Court Opinion

ID: 9721184
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 08:50:31.767838+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:23.827807
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice; Bristow, also dissenting: People ex rel. Shepardson v. Universal Chiropractors’ Assn. 302 Ill. 228, in my opinion, properly held that the practice of chiropractic without a license did not per se constitute a public nuisance and that a court of chancery would not enjoin the unlicensed practice of chiropractic at the suit of the State, inasmuch as the statute had provided an adequate remedy at law, had authorized no equitable remedy, and equity would not enjoin the commission of an alleged crime and deprive the defendant of his constitutional right of trial by jury. The issues decided in the Universal Chiropractors’ Assn, case are different from those presented in the instant case; the principles announced therein are still sound legal principles. The pleadings in this case present no issue as to a public nuisance or the right of a court of equity to enjoin a claimed public nuisance at the suit of the State where the legislature has not authorized the same. That was the sole holding in the Universal Chiropractors’ Assn. case. Even in view of the conclusion of the majority that the issuance of a license to practice chiropractic constitutes a property right entitled to' judicial protection at the suit of licensed practitioners still such conclusion does not require or justify the overruling of People ex rel. Shephardson v. Universal Chiropractors’ Assn. 302 Ill. 228. Furthermore, I am of the opinion that the granting of a license by the State pursuant to its police powers for the conduct of a business or profession as a regulatory matter does not give the licensee any vested property interest therein or right of freedom from competition, (People v. Walsh, 346 Ill. 52; Butchers’ Union v. Crescent City, 111 U.S. 746, 228 L. ed. 585,) and that the designated State authorities are the only proper persons to enforce police regulations of the State by means of criminal proceedings unless the police regulations specifically grant further and additional enforcement remedies. Consequently no property rights or special injury thereto are shown in the present case warranting protection by the exercise of equity jurisdiction at the instance of the complaining parties. For the above reasons, in addition to those expressed by Mr. Justice Daily in his dissent, in which I concur, I would affirm the judgment of the Appellate Court in all respects.