to get into bankruptcy. He cites cases standing for the proposition that litigants are entitled to a trial before a tribunal free from bias and prejudice. That no doubt is true. However, the assessment of damages was made by the master and not by the district judge. The only question, therefore, is whether the district judge’s remarks in any way infected the proceedings before the master. In the light of our first opinion, Baker v. Simmons Company, 307 F.2d 458 (1st Cir. 1962), we scarcely think the district judge’s remarks could have had prejudicial effect on him. In addition, the record fails to indicate any bias or prejudice by the master himself. We, therefore, need not reach the question of whether the district judge’s remarks in fact amounted to a showing of bias or prejudice.
The record does not convince us that the appellant was prejudiced either by the district judge or by the master in the scheduling of the hearings before the master. It would appear from the record and from the time elapsed since our last decision that counsel for appellant had adequate time to prepare and to try his case.
We find no merit in the other contentions raised by appellant.
Judgment will be entered affirming the judgment of the district court.

Question: What is the general category of issues discussed in the opinion of the court?
A. criminal and prisoner petitions
B. civil - government
C. diversity of citizenship
D. civil - private
E. other, not applicable
F. not ascertained
Answer:

Answer: D