Document: 30 L.Ed.2d 642 92 S.Ct. 609 404 U.S. 508 CALIFORNIA MOTOR TRANSPORT CO. et al., Petitioners,v.TRUCKING UNLIMITED al. No. 70—92. Argued Nov. 10, 1971. Decided Jan. 13, 1972. Syllabus Respondent highway carriers filed this civil action under § 4 of the Clayton Act for injunctive relief and damages against petitioner charging that petitioners conspired to monopolize transportation goods by instituting state federal proceedings resist defeat applications respondents acquire, transfer, or register operating rights. Respondents alleged purpose conspiracy was 'putting their competitors . out business, weakening such competitors, destroying, eliminating existing potential competition, monopolizing common carrier business in California elsewhere,' deterring from having free unlimited access agencies courts. The District Court dismissed complaint failure a cause but Appeals reversed. Held: While any has right administrative courts certificates as carriers, its eliminate an applicant competitor may be implicit opposition, First Amendment rights are not immunized regulation when they used integral part conduct violative antitrust laws. If allegations combined harass deter 'free access' courts, massive, concerted purposeful group activities established facts, violation laws will have been demonstrated, it is immaterial means lawful. Pp. 509—516. 432 F.2d 755, affirmed remanded trial. Boris H. Lakustav, San Francisco, Cal., petitioners. Michael N. Khourie, respondents. Opinion Mr. Justice DOUGLAS, announced Chief BURGER. 1 This suit Act, 38 Stat. 731, 15 U.S.C. 15, instituted respondents, who California, petitioners, also within, into, California. are, other words, competitors. charge trade commerce institute acquire transfer those These activities, alleged, extend rehearings reviews appeals agency court decisions on these matters. 2 action, 1967 Trade Cas. 72,298. reversed, 755. case here petition writ certiorari, which we granted. 402 1008, 91 2188, 29 429. 3 present akin Eastern Railroad Presidents Conference v. Noerr Motor Freight Inc., 365 127, 81 523, 5 464, where trucking companies sued railroads restrain them long-distance freight obtain damages. We held no insofar predicated upon mere attempts influence Legislative Branch passage Executive enforcement. rested our decision two grounds: (1) 'In representative democracy this, branches government act behalf people and, very large extent, whole concept representation depends ability make wishes known representatives. To hold retains power capacity yet hold, at same time, cannot freely inform would impute Sherman regulate, activity, political basis whatever legislative history Act.' Id., 137, S.Ct., 529. (2) 'The one freedoms protected Bill Rights, cannot, course, lightly Congress intent invade freedoms.' 138, 530. 6 followed view United Mine Workers Pennington, 381 657, 669—671, 85 1585, 1592—1594, 14 626. 7 philosophy governs approach citizens groups (which both creatures legislature, arms executive) third branch Government. Certainly extends all departments indeed aspect petition. See Johnson Avery, 393 483, 485, 89 747, 748, 21 718; Ex parte Hull, 312 546, 549, 61 640, 641, L.Ed. 1034. 8 conclude destructive association with interests not, without violating laws, use channels procedures advocate causes points respecting resolution economic vis-a -vis 9 said, however, there instances 'is sham cover what actually nothing more than attempt interfere directly relationships application justified.' U.S., 144, 533. 10 In connection aim including plaintiff, carriage elsewhere.' 11 More critical allegations, too lengthy quote, elaborate 'sham' theory stating power, strategy, resources were judicial so deny tribunals. result, machinery effectively closed became 'the regulators grants rights, transfers registrations' respondents—thereby depleting diminishing value businesses aggrandizing petitioners' monopoly power. Note, 57 Calif.L.Rev. 518 (1969). 12 Petitioners rely statement Pennington 'Noerr shields effort public officials regardless purpose.' 670, 1593. case, conspirators sought 'to officials,' bar meaningful adjudicatory tribunals usurp decisionmaking process. It 'instituted actions probable cause, merits cases.' nature views pressed does determine whether invoked; bear deprive As stated opinion concurring judgment, intent, if shown, discourage ultimately prevent invoking' processes thus fall within exception Noerr. 13 campaign operated legislation crippling truckers employed deception misrepresentation unethical tactics. said: 'Congress traditionally exercised extreme caution legislating respect problems relating reflected interpreting legislation. All go naught permitted extension regulate simply because commercial impact involve can termed unethical.' 