Opinion ID: 786183
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The August 31, 2000 Meeting

Text: 4 On August 31, 2000, the Stewards held a meeting with Lakow and Perez to address Perez's allegations. During the meeting, Perez accused Lakow of fixing certain races by manipulating the number of horses in those races in order to favor some horse owners over others. Shortly after the meeting began, Perez became upset. His agitation grew into outbursts that included pounding on the desk, shouting vulgarities, and even threatening to choke or strangle Lakow. 3 The outbursts were so pronounced that one employee working in a different room testified that she could hear the commotion — including shouting and banging on tables — and commented to her coworkers, God, what the heck is going on back there? 5 To curb Perez's escalating temper, Hicks, the Steward who had called the meeting at Perez's request, attempted to escort Perez outside the meeting room so that Perez could settle down. Perez refused to leave the room, however, and instead continued his tirade. The Stewards concluded that because of Perez's behavior — including his hollering, ... shouting,... cursing, and ... banging on the desk — the meeting could not continue. As Lakow and the Stewards attempted to exit the meeting, Perez continued ranting and cursing. After Hicks warned Perez to watch his language, Perez proceeded to call both Hicks and Lakow a cocksucker. At that point, Hicks fined Perez $500. Perez taunted Hicks to make it a thousand and proceeded to curse again. Hicks obliged and raised the fine to $1,000. This escalation continued until Hicks reached the regulation's prescribed maximum fine of $5,000. Perez challenged Hicks to make it ten, but Hicks explained that he couldn't go that far. By that time, a security guard — who had heard the commotion from a room at least 50 feet away — arrived. Perez left the scene. 6 After Perez departed, the Stewards discussed the matter, agreed that a fine was appropriate under the regulation and decided to lower Perez's fine to $3,000. See N.Y. COMP. CODES R. & REGS. tit. 9, § 4022.13 (2000) (directing that before a penalty is imposed, the steward of the board shall give the other two stewards of the meeting a reasonable opportunity to submit recommendations relative to such penalty). At the time of the incident, section 4022.13, one of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to New York's Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law, provided that the steward of the board is hereby authorized to impose a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for ... any action detrimental to the best interests of racing generally. The penalty notice provided to Perez stated that he was fined for his display of temper towards the Stewards and the Racing Secretary on August 31, 2000.