Court Opinion

ID: 9775002
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:40:36.168536+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:18.860529
License: Public Domain

Robert H. Dudley, Justice, concurring. The appellant, Paul Register, filed this case against appellees, Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc., and American Totalisator Co., Inc. In his complaint he alleged that he attempted to place a winning Classix bet at the race track owned by Oaklawn Jockey Club, but, because of a malfunction by a betting machine installed by American Totalisator Co., his attempt to place the winning bet was not accepted. His complaint alleged counts of implied contract, quasi-contract, third party beneficiary, and negligence. On appeal, we unanimously affirmed the trial court’s ruling on implied contract, quasi-contract, and third party beneficiary, but, again by a unanimous vote, reversed on the negligence count. See Register v. Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc., 306 Ark. 318, 811 S.W.2d 315 (1991). The appellees filed a petition for rehearing, and on a four-to-three vote, we granted rehearing on the negligence count. See Register v. Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc., 306 Ark. 318, 321, 821 S.W.2d 475 (1991). Thus, the appellant, for the first time, lost in this court on the negligence count. He has now filed a petition for a rehearing on that count, and at the same time suggested that this judge disqualify from the second rehearing because of an alleged appearance of impropriety. I decline the suggestion to disqualify. The suggestion is based upon two (2) allegations. First, he alleges that there was an inappropriate telephone call to the Racing Commission by “someone identifying himself as a clerk at the supreme court.” Second, he alleges there were “extra-judicial conversations with the attorney for the Arkansas State Racing Commission and with a former member of the Commission concerning this case” while they “may be in a special position to influence” this judge. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the telephone call and, in addition, it did not in any way involve this judge. This judge read the suggestion for disqualification with bewilderment since he did not know who made the supposedly improper call. Later, at our conference on rehearing, another judge stated that he knew about the call. He stated that it came about in the following manner. The other judge, who incidently voted to deny the first rehearing, wanted to compare the regulations as set out by the appellees in their briefs with copies of the Racing Commission’s original regulations. That judge asked one of his law clerks to go to the supreme court library and get a copy of the regulations for comparison. This was certainly a proper request since we were taking judicial notice of the regulations. The clerk went to the library but could not find the regulations. He asked an assistant librarian for assistance, and the assistant librarian ultimately telephoned the Racing Commission and asked for a copy of the regulations. That is the telephone call about which appellant complains. There was no impropriety whatsoever in it. The assistant librarian did nothing wrong in seeking a public document. In addition, it simply did not involve this judge. The appellant’s suggestion that this judge disqualify because of the telephone call is balderdash. The appellant additionally alleges that the attorney for the Racing Commission and a former member of the Commission may have tried to influence this judge on this second rehearing. Again, the suggestion is senseless. The facts are these. After the case had been handed down and after rehearing had been granted, this judge was in the presence of Byron Freeland and Dr. Malcolm Moore. Mr. Freeland is the attorney for the Racing Commission, and Dr. Moore is a Little Rock physician who grew up in Arkadelphia and, according to appellant’s suggestion, was a member of the Racing Commission at some time in the past. Mr. Freeland either made some comment or asked some question about the phone call mentioned above. The essence of his statement or question was why would someone on this court want a copy of the Commission’s regulations within an hour or so. This judge responded that he did not know about the phone call but assumed it involved a recent case about Classix betting and the Racing Commission’s regulations. This judge commented that it had been an interesting case. Nothing more was said by either person. The conversation was out in the open. It was not secretive in any manner. Mr. Freeland never made any suggestion whatsoever about the merits of the case. Upon reflection, it did not even appear that Mr. Freeland knew the name of the appellant, even though the case had received some media coverage. Dr. Moore, who was standing perhaps 10 yards away, said either that he knew, or that he knew of, the man who had tried to place the bet. He commented that the case involved a local football hero of many years past who had played for Henderson State College in Arkadelphia under the name of Cash Register and later played for the University of Arkansas under the name of Paul Register. He stated that Mr. Register was a nice man who later became an assistant coach at Texas A. & M. University. He asked if Mr. Register had won or lost his case, and this judge stated that he had lost. There was not even the slightest suggestion by Dr. Moore about how the case should be decided on rehearing. This judge rejects, without qualification, appellant’s suggestion that the conversations were inappropriate in any manner. Neither Mr. Freeland nor Dr. Moore attempted to discuss the merits of the case or influence this judge. They would not attempt to do so, and this judge would not tolerate it if such were attempted. Further, the case came before us an an appeal from a summary judgment, so we must presume everything Mr. Register said is true. Appellant’s suggestion that this judge disqualify is declined, and I concur in the vote to deny the second rehearing.