Red Top Appeal Dismissed by Alabama Supreme Court

8/8/2019 Red Top Appeal Dismissed by Alabama Supreme Court

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s h e e t s of Southern Reporter. Readers a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t he Reporter of Decisions,

Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenu e, Montgomery , Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 229¬

0 6 4 9 ) , of any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made b e f o r e

t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern Reporter.

SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA

OCTOBER TERM, 2010-2011

1060855

Redtop Market, Inc., and River Road Auto Repair, by and

through i t s owner, Rickey Bolton

v.

State o f Alabama ex r e l . A r th u r Green, D i s t r i c t Attorney f o r

the Bessemer D i v i s i o n o f the Tenth J u d i c i a l C i r c u i t o f

Alabama

Appeal from J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t Court

(CV-03-905)

PER CURIAM.

R e d t o p M a r k e t , I n c . , and R i v e r Road Auto R e p a i r , by and

t h r o u g h i t s o wne r, R i c k e y B o l t o n ( h e r e i n a f t e r c o l l e c t i v e l y

r e f e r r e d t o a s " R e d t o p " ) , a p p e a l f r o m t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s o r d e r



1060855

g r a n t i n g t h e S t a t e of Al ab am a on th e r e l a t i o n o f A r t h u r G r e e n ,

d i s t r i c t a t t o r n e y f o r th e Bessemer D i v i s i o n of th e Te nt h

J u d i c i a l C i r c u i t of Alabama, r e l i e f under R u l e 6 0 ( b ) ( 6 ) , A l a .

R. C i v . P. We v a c a t e t h e o r d e r , d i s m i s s t h e a c t i o n , and

d i s m i s s t h e a p p e a l .

F a c t s and P r o c e d u r a l H i s t o r y

On J u l y 1, 2003, Redtop f i l e d a c o m p l a i n t s e e k i n g a

judgment d e c l a r i n g t h a t c e r t a i n gaming machines Redtop w i s h e d

t o o p e r a t e i n i t s p l a c e o f b u s i n e s s were "bona f i d e c o i n -

o p e r a t e d amusement ma ch in es " under § 13A-12-76, A l a . Code

1975. A c c o r d i n g to the c o m p l a i n t , Green had r e f u s e d t o

a p p r o v e th e gaming ma chi nes f o r use as amusement machines and

had taken t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e o p e r a t i o n of the machines

w o u l d v i o l a t e §§ 13A-12-20 t h r o u g h 13A-12-76, A l a . Code 1975.

The c o m p l a i n t a l l e g e d t h a t "t he machines i n q u e s t i o n a r e

p r i m a r i l y games o f s k i l l and not chance and t h e r e f o r e , s h o u l d

be a l l o w e d to be o p e r a t e d . "

A f t e r c o n d u c t i n g a h e a r i n g , t h e t r i a l c o u r t on F e b r u a r y

3, 2004, e n t e r e d an o r d e r h o l d i n g t h a t th e gaming mach in es

were bona f i d e c o i n - o p e r a t e d amusement ma ch in es un de r § 13A-

1 2- 76 , A l a . Code 1975. The t r i a l c o u r t ' s o r d e r s t a t e d t h a t

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"any and a l l l a w e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e J e f f e r s o n

C o u n t y S h e r i f f ' s Department and a l l l o c a l m u n i c i p a l l aw

e n f o r c e m e n t a u t h o r i t i e s , [ s h a l l ] a b s t a i n f r o m s e i z i n g o r

c h a r g i n g c r i m i n a l l y any i n d i v i d u a l s o p e r a t i n g o r p o s s e s s i n g

[ t h e gaming m a c h i n e s ] i n J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y . "

On F e b r u a r y 2 7 , 2004, t h e S t a t e f i l e d a mo t io n f o r a new

t r i a l o r a r e h e a r i n g . A f t e r c o n d u c t i n g a h e a r i n g , t h e t r i a l

c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n f o r a new t r i a l on J u l y 1, 2005. On

A u g u s t 1 1 , 2005, t h e S t a t e f i l e d a n o t i c e o f a p p e a l t o t h i s

C o u r t . I n S t a t e v . R e d t o p Ma rk et , In c . , 937 So. 2d 1013 (A l a .

