Legal Document

341 U.S. 651 71 Supreme Court Reporter 937 95 L.Ed. 1253 COLLINS et al.v.HARDYMAN al. Number 217. Argued Jan. 8, 9, 1951. Decided June 4, Mr. Aubrey N. Irwin, Glendale, Cal., for petitioners. Messrs. Atlantic L. Wirin, Loren Miller, Los Angeles, respondents. Justice JACKSON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This controversy arises under 8 United States Code KF62 § 47(3), Annotated KF65 U5 which provides civil remedies certain conspiracies.1 A motion to dismiss amended complaint raises issue its sufficiency and, course, requires us accept well-pleaded facts as hypothesis decision. 2 Its essential allegations are that plaintiffs citizens States, residents California, and members or officers a voluntary association political club organized purpose participating in election petitioning national government redress grievances, engaging public meetings discussion issues. It planned meeting November 14, 1947, on subject, 'The Cominform Marshall Plan,' at it was intended adopt resolution opposing said Plan, be forwarded, by way petition appropriate federal officials. 3 The conspiracy charged being within Act is defendants, with knowledge purposes, entered into an agreement deprive plaintiffs, 'as privileges immunities, rights peaceably assemble discussing communicating upon issues * *.' And further, 'to well club, equal immunities laws amplified defendants knew many locality, resolutions were adopted groups whose opinions agreed, did not interfere conspire interfere. 'With respect aforesaid however, conspired reason opposed views plaintiff. 4 In effort bring case statute, pleader also alleged go disguise highways' they fact 'consisting unlawful unauthorized wearing caps American Legion.' District disposed this part holding such headgear constitute concealment identity contemplated Act. Plaintiffs thereupon abandoned do here rely support their claims. 5 then separately sets out overt acts injury damage relied meet requirements To carry conspiracy, alleged, proceeded place force threats force, assault intimidate those present thereby broke up meeting, thus interfering right Government grievances. Both compensatory punitive damages demanded. 6 averred cause action statute cited Constitution States. But apparently draftsman scrupulously cautious allege arose Fourteenth Amendment, had secured seeking avoid effect earlier decisions Amendment cases. 7 makes no claim involved any state officials, even pretended act color law. shown claimed protection immunity from law State, enjoyed because omission authorities. Indeed, trial court found punishable California relating disturbance peace, assault, trespass, civilly actionable.2 Judge held does cannot constitutionally afford invasions hands individuals, but can only applied injuries persons acting pursuant law.3 reversing Court's dismissal complaint, Appeals Ninth Circuit otherwise, one judge dissenting.4 Eighth Circuit, Love versus Chandler, 124 Federal Reporter, 2nd Series 785, has ruled accord dissenting here.5 resolve conflict, we granted certiorari.6 9 statutory provision long been dormant. introduced statutes April 20, 1871, entitled, 'An enforce Provisions other Purposes.'7 among last reconstruction legislation based 'conquered province' theory prevailed Congress period following Civil War. without separability provisions, established liability concerned liabilities, together parallel criminal liabilities. provided combinations conspiracies named might deemed rebellions, authorized President employ militia suppress them. suspend privilege writ habeas corpus. prohibited person grand petit juror arising unless he took subscribed oath open 'that never, directly indirectly, counselled, advised, voluntarily aided combination conspiracy'. Heavy penalties liabilities laid who, conspiracies, them failed what could 10 Act, popularly known Ku Klux passed partisan vote highly inflamed atmosphere. preceded spirited debate pointed grave character susceptibility abuse, defects soon realized when execution brought about severe reaction.8 11 establishing language indistinguishable used describe came judgment Harris, 106 629, 601, 27 290.9 unconstitutional. decision harmony important during period10 Court, every member appointed Lincoln, Grant, Hayes, Garfield Arthur—all indoctrinated produced convinced centralize power so upset system. 12 While have interpretation application some post-Civil War legislation,11 recently unanimously declared, through Chief Justice: 13 'Since Rights Cases, 1883, 109 3, 18, 835, principle become firmly embedded our constitutional inhibited first section may fairly That erects shield against merely private conduct, however discriminatory wrongful.'12 14 DOUGLAS, dissenting, quoted approval Cruikshank case, "The fourteenth amendment prohibits State denying jurisdiction laws; not, more than precedes add anything citizen another.' 92 (at) p(ages) 554—555, 23 588.' obligation resting see deny right. guarantees, more. limited enforcement guaranty." He summed up: protects individual action, wrongs done individuals. *'13 15 apparent that, if meets problems magnitude light history, difficulty. These would include congressional apart reserved content derived distinguished citizenship, question two classes rights. latter ago decided adversely plaintiffs. Baldwin Franks, 120 678, 763, 32 766. Before embark inquiry, necessary satisfy ourselves attempt purview successful. 