Opinion ID: 765595
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Searches of the Warehouse

Text: 10 Prior to going to trial, Fiorillo and Krueger moved to suppress the evidence found at the warehouse because the searches were conducted without a warrant. The district court denied the motion concluding that Fiorillo and Krueger did not have standing to challenge the initial inspection of the warehouse because they did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding the main warehouse floor. The district judge also ruled that even if they did have standing, the receptionist and Fiorillo consented to the inspection. The judge also determined that Fiorillo had apparent authority to consent to the inspection of the cold room. We agree that Fiorillo consented to the search of the cold room as well as the main floor of the warehouse and that he had apparent authority as to the former. 11
12 The validity of a warrantless search is reviewed de novo. United States v. Kyllo, 140 F.3d 1249, 1252 (9th Cir. 1998). This court reviews de novo a district court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence seized in a search. United States v. Kemmish, 120 F.3d 937, 939 (9th Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 1087 (1998). Factual findings underlying that decision are reviewed for clear error. See id. 13
14 This court will not disturb a district court's determination that a person's consent to search was voluntary unless that determination was clearly erroneous. United States v. ChanJiminez, 125 F.3d 1324, 1326-27 (9th Cir. 1997). 15 The district court found that, even if Fiorillo and Krueger had standing to object to the warrantless search of the main warehouse floor, West Coast's receptionist and Fiorillo consented to the search. West Coast's receptionist consented to let the fire inspectors enter the warehouse where the men then encountered Fiorillo. Prior to the inspection and subsequent discovery of the explosives, Fiorillo consented to the search of the main warehouse floor. 16 There is sufficient evidence in the record to support the district court's conclusion. DeMello and Billett presented themselves to the receptionist; they were wearing their uniforms; they showed her their credentials; and they informed her they were there to conduct an inspection. Whether or not the receptionist made a call to the warehouse supervisor is irrelevant. She controlled the reception area of the warehouse and told the inspectors they could pass through and enter the warehouse. Prior to actually commencing the inspection, DeMello and Billett were greeted by Fiorillo who recognized DeMello from previous inspections and treated them cordially and courteously. When the fire officials told Fiorillo they were there to conduct an inspection, Fiorillo asked them where they would like to start and then accompanied them. If Fiorillo had not wanted the men to conduct an inspection of the warehouse, he could have stopped them at this point, but he chose not to do so. 17 Fiorillo contends that any consent is invalid because the fire inspectors said they were there to conduct a fire inspection, not an inspection for explosives. The district court rejected this argument. The City of Sacramento fire code states that the purpose of a fire inspection is to inspect for conditions that would reasonably tend to cause a fire or contribute to its spread. Undoubtedly, the presence of Class A explosives could cause a big fire or make a small fire into a big one. A fire inspection unquestionably includes an inspection for the unlicensed storage of Class A explosives. The district court did not clearly err in determining that consent was given to search the main floor of the warehouse. 18
19 After receiving a tip that the fire department had failed to locate some hazardous materials hidden in a cold room within the warehouse, fire department and county officials returned to the warehouse. Upon finding the cold room, they discovered that they could not enter it. Peter Bishop, an independent contractor employed by West Coast to assist in the cleanup of the warehouse, got a key from Fiorillo and helpedthe officials gain entry into the cold room where they discovered the leaky containers of Eclipse and Slurry. When Bishop asked Fiorillo for a key, one of the officials overheard Fiorillo indicate to Bishop that there was nothing in the room, that he had been cooperative and that he had had enough. Only after officials had entered the room did they learn Krueger leased the room from Fiorillo. The district court held that the warrantless search of the cold room was valid because Fiorillo had apparent authority to consent to the search. We agree. 20 A determination of apparent authority presents mixed questions of fact and law and is reviewed de novo. See United States v. Kim, 105 F.3d 1579, 1581 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 353 (1997). 21 The existence of apparent authority entails a threepart analysis. First, did the searching officer believe some untrue fact that was then used to assess the consent-giver's use of and access to or control over the area searched? Second, was it under the circum stances objectively reasonable to believe that the fact was true? Finally, assuming the truth of the reasonably believed but untrue fact, would the consentgiver have had actual authority? 22 United States v. Dearing, 9 F.3d 1428, 1429-30 (9th Cir. 1993) (citations omitted). 23 The officials seeking entrance to the cold room believed that it was simply part of the warehouse leased to West Coast. There were no signs on the doors to indicate that the room was being leased to or under the control of SafeWaste. They believed that Fiorillo, as president of West Coast, could consent to let them into a locked room that they believed was under the control of his company. They had no reason to believe and in fact did not believe that Krueger leased the room from West Coast. 24 Under the circumstances, it was reasonable for the officials to believe these incorrect facts were true. Fiorillo gave a key to the room to Bishop with the knowledge that it was to let the inspecting officials into the room. At that time, he could have informed the officials that the room was leased to Krueger and that he could not let them in. For some unknown reason, Fiorillo chose not to tell the officials that Krueger leased the room until after they had entered the room and discovered the hazardous products. It was not unreasonable for the officials to believe that Fiorillo could consent to let them search the room when he, as president of the company running the warehouse of which the cold room was a part, provided the key for them to enter. 25 If it was true that West Coast had exclusive control over the cold room and that the room was not leased to Krueger,Fiorillo as president of West Coast would have had actual authority to consent to the search of the cold room. The district court did not err in determining that the officials correctly relied on Fiorillo's apparent authority to consent to the search of the cold room.