2 0 0 6 ) , t h i s C o u r t h e l d t h a t t h e S t a t e ' s m o t i o n f o r a new t r i a l

h ad been d e n i e d b y o p e r a t i o n o f l a w o n May 2 7 , 2 0 0 4 ; t h u s , t h e

S t a t e ' s a p p e a l was u n t i m e l y . T h e r e f o r e , t h i s C o u rt d i s m i s s e d

t h e a p p e a l .

On January 18, 2007, t h e S t a t e f i l e d a m o t i o n u n d e r R u l e

6 0 ( b ) ( 6 ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., s e e k i n g r e l i e f f r o m t h e t r i a l

c o u r t ' s F e b r u a r y 3 , 2004, o r d e r . The R u l e 6 0 ( b ) ( 6 ) m o t i o n

a l l e g e d t h a t t h i s C o u r t i n B a r b e r v . J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y R a c i n g

A ss 'n , 960 So. 2d 599 ( A l a . 20 06 ), e x a m i n e d gaming m a c h i n e s

t h a t were e s s e n t i a l l y i d e n t i c a l t o t h e gaming m a c h i n e s a t

i s s u e i n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e a n d h e l d t h a t s u c h gaming m a c h i n e s

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a r e i l l e g a l g a m b l i n g d e v i c e s . The S t a t e a s k e d t h e t r i a l c o u r t

t o f i n d t h a t t h e gaming m a c h i n e s a t i s s u e i n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e

a r e i l l e g a l g a m b l i n g d e v i c e s and to l i f t i t s i n j u n c t i o n

p r e v e n t i n g l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s f r o m s e i z i n g t h e m a c h i n e s

o r f r o m c r i m i n a l l y c h a r g i n g i n d i v i d u a l s f o u n d t o be o p e r a t i n g

o r p o s s e s s i n g t h e m a c h i n e s i n J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y . On J a n u a r y

26, 2007, t h e t r i a l c o u r t g r a n t e d t h e S t a t e ' s m o t i o n and

l i f t e d t h e i n j u n c t i o n .

On F e b r u a r y 23, 2007, R e d t o p f i l e d a m o t i o n t o s e t a s i d e

t h e J a n u a r y 26, 2007, o r d e r or to s t a y t h a t o r d e r p e n d i n g

a p p e a l . The t r i a l c o u r t d e n i e d t h a t m o t i o n on F e b r u a r y 26,

2007. On M a r c h 7, 2007, R e d t o p f i l e d a n o t i c e o f a p p e a l t o

t h i s C o u r t .

D i s c u s s i o n

A f t e r t h e a p p e a l i n t h i s c a s e was t a k e n , t h i s C o u r t

r e l e a s e d i t s o p i n i o n i n T y s o n v. Macon C o u n t y G r e y h o u n d P a r k ,

I n c . , 43 So. 3d 587 ( A l a . 2 0 1 0 ) , w h i c h h e l d t h a t the Macon

C i r c u i t C o u r t l a c k e d s u b j e c t - m a t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n t o i n t e r f e r e

i n t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f c r i m i n a l l a w s t h r o u g h t h e i s s u a n c e of an

i n j u n c t i o n i n a c i v i l a c t i o n . T h a t h o l d i n g i s d i s p o s i t i v e i n

t h e p r e s e n t c a s e .

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I n T y s o n , Macon C o u n t y G r e y h o u n d P a r k , I n c . , d / b/ a

V i c t o r y L a n d ( " V i c t o r y L a n d " ) , f i l e d an a c t i o n i n t h e Macon

C i r c u i t C o u r t a g a i n s t J o h n M. T y s o n , J r . , i n d i v i d u a l l y a n d i n

h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y as s p e c i a l p r o s e c u t o r an d t a s k - f o r c e

commander o f t h e G o v e r n o r ' s T a s k F o r c e o n I l l e g a l G a m b l i n g ,

s e e k i n g i n j u n c t i v e an d d e c l a r a t o r y r e l i e f s t e m m i n g f r o m