16 falls divisions. forepart defines basis liability, portion consummate actionable wrong. mere made crime, common law,14 make understanding concerted constitutes forbidden wrong matures inflicts injury. That, think, significance second division section. 17 reference will bear repeating, emphasis supplied: '* (I)n set forth section, engaged therein do, done, furtherance object whereby another injured his property, deprived having exercising party recovery 18 dictum Cruikshank, 542, 552, 588, assume, deciding, pleaded show 'of exercising' which, 'conspiracy section,' 19 'conspiracy' required differently stated think difference accidental significant. essentials, supplied, must (1) depriving class laws, law; (2) preventing hindering constituted authorities giving securing all (3) prevent intimidation, threat, entitled advocacy legal manner toward elector Congress; (4) injure property account advocacy. There allegation brings provisions numbered (2), (3), (4), eliminate consideration categories. alleges described class. very character. They must, repeat, 'for laws'. (Italics supplied.) Passing argument, fully developed group individuals office anybody rights, though invade violate clear reach deprivation equality, 'equal law,' law'. accords put lately freed Negro footing before former master. adequate went further. 20 What affect these plaintiffs' equality law, slightest conscious trying influence endeavoring obstruct it. inequality suggested break others sentiments agreed. sure, injury, protection' immunities' neighbor assaulting all, libel mention others. Such discrimination there manipulation agencies give sanction sanctuary doing so. Plaintiffs' certainly invaded, disregarded lawlessly violated, neither nor been, be, denied impaired. Their remain untouched Californian, vindicated same who suffers violence mob. 21 We say work laws. post Klan, fashioned, have, reasonably thought estimated membership around 550,000, included 'nearly entire adult male white population South.'15 farflung embracing numbers, dominate naught 'carpetbag' 'scalawag' governments day, able effectively Negroes close avenues vindication, view disparity position, education opportunity between Klan. know. nothing sort appears. lawless brawl, precipitated handful while citizens. courts offer vindication 22 authorize actions respondents commenced otherwise grievances assert. narrow defined here. therefore questions. fall short alter, impair invasion California. compete replace Nation's law-making body. reversed. 24 Reversed. 25 BURTON, whom BLACK DOUGLAS concur, dissenting. 26 & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions agree R.S. 1980(3), 47(3). violated expressly recognized First idea government, republican form, implies consultation affairs grievances.' re Quarles Butler, 158 532, 535, 959, 960, 39 1080. source Amendment. petitioners 'knowingly' 'many meetings' objectives agreed with, respondents' views, expected expressed. conduct differ materially specific recognizes reach. 28 refutes suggestion ingredient recognizes. 1980(3) speaks 'two Territory' conspiring. clause Still obviously, where going 'in highway laws,' limit kind When Congress, period, intend comparable unmistakable terms. fact, originally 'That ordinance, regulation, custom, usage shall subject privileges, liable (Emphasis added.) Statutes-at-Large 13. 29 create favor abridgment federally created seems me just 1980(3). inconsistent underlying respective states making abridging Cases clauses directed authority contention pass supporting exist 30 Accordingly, affirm Appeals. 13, 47(3) reads: 'If Territory premises another, depriving, either lawfully vote, manner, qualified Vice President, Member States; advocacy; damages, occasioned deprivation, conspirators.' paragraph should read context paragraphs note taken 43, 'Every usage, Territory, subjects, causes subjected, thereof suit equity, proper proceeding redress.' Yankwich cites notes, 80 F.Supp. 501, 510: '39. Cal.Penal Code, Section 415 (disturbance peace neighborhood person) 403 meetings). '40. 602(j) (illegal entry injuring obstructing lawful business another). '41. Sections 240, 241 (assault); sections 242, 243 (battery). Among corresponding 43 (guarantee personal bodily harm restraint); (defining born residing state); Procedure, 338(3) (section 338(2)) (action trespass real three years); 340(3) battery year). 51—54.' 510. 183 308. Other recent cases involving Viles Symes, Cir., 129 828; Robeson Fanelli, D.C., 94 62; Ferrer Fronton Exhibition Co., 188 954. 340 809, 63. background nature debates passage, reaction Bowers, Tragic Era, 340—348. 5519, prosecution brought, provided: conspire, each punished fine less five hundred dollars thousand dollars, imprisonment, hard labor, six months years, both imprisonment.' Slaughter-House Wall. 36, 394; Reese, 214, 563; 588; 835. Screws 325 91, 65 1031, 89 1495. Shelley Kraemer, 334 1, 68 836, 842, 1161. Williams, 70, 92, 581, 593. Nash 229 373, 378, 33 780, 782, 57 1232; Socony-Vacuum Oil 310 150, 252, 60 811, 857, 84 1129. Encyc. Soc. Sci., 606, 607.

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