Court Opinion

ID: 9677062
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 05:42:14.929318+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:53.388134
License: Public Domain

On Motions for Rehearing.
In their motions for rehearing appellees have raised the point that appellant’s original petition fails to plead either by way of fact or conclusion certain necessary elements of a cause of action under Title 42, U.S.C.A. § 1985.
Section 1985 has been construed by the appellate courts of the United States to require, as elements of a cause of action under such statute, allegations of a conspiracy for the purpose of hindering or obstructing the due course of justice in a state with the purposeful intent to deny to a citizen the equal protection of the law, and of overt acts done under color of state law or authority and resulting in injury to the plaintiff in his person or property. Hoffman v. Halden, 268 F.2d 280 (9th Cir., 1959), and cases there cited.
In his original petition plaintiff has not alleged facts from which the conclusion *730could be drawn that a conspiracy was formed with the intention to deny him equal protection of the law or that any acts committed pursuant to the alleged conspiracy were done under color of state law. Since under the Hoffman case such allegations are necessary, plaintiff has failed to allege a cause of action based on the statute.
Appellees’ motions for rehearing are granted and the judgment of the trial court is' affirmed.
Motions for rehearing granted; former judgment vacated, set aside and annulled; judgment rendered and opinion on rehearing filed January 17,1963.