T y s o n ' s a r r i v a l a t t h e p r e m i s e s o f V i c t o r y L a n d f o r t h e p u r p o s e

o f s e i z i n g m a c h i n e s t h a t , T y s o n s a i d , were i l l e g a l g a m b l i n g

d e v i c e s . I n i t s c o m p l a i n t , V i c t o r y L a n d a s s e r t e d t h a t i t s

a c t i v i t i e s were l a w f u l a n d t h a t i t w o ul d s u f f e r i r r e p a r a b l e

i n j u r y i f t h e m a c h i n e s were s e i z e d . The c i r c u i t c o u r t e n t e r e d

a w r i t t e n o r d e r b a r r i n g T y s o n f r o m t a k i n g f u r t h e r a c t i o n

p e n d i n g a h e a r i n g to be h e l d a few days l a t e r . T y s o n f i l e d an

e m e r g e n cy m o t i o n i n t h i s C o u r t t o s t a y o r t o v a c a t e t h e

c i r c u i t c o u r t ' s o r d e r .

T h i s C o u r t h e l d t h a t " [ t ] h e g e n e r a l r u l e i s t h a t a c o u r t

may not i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f c r i m i n a l l a w s

t h r o u g h a c i v i l a c t i o n ; i n s t e a d , t h e p a r t y a g g r i e v e d b y s u c h

e n f o r c e m e n t s h a l l make h i s c a s e i n t h e p r o s e c u t i o n o f t h e

c r i m i n a l a c t i o n . " T y s o n , 43 So. 3d a t 58 9. We a l s o n o t e d t h a t

" [ t ] h i s C o u r t h a s r e c o g n i z e d an e x c e p t i o n t o t h e g e n e r a l r u l e

5



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whereby t h e e q u i t a b l e powers o f t h e c o u r t c a n b e i n v o k e d t o

a v o i d i r r e p a r a b l e i n j u r y when t h e p l a i n t i f f c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e

s t a t u t e a t i s s u e i s v o i d , " 43 S o. 3 d a t 5 8 9 , b u t we h e l d t h a t

" [ t ] h e c o m p l a i n t i n t h i s a c t i o n does n o t p r e s e n t a s i t u a t i o n

i n w h i c h t h e p l a i n t i f f a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t h i s c o n d u c t i s

p r o h i b i t e d b y a s t a t u t e a nd t h e n c h a l l e n g e s t he e n f o r c e a b i l i t y

o f t h e s t a t u t e . " 43 S o. 3 d a t 5 9 0. T h e r e f o r e , b a s e d o n t h o s e

p r o p o s i t i o n s , we h e l d t h a t t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t l a c k e d s u b j e c t -

m a t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n , a n d we v a c a t e d t h e o r d e r b e f o r e u s ,

d i s m i s s e d t h e a c t i o n , an d d i s m i s s e d t h e a p p e a l .

A s d i d t h e p l a i n t i f f s i n T y s o n , R e d t o p s o u g h t a judgment

d e c l a r i n g t h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e gaming m a c h i n e s to be l e g a l ,

a n d , l i k e t h e t r i a l c o u r t i n T y s o n , t h e t r i a l c o u r t i n t h i s

c a s e , i n i t s F e b r u a r y 3, 2004, o r d e r , e n j o i n e d a l l l aw -

e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s " f r o m s e i z i n g o r c h a r g i n g c r i m i n a l l y an y

i n d i v i d u a l s o p e r a t i n g o r p o s s e s s i n g [ t he gaming m a c h i n e s ] i n

J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y . " S u c h a d e c l a r a t i o n w o u l d i m p e r m i s s i b l y

i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f c r i m i n a l l a w s t h r o u g h a

c i v i l a c t i o n . A l s o , no e x c e p t i o n t o t h e g e n e r a l r u l e a p p l i e s

i n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e b e c a u s e R e d t o p does n o t c h a l l e n g e t h e

e n f o r c e a b i l i t y o f an y s t a t u t e . I n s t e a d , R e d t o p a l l e g e s t h a t

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t h e gaming m a c h i n e s a r e l e g a l b e c a u s e , i t s a y s , t h e m a c h i n e s

meet t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f a "bona f i d e c o i n - o p e r a t e d amusement

m a c h i n e s " u n d e r § 13A-12-76, A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 . T h e r e f o r e , l i k e

t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t i n T y s o n , t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t i n t h e p r e s e n t

c as e l a c k e d s u b j e c t - m a t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n over the a c t i o n , and

a l l o r d e r s e n t e r e d b y t h e t r i a l c o u r t i n t h i s case are v o i d .

