Document: 339 U.S. 485 70 S.Ct. 711 94 L.Ed. 1007 UNITED STATESv.NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BOARDS et al. No. 428. Argued March 31, 1950. Decided May 8, Messrs. Peyton Ford and Victor H. Kramer, Assts. to the Attorney General, for United States. Mr. William E. Leahy, Washington, D.C., appellees Washington Real Estate Board Roger J. Whiteford, National Association of Boards Herbert U. Nelson. [Argument Counsel from page 486 intentionally omitted] Justice DOUGLAS delivered opinion Court. 1 This is a civil action brought by States enjoin appellees1 engaging in price-fixing conspiracy violation § 3 Sherman Act, 26 Stat. 209, 15 U.S.C. 3, U.S.C.A. 3.2 The core case charge that members combined conspired fix commission rates their services when acting as brokers sale, exchange, lease management real property District Columbia. 2 same was charged criminal proceedings.3 tried first. At end Government's court granted defendants' motion judgment acquittal. 80 F.Supp. 350. Appellees then moved summary this suit, contending acquittal res judicata here. That denied.4 tried. It stipulated trial would be on record case, reserving right offer additional exhibits. No evidence offered appellees. entered appellees, holding agreement brokerage commissions, which had been shown, not Act. 84 802. here appeal. 32 823, 62 989, 29, 29. 4 First. fact no interstate commerce involved barrier suit. Section Act5 leveled at activities alone. also puts beyond pale certain conduct purely local character confined Congress has power so legislate virtue Art. I, Clause 17 Constitution did settled Atlantic Cleaners & Dyers v. States, 286 427, 432—435, 52 607—609, 76 1204. 5 Second. adopted standard commissions its members—charges cover wide range furnished estate agent. Board's code ethics provides 'Brokers should maintain board business solicited lower rates.' Members agree abide code. prescribed are used great majority transactions, although exceptional situations made. But departure caused invoke any sanctions. Hence Court called rate schedules 'non-mandatory.' 6 Enough said show under our decisions an illegal scheme proved, unless fixing included prohibitions Price-fixing per se unreasonable restraint trade. courts determine whether particular settings serves honorable or worthy end. An agreement, shown either adherence price schedule proof consensual uniform minimum price, itself matter what it designed serve. teaching unbroken line decisions. See Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., 310 150, 218 seq., 60 811, 841 1129; Paramount Pictures, 334 131, 142, 143, 68 915, 921, 922, 92 1260. And penalties imposed deviations material. Eastern Lumber Assn. 234 600, 608—609, 34 951—953, 58 1490, L.R.A.1915A, 788; American Column Co. 257 377, 411, 42 114, 121, 66 284, 21 A.L.R. 1093; Federal Trade Commission Pacific Paper Assn., 273 52, 62, 47 255, 257, 71 534. Subtle influences may just effective threat use formal sanctions hold people line. 7 Third. critical question agent word 'trade' within meaning thought not. view where personal involved, combination compensation legal. seemingly influenced declaration Clayton 38 731, 17, 'the labor human being commodity article * nor shall such (labor) organizations, thereof, held construed combinations conspiracies trade, antitrust laws.' we think misconception assimilate those employees compare present involving application laws unions. Cf. Apex Hosiery Leader, 469, 982, 1311, 128 1044; Hutcheson, 312 219, 61 463, 85 788. We do have more than Medical Ass'n 317 519, 63 326, 87 434, Women's Sportswear Mfrs. Ass'n, 336 460, 69 714, cf. Columbia River Packer's Hinton, 315 520, 86 750, aspect employee-employer relationship made special concessions. 8 entrepreneurs. Some individual proprietors; others banks corporations. employees; large staffs. each his own. involves sale rather commodities does take out category Act aimed organized directed control market suppression competition 'in marketing goods services.' supra, 493, 992. 9 Story Schooner Nymph, 18 Fed.Cas. 10388, pages 506, 507, while construing Coasting Fishery 1793, 305, said, 10 'The argument claimant insists, most restrictive sense, equivalent traffic goods, buying selling exchange. I am clearly true sense word, 32d section (46 325). In first place, often, indeed generally, broader occupation, employment, business, manual mercantile. Wherever carried purpose profit, gain livelihood, liberal arts learned professions, constantly Thus, speak art, mystery, trade housewright, shipwright, tailor, blacksmith, shoe-maker, though some these be, sometimes are, without goods.' 