141, 531. Yet setting process often results sanctions. Perjury witnesses example. Use patent obtained fraud exclude market Walker Process Equipment, Inc. Food Machinery & Chemical Corp., 382 172, 175—177, 86 347, 349—350, 247. Conspiracy licensing authority result transgression. Continental Ore Co. Union Carbide Carbon 370 690, 707, 82 1404, 1414, 777; Harman Valley National Bank, 339 564 (CA9 1964). Similarly, bribery purchasing agent constitute 2(c) amended Robinson-Patman Act. Rangen, Sterling Nelson Sons, 351 851 1965). 16 There many forms illegal reprehensible practice corrupt violations. Misrepresentations, condoned arena, Opponents before think poorly other's tactics, motions, defenses readily call baseless. One claim, baseless, unnoticed; pattern repetitive claims emerge leads factfinder abused. That difficult line discern draw. But once drawn, abuse produced viz., barring Insofar involved, kind immunity seeking refuge umbrella 'political expression.' 17 Petitioners, heard competitive carriers. right, indicated, Amendment. necessarily give 18 well settled violates valid statute. Giboney Empire Storage Ice Co., 336 490, 69 684, 93 834. Missouri enacted statute banning secondary boycotts sustained injunction picketing enforce boycott, saying: 19 'It true agreements course most brought about through speaking writing. never deemed abridgment freedom speech press merely initiated, evidenced, carried language, either spoken, written, printed. Such expansive interpretation constitutional guaranties practically impossible ever restraint conspiracies injurious society.' 502, 691. 20 Associated Press States, 326 1, 65 1416, 2013, immune reason fact shelter 'Surely command itself shall impede flow ideas afford non-governmental combinations impose restraints constitutionally guaranteed freedom. Freedom publish some. Constitution, combine keep others publishing not. governmental interference sanction repression private interests.' 20, 1425. 22 Accord, Citizen Publishing 394 131, 139—140, 927, 931—932, 148. Cf. States Retail Lumber Dealers' Assn. 234 600, 34 951, 58 1490. 23 rationale cases, applied instant controversy, makes following conclusions clear: limits, prescribed procedures, order carriers; denying him opposition. 24 pretext achieving 'substantive evils' (see NAACP Button, 371 415, 444, 83 328, 343, 405) legislature control. constitutionality open debate. A combination entrepreneurs concerted, ways building up empire destroying another. essence parts refer. facts proved, established. end unlawful, matters 25 What proof show known, granted motion dismiss complaint. must, take face purposes motion. 174—175, 348—349. On above-quoted come adapted 26 Accordingly affirm remand 27 So ordered. 28 Judgment remanded. POWELL REHNQUIST took consideration case. STEWART, whom BRENNAN joins, judgment. 31 case1 held, unanimous written Black, executive destroy competition long-haul wholly laws.2 conclusion, required preserve informed operation protect Amendment.3 Today retreats Noerr, tramples important values. For I join Court's opinion. 32 defendants joined together induce action. Here, alleges, (petitioners) difference type body might applicability had made misrepresentations law tribunals, engaged perjury, fraud, bribery.4 But, contrary implications opinion, And, absence conduct, see difference, far concerned, between trying bodies bodies. 405; Brotherhood Trainmen Virginia ex rel. State Bar, 377 84 1113, 89; Illinois Bar Ass'n, 389 217, 88 353, 426; Transportation Michigan, 401 576, 1076, 339. 33 concedes 'right Amendment.' Yet, says Court, joint agreement exercise 'does laws.' Ante, 513. imagine totally odds explicitly given disagreeing nonetheless contains have: 35 1. Agreed jointly finance carry publicize consistent, systematic uninterrupted program opposing 'with merits' every application, insignificant exceptions, additional registration PUC, ICC, appeal. 36 2. Carried (a) appearing protestants plaintiffs like position complaints opposition registrations; (b) establishing trust fund foregoing, consisting contributions monthly amounts proportionate each defendant's annual gross income; (c) publicizing making foregoing program. 37 Under liberally construed, entitled prove real invoke invoking processes. 'an Freight, only concur judgment Court. 464. corollary Rock Royal Co-operative, 307 533, 59 993, 1446, Parker Brown, 317 341, 63 307, 87 315, holding violation. emphasized defendants' 'unethical' did affect exerting pressure Branches, See,

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