C o n c l u s i o n

B a s e d o n t h e f o r e g o i n g , we v a c a t e t h e o r d e r b e f o r e u s ,

d i s m i s s t h e a c t i o n , a nd d i s m i s s t h e a p p e a l .

ORDER VACATED; ACTION DISMI SSED; APPE AL DISMISSED .

L y o n s , W o o d a l l , S t u a r t , S m i t h , B o l i n , and Shaw, J J . ,

c o n c u r .

Murdock, J . , c o n c u r s s p e c i a l l y .

Cobb, C . J . , c o n c u r s i n t h e r e s u l t .

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MURDOCK, J u s t i c e ( c o n c u r r i n g s p e c i a l l y ) .

I n T y s o n v. Macon C o u n t y Greyhound P a r k , I n c . , 43 So. 3d

587 ( A l a . 2 0 1 0 ) , t h i s C o u r t h e l d t h a t a c i r c u i t c o u r t

e x e r c i s i n g i t s c i v i l j u r i s d i c t i o n d i d n o t have s u b j e c t - m a t t e r

j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r an a c t i o n s e e k i n g t o r e s t r a i n t h e

e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h i s S t a t e ' s c r i m i n a l l a w s . Among o t h e r

t h i n g s , t h i s C o u r t s u p p o r t e d i t s h o l d i n g w i t h th e f o l l o w i n g

o b s e r v a t i o n s :

"The g e n e r a l r u l e i s t h a t a c o u r t may no t

i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f c r i m i n a l l a w s

t h r o u g h a c i v i l a c t i o n ; i n s t e a d , t h e p a r t y a g g r i e v e d

b y s u c h e n f o r c e m e n t s h a l l make h i s c a s e i n the

p r o s e c u t i o n of th e c r i m i n a l a c t i o n :

" ' I t i s a p l a i n p r o p o s i t i o n of law t h a t

e q u i t y w i l l not e x e r t i t s powers m e r e l y t o

e n j o i n c r i m i n a l or q u a s i c r i m i n a l

p r o s e c u t i o n s , " t h o u g h t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s t o

t h e c o m p l a i n a n t of a l l o w i n g t he

p r o s e c u t i o n s t o p r o c e e d may be e v e r so

g r i e v o u s and i r r e p a r a b l e . " Brown v.

B i r m i n g h a m , 140 A l a . [ 5 9 0 , ] 600, 37 S o u t h .

[ 1 7 3 , ] 174 [ ( 1 9 0 4 ) ] . " H i s remedy at law i s

p l a i n , a d e q u a t e , and c o m p l e t e by way of

e s t a b l i s h i n g and h a v i n g h i s i n n o c e n c e

a d j u d g e d i n the c r i m i n a l c o u r t . " I d . '

" B o a r d of Comm'rs o f M o b i l e v. O r r , 181 A l a . 308,

318, 61 So. 920, 923 ( 1 9 1 3 ) . See a l s o 22A Am.Jur.2dD e c l a r a t o r y Judgments § 57 ( 2 0 0 3 ) ('A d e c l a r a t o r y

judgment w i l l g e n e r a l l y not be g r a n t e d where i t s

o n l y e f f e c t w o u l d be t o d e c i d e m a t t e r s w h i c h

p r o p e r l y s h o u l d be d e c i d e d i n a c r i m i n a l a c t i o n . ' ) . "

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T y s o n , 43 So. 3d a t 589.