11 broad consistent prices other restraints consistently condemned well goods. Transportation services, Trans-Missouri Freight 166 290, 312, 540, 547, 41 1007; Joint Traffic 171 505, 19 25, 43 259, cleaning, dyeing, renovating wearing apparel, 607, 1204, procurement medical hospital 528, 328, furnishing news advertising Indiana Farmers Guide Pub. Prairie Farmer 293 268, 55 182, 79 356; Associated Press 326 1, 65 1416, 89 2013,—these indicate covered 435, 437, 609, 610, rejected interpreted narrow exclude services. held, speaking through Sutherland, supra. Chief Groner extended analysis problem 72 App.D.C. 12, 110 F.2d 703, 707—711, Appeals practice medicine Its conclusion term 'all occupations men engaged livelihood.' intimate correctness professions. enough contracting scope concept 'trade,' phrase 'restraint trade,' precedent-breaking manner if carved exemption brokers. Their activity commercial profit. manufactured bought sold process irrelevant reason policy advanced reading less literally terms suggest. competitive standards sought preserve field seem relevant branches activity. 12 Hopkins 578, 40, Anderson 604, 50, 300, opposed conclusion. cases merchants yard traders livestock exchanges were even across state lines, Stafford Wallace, 258 495, 397, 735, 23 229, therefore rules agreements between (which fees) fall ban confronted with As noted, concerned but 13 Fourth. claim action. Helvering Mitchell, 303 391, 630, 82 917, contra case. There Mitchell acquitted wilfully attempting evade payment income tax. Thereafter suit collect taxes owed plus 50 cent penalty fraudulent evasion. bar collection penalty.6 difference degree burden cases' preclude doctrine 632, 917. motions raised overcame all reasonable doubt guilt appellees.7 ruling them lesser required might found commissions. independent cause, Standard Sanitary Mfg. 226 20, 33 9, 16, 57 107, remedial nature. repeatedly bottomed facts, barred prior Stone 167 178, 778, 127; Murphy 272 218, 446; result altered circumstance sufficiency started erroneous construction law. 14 Fifth. two Nelson8—did conspire prescribe latter. particularized findings Appellant asks us set aside ruling. light Rule Rules Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A., part: 'Findings erroneous, due regard given opportunity judge credibility witnesses.' 16 nationwide, incorporated association member. Active Association. includes stating fees established various believed represent fair rendered communities observed every Realtor.' provided by-laws (1) member adopt part regulations disciplinary taken, (2) neglects refuses enforce respect constituent expelled membership appellant points showing developing national which, alleged, influential shaping 1944. relies chiefly Association, may, 1418, 1420, 2013, establish cannot say 'clearly erroneous' finding Nelson laced into statement 'should observed' somewhat ambiguous. advisory only. provision violations basis against both boards thirty-five articles ethics, selectively fee provision. So left extent architects fee-fixing participants it. best attenuated one. give facts another construction, resolve ambiguities differently, find sinister cast actions apparently deemed innocent. Yellow Cab 338 338, 342, 177, 179; Gypsum 333 364, 394—395, 525, 541, 746. reversed except Nelson; affirmed. Affirmed part. 20 FRANKFURTER CLARK took consideration decision JACKSON, dissenting. 22 If distinguished professions permitted organize, impart doing. rendering many kinds service allowed combine pay conditions service. laborers, who unions whose frequently include owners establishments employ others, automobile sales agencies. See, example, International Brotherhood Teamsters, etc. Hanke, 470, 773. suppose immunity lost because performed professional. swept perhaps border-line However, broker furnishes performs only Capital assets play greater lawyer, doctor office worker. Services broker, strictly fiduciary, least trusted and, oftentimes, values procedures. persuaded broker's offensive doctor, carpenter, plumber. affirm below. Boards, nation-wide association; Nelson, executive vice-president; Board, D.C.; individually representatives class consisting Board. 'Every contract, form trust otherwise, conspiracy, Territory Columbia, another, Territories State foreign nations, declared illegal.' indictment returned Boards. appeal order dismissed. D.C.Cir., 176 631. note 2, Since ruled administrative sanction, 398—406, 636, considered distinct Coffey 116 436, 29 684, ascertained could again litigated punitive character. corporations dissolution can make proceeding remedial. aims put restraint, impose punishment past acts. Schine Chain Theatres 110, 128, 947, 957, 1245. Criminal provide 'Motion Judgment Acquittal. Motions verdict abolished place. defendant own entry one offenses information after side closed insufficient sustain conviction offense offenses.'

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