Opinion ID: 2060424
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Order vacating prior restraining order but refusing to restore the plaintiffs to the possession of the properties and assets of Wisconsin Tobacco.

Text: September 30, 1971, plaintiffs, Power, and their counsel, purportedly acting under the color of judicial process, caused the Vernon county sheriff to enter upon the premises of Wisconsin Tobacco, at Viroqua, Wisconsin. This was accomplished by serving upon one Allen Erhardt, plant manager of Wisconsin Tobacco, a letter from plaintiffs' attorney demanding Erhardt's removal from the premises. The letter also demanded that Erhardt turn over to Power all keys to the premises. After removal of Erhardt, the plaintiffs, Power and others seized possession and control of the premises, records, and assets of Wisconsin Tobacco to the exclusion of Scotten, Dillon and counsel of record for Wisconsin Tobacco. The locks to the outside doors were changed and plaintiffs, Power, and others, proceeded to take action on behalf of the corporation to effect the agreements they had reached at the September 29, 1971, meeting. October 1, 1971, after learning of the entry of the Wisconsin Tobacco premises by plaintiffs and others, and prior to service upon the defendants of the order of September 30, 1971, dismissing the action as to defendant, Wisconsin Tobacco, Perle and Wisconsin Tobacco appeared in court through counsel and secured an order to show cause and temporary restraining order. The order directed that plaintiffs, Buchen and Tryggestad, as well as Power, appear before the trial court and show cause why an order should not be issued restraining and enjoining Buchen, Tryggestad, Power, and their agents, employees, representatives, and attorneys, from using or permitting the premises known as Wisconsin Tobacco until the final hearing of the action. The trial court further ordered: ... that James E. Buchen, Lynn E. Tryggestad, Ralph Power and their agents, representatives, and employees forthwith desist and refrain from using or permitting the premises known as Wisconsin Tobacco Company, Inc., and any of its other places of business within the State of Wisconsin pending final determination of this action or until further order of this court and that they turn over to the Sheriff of Vernon County any keys or other property of said company that they have in their possession and that the sheriff turn any such property over to Allen Erhardt and allow Allen Erhardt, as an authorized employee of Scotten, Dillon and Wisconsin Tobacco Company, Inc., to use said premises to conduct the business of said company. October 8, 1971, the trial court, following the hearing held pursuant to its order of October 1, 1971, ordered that the temporary restraining order be vacated and dissolved, but ordered that: ... The order entered on October 1, 1971 as part of said Order to Show Cause that James E. Buchen, Lynn E. Tryggestad and Ralph R. Power and their agents, representatives, and employees forthwith desist and refrain from using or permitting the premises known as Wisconsin Tobacco Company, Inc., and any of its other places of business within the State of Wisconsin pending final determination of this action or until further order of this court and that they turn over to the Sheriff of Vernon County any keys or other property of said company that they have in their possession and that the sheriff turn any such property over to Allen Erhardt and allow Allen Erhardt, as an authorized employee of Scotten, Dillon and Wisconsin Tobacco Company, Inc., to use said premises to conduct the business of said company be and the same is hereby affirmed; ... The plaintiffs' objection that the restraining order entered as part of the order of October 1, 1971, was in violation of sec. 268.02 and sec. 268.025, Stats., was overruled. Plaintiffs contend that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to issue the temporary restraining order of October 1, 1971, particularly that part which required the plaintiffs and others to return possession of the premises of Wisconsin Tobacco to Erhardt. Plaintiffs argue that no action was pending in which Wisconsin Tobacco or its directors or officers were a party or parties; that Power was not a party to any action before the trial court; and that there was no pleading demonstrating that Perle and Wisconsin Tobacco were entitled to the relief granted. Plaintiffs request that the trial court be instructed to enter an order restoring to the plaintiffs and Power the possession and control of the property and premises of Wisconsin Tobacco. Defendants' affidavits in support of their request for a temporary restraining order aver that the entry of plaintiffs, Power and others, upon the premises of Wisconsin Tobacco constituted an unauthorized, improper and unlawful distraint of the properties of Wisconsin Tobacco; that said entry and possession of the premises by Power, Buchen and Tryggestad, was to the exclusion of the officers and employees of Wisconsin Tobacco and its parent corporation, Scotten, Dillon, and was not for any legitimate corporate purpose; that such entry adversely affected the interests and rights of Wisconsin Tobacco and Scotten, Dillon; and that any attempt by Power, Buchen and others to assert their claims to office under the color of judicial process and otherwise would irreparably injure employee and other relationships necessary to conduct the business of Wisconsin Tobacco. Although defendant, Wisconsin Tobacco, had been dismissed from the lawsuits commenced by the plaintiffs prior to October 1, 1971, order to show cause and temporary restraining order, the record establishes that Wisconsin Tobacco submitted itself to the jurisdiction of the trial court for these purposes. The trial court had jurisdiction to enter its order of October 1, 1971, and committed no error in overruling the plaintiffs' objections by order of July 12, 1972. Granting or withholding of injunctions is within the sound discretion of the trial court. The plaintiffs have not made any showing demonstrating that they are entitled to the relief requested. The order of the trial court is affirmed. By the Court. Appeal from order refusing to require production of certain records, dismissed. Orders refusing to vacate dismissal and temporary restraining order and restoring plaintiffs to possession and assets of Wisconsin Tobacco, affirmed.