The p r e s e n t c a s e w e l l d e m o n s t r a t e s t he wisd om o f th e

a b o v e - q u o t e d g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s and th e harmon y of t h o s e

p r i n c i p l e s w i t h t h e d o c t r i n e of the s e p a r a t i o n of po wer s as

p r o v i d e d i n § 43 o f the Ala ba ma C o n s t i t u t i o n . I f we l i m i t

" m a t t e r s w h i c h p r o p e r l y s h o u l d be d e c i d e d i n a c r i m i n a l

a c t i o n " t o c r i m i n a l a c t i o n s , a m i s t a k e i n f a v o r o f a c r i m i n a l

a c t o r s e r v e s o n l y to immunize f r o m f u r t h e r l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t

e f f o r t s t h e s p e c i f i c p a s t a c t s a l l e g e d i n the i n d i c t m e n t o r

i n f o r m a t i o n . On the o t h e r h a nd , i f s u c h a m i s t a k e i s made i n

a c i v i l c a s e l i k e t h e p r e s e n t one, the r e s u l t c o u l d be

i n j u n c t i v e o r o t h e r r e l i e f t h a t c o u l d t i e th e hands of law

e n f o r c e m e n t i n t h e f u t u r e so as , i n e f f e c t , to immunize f r o m

f u r t h e r l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t e f f o r t s a l l f u t u r e a c t s of the same

n a t u r e by the p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y and p o s s i b l y o t h e r s i m i l a r l y

s i t u a t e d a c t o r s i n t h e c o u n t y i n w h i c h t h e d e c i s i o n i s

r e n d e r e d . In p r a c t i c a l e f f e c t , t h e r e s u l t w o u l d be a change

by c i v i l j u d i c i a l d e c r e e f o r t h a t c o u n t y of what ha s be en

p r e s c r i b e d by the l e g i s l a t u r e as the u n i f o r m s t a t u t o r y

c r i m i n a l law f o r the e n t i r e s t a t e . The j u d i c i a r y w o u l d , i n

one f e l l swoop, be a b l e t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h b o t h t h e l e g i s l a t i v e

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a nd e x e c u t i v e b r a n c h e s , c o n t r a r y t o § 43 o f t h e Alabama

C o n s t i t u t i o n .

Alabama's c o n s t i t u t i o n p r e s c r i b e s t o t h e l e g i s l a t i v e

b r a n c h o f o u r S t a t e government t h e t a s k o f p r o m u l g a t i n g

c r i m i n a l l a w s f o r t h e s a k e o f t he p u b l i c ' s s a f e t y , h e a l t h ,

a nd w e l f a r e . I t p r e s c r i b e s t o t h e e x e c u t i v e b r a n c h o f S t a t e

government t he t a s k o f e n f o r c i n g c r i m i n a l l a w s t o t h e same

e nd . I t i s e s s e n t i a l t o t h e i n t e g r i t y o f t h e d e l e g a t i o n o f

t h e s e r e s p e c t i v e t a s k s t o t h e s e p a r t i c u l a r b r a n c h e s and to the

r e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e s e p u r p o s e s i n a u n i f o r m manner t h r o u g h o u t

t h e v a r i o u s c o u n t i e s to a d h e r e t o t h e n o t i o n t h a t an o r d e r

f r o m t h e j u d i c i a l b r a n c h o f t h e n a t u r e a t i s s u e i n t h i s c a s e

i s s u b j e c t t o f u t u r e , c o l l a t e r a l a t t a c k as beyond t h e

j u r i s d i c t i o n of the c i v i l c o u r t t h a t e n t e r e d i t . M a i n t a i n i n g

t h i s i n t e g r i t y and m e e t i n g t h e s e p u r p o s e s d i c t a t e t h a t t he

p o t e n t i a l p r o s p e c t i v e , b i n d i n g e f f e c t o f t h e o r d e r of a s i n g l e

c o u r t n o t b e d e p e n d e n t upon t h e i m m e d i a t e s t a n c e t a k e n by, or

t h e s k i l l o r d i l i g e n c e o f , a l o c a l o f f i c i a l i n r e l a t i o n to the

t r y i n g o f a s i n g l e c i v i l a c t i o n , t h e p r e s e r v i n g of e r r o r i n

t h a t a c t i o n , o r t h e p u r s u i n g o f a t i m e l y a nd e f f e c t i v e a p p e a l

f r o m any a d v e r s e j u d g m e n t .

