Dombrowski v. Eastland, No. 118

CourtUnited States Supreme Court
Writing for the CourtPER CURIAM; BLACK
Citation387 U.S. 82,87 S.Ct. 1425,18 L.Ed.2d 577
PartiesJames A. DOMBROWSKI et al., Petitioners, v. James EASTLAND et al
Docket NumberNo. 118
Decision Date15 May 1967

387 U.S. 82
87 S.Ct. 1425
18 L.Ed.2d 577
James A. DOMBROWSKI et al., Petitioners,

v.

James EASTLAND et al.

No. 118.
Argued Feb. 20, 1967.
Decided May 15, 1967.

Arthur Kinoy, New York City, for petitioners.

Roger Robb, Washington, D.C., for respondents.

PER CURIAM.

The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sustained the order granting summary judgment

Page 83

to the respondents who are, respectively, the Chairman and counsel of the Internal Security Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee of the United States Senate. Petitioners' claim is essentially that respondents tortiously entered into and participated in a conspiracy and concert of action with Louisiana officials to seize property and records of petitioners by unlawful means in violation of petitioners' Fourth Amendment rights. The circumstances of the searches and arrests involved are set forth in Dombrowski v. Pfister, 380 U.S. 479, 85 S.Ct. 1116, 14 L.Ed.2d 22 (1965), and in Judge Wisdom's dissenting opinion in the District Court in that case, 227 F.Supp. 556, 573 (D.C.E.D.La.1964). Louisiana courts held the arrests and searches illegal because the warrants secured by the police had not been supported by a showing of probable cause. In a civil suit by these same petitioners against the Louisiana officials allegedly involved in the conspiracy, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, reversing a summary judgment in favor of third-party defendants, held that plaintiffs had raised a genuine issue of material fact whether the Chairman 'and the other members of the (State) committee were 'acting in the sphere of legitimate legislative activity', which would entitle them to immunity.' Pfister v. Arceneaux, C.A.5th Cir., Nov. 14, 1966, 376 F.2d 821.

In the present case, the court below recognized 'considerable difficulty' in reaching the conclusion that, on the basis of the affidavits of the parties, there were no disputed issues of fact with respect to petitioners' claim. It nevertheless upheld summary dismissal of the action on the ground that 'the record before the District Court contained unchallenged facts of a nature and scope sufficient to give (respondents) an immunity against answerability in damages * * *.' In support of this conclusion the court addressed itself to only that part of petitioners' claims which related to the take-over of the records by

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respondents after the 'raids.' As to this, it held that the subject matter of the seized...

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441 practice notes
  • M & T Mortgage Corp. v. White, Nos. 04-CV-4775 (NGG) (VVP)
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 2nd Circuit. United States District Court (Eastern District of New York)
    • August 26, 2010
    ...that no rational trier of fact could find in its favor, summary judgment may be granted. Id. at 248-50 (citing Dombrowski v. Eastland, 387 U.S. 82, 87 S.Ct. 1425, 18 L.Ed.2d 577 (1967)). Any ambiguities and all inferences must be drawn in favor of the non-movant, and the court must view the......
  • Napreljac v. John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc., No. 4:05-cv-00160-JEG.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 8th Circuit. United States State District Court of Southern District of Iowa
    • November 8, 2006
    ...judgment may be granted." Id. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (citing Cities Serv., 391 U.S. at 290, 88 S.Ct. 1575; Dombrowski v. Eastland, 387 U.S. 82, 87 S.Ct. 1425, 18 L.Ed.2d 577 (1967) (per curiam) (citations omitted)); see also Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., 475 U.S. at 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348 (e......
  • Dolly v. Old Republic Ins. Co., No. 5:00CV1685.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of Ohio
    • May 8, 2002
    ...the legal issue and grant summary judgment. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (citing Dombrowski v. Eastland, 387 U.S. 82, 87 S.Ct. 1425, 18 L.Ed.2d 577 (1967) (per curiam) and First National Bank of Arizona v. Cities Service Co., 391 U.S. 253, 290, 88 S.Ct. 1575......
  • In re Heinsohn, Bankruptcy No. 90-31655
    • United States
    • United States Bankruptcy Courts. Sixth Circuit. U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Tennessee
    • March 16, 1999
    ...L.Ed.2d 331 (1978) (judge); Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 96 S.Ct. 984, 47 L.Ed.2d 128 (1976) (prosecutors); Dombrowski v. Eastland, 387 U.S. 82, 87 S.Ct. 1425, 18 L.Ed.2d 577 (1967)(legislators). The Supreme Court has endorsed a "functional" approach in determining whether an official ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
441 cases
  • M & T Mortgage Corp. v. White, Nos. 04-CV-4775 (NGG) (VVP)
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 2nd Circuit. United States District Court (Eastern District of New York)
    • August 26, 2010
    ...that no rational trier of fact could find in its favor, summary judgment may be granted. Id. at 248-50 (citing Dombrowski v. Eastland, 387 U.S. 82, 87 S.Ct. 1425, 18 L.Ed.2d 577 (1967)). Any ambiguities and all inferences must be drawn in favor of the non-movant, and the court must view the......
  • Napreljac v. John Q. Hammons Hotels, Inc., No. 4:05-cv-00160-JEG.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 8th Circuit. United States State District Court of Southern District of Iowa
    • November 8, 2006
    ...judgment may be granted." Id. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (citing Cities Serv., 391 U.S. at 290, 88 S.Ct. 1575; Dombrowski v. Eastland, 387 U.S. 82, 87 S.Ct. 1425, 18 L.Ed.2d 577 (1967) (per curiam) (citations omitted)); see also Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., 475 U.S. at 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348 (e......
  • Dolly v. Old Republic Ins. Co., No. 5:00CV1685.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of Ohio
    • May 8, 2002
    ...the legal issue and grant summary judgment. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (citing Dombrowski v. Eastland, 387 U.S. 82, 87 S.Ct. 1425, 18 L.Ed.2d 577 (1967) (per curiam) and First National Bank of Arizona v. Cities Service Co., 391 U.S. 253, 290, 88 S.Ct. 1575......
  • In re Heinsohn, Bankruptcy No. 90-31655
    • United States
    • United States Bankruptcy Courts. Sixth Circuit. U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of Tennessee
    • March 16, 1999
    ...L.Ed.2d 331 (1978) (judge); Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 96 S.Ct. 984, 47 L.Ed.2d 128 (1976) (prosecutors); Dombrowski v. Eastland, 387 U.S. 82, 87 S.Ct. 1425, 18 L.Ed.2d 577 (1967)(legislators). The Supreme Court has endorsed a "functional" approach in determining whether an official ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles
  • THE STOCK ACT TEN YEARS LATER: THE NEED FOR A NEW CONGRESSIONAL INSIDER TRADING REGULATORY SCHEME.
    • United States
    • Washington University Law Review Vol. 100 Nbr. 2, October 2022
    • October 1, 2022
    ...(126.) Id. at 178. (127.) Id. (128.) Id. (129.) United States v. Brewster, 408 U.S. 501, 507 (1972). (130.) Dombrowski v. Eastland, 387 U.S. 82, 85 (1967) (citation (131.) Powell v. McCormack, 395 U.S. 486, 502 (1969) (quoting Kilboum v. Thompson, 103 U.S. 168,204(1880)). (132.) United Stat......

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