Court Opinion

ID: 9468627
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:19:20.420146+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:40:57.555776
License: Public Domain

VAN GRAAFEILAND,
dissenting:
Because, like Judge Eginton, I am unable to distinguish the instant case from this court’s prior holdings in Wilmorite, Inc. v. Eagan Real Estate, Inc., 454 F.Supp. 1124 (N.D.N.Y.1977), aff’d mem., 578 F.2d 1372 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 983, 99 S.Ct. 573, 58 L.Ed.2d 655 (1978), and Miracle Mile Associates v. City of Rochester, 617 F.2d 18 (2d Cir. 1980), I respectfully dissent.
The First Amendment guarantees access to our nation’s courts regardless of the plaintiff’s anti-competitive motivation. Unless the plaintiff’s conduct corrupts the judicial processes, California Motor Transport Co. v. Trucking Unlimited, 404 U.S. 508, 513, 92 S.Ct. 609, 613, 30 L.Ed.2d 642 (1972), or deprives a competitor of meaningful access to adjudicatory tribunals, id. at 512, 92 S.Ct. at 612, he is not in violation of the Sherman Act. Wilmorite, Inc. v. Eagan Real Estate, Inc., supra, 454 F.Supp. at 1131.
Sham litigation may perhaps corrupt the judicial process. However, a case in which the Connecticut Supreme Court has seen fit to grant certification can hardly be described as “sham”. See State v. Cullum, 149 Conn. 728, 176 A.2d 587 (1961); Conn.Practice Book § 761C. This would surely seem to be true where, as in the instant case, a twelve page opinion, Schwartz v. Town of Hamden, 168 Conn. 8, 357 A.2d 488 (1975), and a seven page opinion, Schwartz v. Town of Hamden, 168 Conn. 20, 357 A.2d 496 (1975), follow the granting of review.
I do not believe that the alleged improper conduct of defendants’ attorneys rose, or perhaps “fell” is a better word, to the level of such “illegal and reprehensible” practices as perjury, fraud, and bribery, so as to corrupt and make illegal the entire judicial process in which defendants were engaged. See California Motor Transport Co. v. Trucking Unlimited, supra, 404 U.S. at 512-13, 92 S.Ct. at 612-13. So far as appears, the administrative and judicial proceedings in Connecticut were fairly conducted. Plaintiffs had their day in court and prevailed. Plaintiffs’ real complaint, one that is voiced all too often today, is that they had too many days in court. Relief from inordinate delay should have been sought in the Connecticut tribunals to which plaintiffs had ready access. While their plight merits sympathy, it does not merit invocation of the Sherman Act.
I would affirm.