10



1060855

R e l a t e d t o t h e f o r e g o i n g , I n o t e t h a t o u r o p i n i o n i n

T y s o n s t a t e d t h a t t h i s C o u r t h a s r e c o g n i z e d an e x c e p t i o n t o

t h e g e n e r a l r u l e whereby t h e e q u i t a b l e powers o f t h e c o u r t c a n

b e i n v o k e d t o a v o i d i r r e p a r a b l e i n j u r y when the p l a i n t i f f

c o n c e d e s t h a t h i s o r h e r c o n d u c t f a l l s w i t h i n a c r i m i n a l

s t a t u t e b u t c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e s t a t u t e i t s e l f i s v o i d . 43

So. 3d at 589. B e c a u s e t h i s e x c e p t i o n i s a g a i n r e f e r e n c e d i n

t h e o p i n i o n i n t h i s c a s e , I f i n d i t a p p r o p r i a t e t o make n o t e

h e r e o f q u e s t i o n s r e g a r d i n g t h e c o r r e c t n e s s o f t h i s e x c e p t i o n

t h a t have a r i s e n f o r me s i n c e T y s o n was d e c i d e d .

Most f u n d a m e n t a l l y , i t a p p e a r s t o me t h a t t h e a b o v e -

d e s c r i b e d p r i n c i p l e s a n d p u r p o s e s c o u l d be d e f e a t e d as

e f f e c t i v e l y b y a c i v i l a c t i o n t h a t a d j u d i c a t e s a c r i m i n a l

s t a t u t e o r o r d i n a n c e t o be v o i d as by a c i v i l a c t i o n t h a t

s u c c e s s f u l l y s e e k s on some o t h e r g r o u n d t o p r e v e n t p a r t i c u l a r

c o n d u c t f r o m b e i n g p r o s e c u t e d u n d e r t h a t c r i m i n a l s t a t u t e o r

o r d i n a n c e i n t h e f u t u r e . 1 I q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r a ny e x c e p t i o n

1S e e g e n e r a l l y C i t y C o u n c i l o f Montgomery v . West, 4 0 So.

2 1 5 , 2 15 ( A l a . 1 9 06 ) ( n o t r e p o r t e d i n Alabama R e p o r t s )

( h o l d i n g t h a t a c o u r t e x e r c i s i n g c i v i l j u r i s d i c t i o n i s

" w i t h o u t power t o e n j o i n t h e c o m m i s s i o n o f t h r e a t e n e d c r i m e s ,

o r t o r e s t r a i n t h r e a t e n e d p r o s e c u t i o n s f o r t h e c o m m i s s i o n o f

a l l e g e d c r i m e s , " e v e n when "the o r d i n a n c e o r s t a t u t e f o r t h e

a l l e g e d v i o l a t i o n o f w h i c h t h e p r o s e c u t i o n i s t h r e a t e n e d , i s

a b s o l u t e l y v o i d " a n d a v e r m e n t i s made t h a t t h e r e " w o u l d be

11



1060855

t h a t a l l o w s s u c h a r e s u l t c o u l d be c o r r e c t s i n c e i t i s t h o s e

p r i n c i p l e s a n d p u r p o s e s t h a t i n f o r m t h e g e n e r a l r u l e .

A l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e i n d e e d numerous c a s e s t h a t a r t i c u l a t e

an e x c e p t i o n t o t h e g e n e r a l r u l e f o r c i v i l a c t i o n s s e e k i n g an

a d j u d i c a t i o n t h a t a n e n a c t m e n t i s v o i d ( w h i c h I u n d e r s t a n d t o

be a r e f e r e n c e t o f a c i a l v o i d n e s s ) , i t may b e o b s e r v e d t h a t

s u c h c a s e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y e a r l y o n e s , u s u a l l y i n v o l v e d t h e

v a l i d i t y o f l o c a l o r d i n a n c e s , r a t h e r t h a n S t a t e c r i m i n a l

s t a t u t e s . See, e.g., B o a r d o f Comm'rs o f M o b i l e v . O r r , 1 81

