United States v. Woodson

• Decision Date: 27 April 1962
• Docket Number: 16763-16767.,No. 16750,16750
• Citation: 302 F.2d 459
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Nelson WOODSON, Appellee. UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Joseph HILL, Appellee. UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Warren S. GRUBER, Appellee. UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Joseph H. DECKMAN, Appellee. UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Jack A. RICHARDSON, Appellee. UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. John CISSEL, Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — District of Columbia Circuit

302 F.2d 459 (1962)

UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Nelson WOODSON, Appellee.

UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Joseph HILL, Appellee.

UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Warren S. GRUBER, Appellee.

UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Joseph H. DECKMAN, Appellee.

UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. Jack A. RICHARDSON, Appellee.

UNITED STATES of America, Appellant, v. John CISSEL, Appellee.

Nos. 16750, 16763-16767.

United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit.

Argued March 19, 1962.

Decided April 27, 1962.

As Amended June 1, 1962.

Mr. Patrick M. Ryan, Atty., Dept. of Justice, of the bar of the Court of Appeals of New York, pro hac vice, by special leave of court, with whom Mr. Richard A. Solomon, Atty., Dept. of Justice, was on the brief, for appellant in each case. Mr. Irwin A. Seibel, Atty., Dept. of Justice, also entered an appearance for appellant in each case. Mr. Sidney Harris, Atty., Dept. of Justice, also entered an appearance for appellant in No. 16,750.

Mr. John J. Wilson, Washington, D. C., with whom Messrs. John J. Carmody and Charles J. Steele, Washington, D. C., were on the brief, for appellee in No. 16,750.

Mr. Francis M. Shea, Washington, D. C., with whom Messrs. Richard T. Conway and William H. Dempsey, Jr., Washington, D. C., were on the brief, for appellee in No. 16,765.

Mr. Francis J. Kelly, Washington, D. C., was on the brief for appellee in No. 16,763.

Messrs. Paul F. Interdonato, Theodore Lombard and James T. Reilly, Washington, D. C., were on the brief for appellee in No. 16,764.

Mr. Ellsworth T. Simpson, Washington, D. C., was on the brief for appellee in No. 16,766.

Messrs. William F. Kelly, Richard H. Nicolaides and W. V. T. Justis, Washington, D. C., were on the brief for appellee in No. 16,767.

Before WILBUR K. MILLER, Chief Judge, and BASTIAN and BURGER, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

An indictment charged that eight District of Columbia construction companies and six individuals had conspired to restrain trade, in violation of Section 3 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 3. The individuals, who concededly had acted only as corporate officers, moved to dismiss as to them, and the District Court granted their motion, holding that corporate officers may not be indicted under Section 3 of the Sherman Act for acts done in their representative capacities and that, therefore, the indictment did not state an offense under the Sherman Act as to the individuals.

The Government argued that the charge against the individuals was nevertheless properly included because Section 14 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 3, which was not mentioned in the indictment, makes their alleged acts criminal, even though Section 3 of the Sherman Act does not. In rejecting this contention, the District Court pointed out that such a construction of the indictment would result in dismissal because of duplicity. The Government appeals from the order dismissing the indictment as to the individuals.

The Government's right to appeal to this court from the dismissal of an indictment derives from the Criminal Appeals Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3731, of which the following is pertinent:

"An appeal may be taken by and on behalf of the United States from the district courts direct to the Supreme Court of the United States in all criminal cases in the following instances:

"From a decision or judgment setting aside, or dismissing any indictment or information, or any count thereof, where such decision or judgment is based upon the invalidity or construction of the statute upon which the indictment or information is founded.

* * * * * *

"An appeal may be taken by and on behalf of the United States from the district courts to a court of appeals in all criminal cases, in the following instances:

"From a decision or judgment setting aside, or dismissing any indictment or information, or any count thereof except where a direct appeal to the Supreme Court of

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