A l a . 308, 318 , 61 So. 920 , 923 (1 913) ( n o t i n g th e " p l a i n

p r o p o s i t i o n o f l a w t h a t e q u i t y w i l l n o t e x e r t i t s powers

m e r e l y t o e n j o i n c r i m i n a l o r q u a s i c r i m i n a l p r o s e c u t i o n s , " b ut

s u b s e q u e n t l y o b s e r v i n g t h a t t h e C o u r t h ad r e c o g n i z e d " t h e

power ... o f t h e e q u i t y c o u r t s t o i n t e r f e r e b y i n j u n c t i o n

where q u a s i c r i m i n a l p r o s e c u t i o n s u n d e r m u n i c i p a l o r d i n a n c e s

w i l l d e s t r o y o r i m p a i r p r o p e r t y r i g h t s " a n d c i t i n g a s e r i e s o f

r e p e a t e d a n d numerous p r o s e c u t i o n s " t h a t w o u l d " i n f l i c t

i r r e p a r a b l e i n j u r y " b u t m a k i n g no r e f e r e n c e t o a ny e x c e p t i o n

t o t h i s g e n e r a l r u l e ) . S i m i l a r l y , i f an o r d i n a n c e p u r p o r t s t o

d e c l a r e l e g a l c e r t a i n a c t i v i t y t h a t w o u l d o t h e r w i s e r u n a f o u l

o f a S t a t e c r i m i n a l s t a t u t e , I q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e r e i s a ny

d i f f e r e n c e i n a d j u d i c a t i n g i n a c i v i l a c t i o n f o r p r o s p e c t i v e

e f f e c t t h e v a l i d i t y o f t h a t o r d i n a n c e a n d a s i m i l a r

a d j u d i c a t i o n o f t h e l e g a l i t y o f t h e a c t i v i t y a t i s s u e i n t h e

a b s e n c e o f an o r d i n a n c e t h a t p u r p o r t s t o l e g a l i z e i t .

12



1060855

may be q u e s t i o n e d w h e t h e r i n a c i r c u m s t a n c e where t h e r e i s a

C i t y o f B i r m i n g h a m , 154 A l a . 44 7, 45 0, 45 So. 92 2, 923 ( 1 9 0 8 )

( a d d r e s s i n g on i t s m e r i t s t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e n i a l o f

e q u i t a b l e r e l i e f i n a c a s e where t h e " t h r e a t e n e d e n f o r c e m e n t

o f t h e o r d i n a n c e w o u l d n o t o n l y g r e a t l y d i m i n i s h t h e v a l u e o f

t h e p r o p e r t y , b u t w i l l p r a c t i c a l l y d e s t r o y i t s v a l u e , by

f o r b i d d i n g t h e use t o w h i c h i t i s b e t t e r o r e x c l u s i v e l y

a d a p t a b l e , " i n t h i s c a s e a c e m e t e r y ) ; Town o f Cuba v.

M i s s i s s i p p i O i l Co., 150 A l a . 25 9, 43 So. 706 ( 1 9 0 7 ) ; P o r t o f

M o b i l e v. L. & N.R.R., 84 A l a . 11 5, 4 So. 1 0 6 (1 88 8 ) ;

Montgomery v. L. & N.R.R., 84 A l a . 12 7, 4 S o. 626 ( 1 8 8 8 ) , w i t h

E x p a r t e S t a t e ex r e l . M a r t i n , 200 A l a . 15 , 16, 75 So. 32 7,

328 (1917) ("The p r o p e r t y r i g h t s o u g h t t o be a s s e r t e d ... does

n o t ... b r i n g [ t he p l a i n t i f f ' s ] c a u s e w i t h i n t h e e x c e p t i o n ...

r e c o g n i z e d i n t h e c a s e s n o t e d i n B o a r d o f Com'rs o f M o b i l e v.

O r r , 181 A l a . 308, 61 So. 920 [ ( 1 9 1 3 ) ] . The f a c t , i f s o , t h a t

c o m p l a i n a n t has b r o u g h t i n t o t h e s t a t e or has i n h i s

p o s s e s s i o n a b e v e r a g e t h a t , t h o u g h i n f a c t n o t p r o h i b i t e d ,

w i l l s u b j e c t o r has s u b j e c t e d him t o a r r e s t and h i s b e v e r a g e

t o s e i z u r e , c a n n o t a v a i l t o i n v e s t t h e c o u r t o f e q u i t y w i t h

j u r i s d i c t i o n i n t h e p r e m i s e s . The i s s u e , w h e t h e r t h e b e v e r a g e

i s w i t h i n t h e p r o h i b i t o r y l a w s, ca n be f u l l y d e t e r m i n e d by t h e

c o u r t i n w h i c h t h e p r o s e c u t i o n and t h e p r o c e e d i n g s on s e i z u r e

a r e h e a r d . " ) ; C a u d l e v. C o t t o n , 234 A l a . 12 6, 127 , 173 So.

847, 848 (1937) ( d i s s o l v i n g an i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t l a w

e n f o r c e m e n t ' s s e i z u r e o f g a m b l i n g d e v i c e s and n o t i n g t h a t

" [ p ] e r h a p s t h e c a s e o f Ex p a r t e S t a t e , 200 A l a . 15 , 75 So. 327

[ ( 1 9 1 7 ) ] , f u r n i s h e s an i l l u s t r a t i o n more n e a r l y i n p o i n t t o

t h e i n s t a n t c a s e " t h a n o t h e r s ) ; Kennedy v. S h a m b l i n , 234 A l a .

230, 23 1, 174 So. 7 73 , 774 ( 1 9 3 7 ) ( a f f i r m i n g t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s

d e n i a l o f e q u i t a b l e r e l i e f where " t h e o n l y p r o p e r t y r i g h t s

i n v o l v e d a r e s u c h as the c o m p l a i n a n t h a s i n s a i d s l o t

m a c h i n e s , i n w h i c h he ha s i n v e s t e d h i s money and th e p r o f i t s

w h i c h s a i d m a c h i n e s a r e t a k i n g " ) . See a l s o D i c k e y v. S i g n a l

Peak E n t e r s . , 340 A r k . 276, 280 , 9 S.W.3d 517, 51 9 (2000 )

( h o l d i n g t h a t a t h r e a t e n e d p r o s e c u t i o n d i d n o t f a l l w i t h i n t h e

e x c e p t i o n t o th e g e n e r a l p r e v e n t i n g a c h a n c e r y c o u r t f r o m

r e s t r a i n i n g p r o s e c u t o r i a l e f f o r t s b e c a u s e t h e t h r e a t e n e d

p r o s e c u t i o n "was a i m e d e x c l u s i v e l y a t i l l e g a l g a m b l i n g

o p e r a t i o n s , n o t l a w f u l b u s i n e s s o p e r a t i o n s " ) ; B i l l y / D o t , I n c .

v . F i e l d s , 322 A r k . 272, 908 S.W.2d 335 ( 1 9 9 5 ) .

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1060855

c o m m i n g l i n g o f b o t h a l l e g e d l y i l l e g a l e n t e r p r i s e s w i t h l e g a l

e n t e r p r i s e s t he c o m p l a i n a n t has not v o l u n t a r i l y u n d e r t a k e n a

r i s k f o r w h i c h a c o u r t e x e r c i s i n g c i v i l j u r i s d i c t i o n may not

p r o v i d e r e l i e f .

W h i l e I t h e r e f o r e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h i s C o u r t ' s

a r t i c u l a t i o n o f an e x c e p t i o n i n T y s o n was c o r r e c t , i t i s no t

n e c e s s a r y t o answer t h i s " q u e s t i o n " i n o r d e r t o d e c i d e t h e

c a s e b e f o r e u s . I a g r e e w i t h t h e main o p i n i o n t h a t t h e

e x c e p t i o n a r t i c u l a t e d i n T y s o n i s n o t a p p l i c a b l e h e r e , and I

t h e r e f o r e c o n c u r i n t h a t o p i n i o n .

15

Red Top Appeal Dismissed by Alabama Supreme Court

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