Galella v. Onassis

533 F. Supp. 1076, 8 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1321, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11614
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMarch 2, 1982
Docket70 Civ. 4348 (IBC)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 533 F. Supp. 1076 (Galella v. Onassis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Galella v. Onassis, 533 F. Supp. 1076, 8 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1321, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11614 (S.D.N.Y. 1982).

Opinion

OPINION

IRVING BEN COOPER, District Judge.

Movants, Jacqueline Onassis (Mrs. Onassis) and Caroline B. Kennedy (Ms. Kennedy), seek an order holding respondent Ronald E. Galella (Galella) in contempt for vio *1077 lation of our order dated January 8, 1975. 1 Movants allege that on four (4) separate occasions Galella, by his conduct while photographing them, violated certain prohibitions of our order. For his part, Galella denies any wrongdoing and maintains that he has not intentionally violated the distinct purpose of our order.

Qualitatively and quantitatively, we find the total proof adduced by movant forthright, persuasive, convincing — a measure of proof presented that more than meets the imperative test laid down by law. Accordingly, for reasons set forth below, the application is granted in all respects.

The order is sought pursuant to Local Rule 44 2 which states in part:

(b) If the alleged contemnor puts in issue his alleged misconduct or the damages thereby occasioned, he shall upon demand therefor, be entitled to have oral evidence taken thereon, either before the court or before a master appointed by the court.
(c) In the event the alleged contemnor is found to be in contempt of court, an order shall be made and entered (1) reciting or referring to the verdict or findings of fact upon which the adjudication is based; (2) setting forth the amount of damages to which the complainant is entitled; (3) fixing the fine, if any, imposed by the court, which fine shall include the damages found, and naming the person to whom such fine shall be payable; (4) stating any other conditions, the performance whereof will operate to purge the contempt; and (5) directing the arrest of the contemnor by the United States marshal and his confinement until the performance of the condition fixed in the order and the payment of the fine or until the contemnor be otherwise discharged pursuant to law.

Proceedings to date

The instant motion to hold Galella in contempt is but another step in the long, and often tortuous, history of this action. It was commenced in 1970; a proceeding lasting over a month was held in 1972; our decision was appealed to the Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; and in 1975 we entered a final order permanently enjoining certain practices indulged in by Galella.

Galella originally instituted this action in New York Supreme Court; it was removed to this Court on October 7, 1970. 3 Galella brought suit against Mrs. Onassis and three agents of the United States Secret Service (Walsh, Kalafatis and Connelly) seeking damages and injunctive relief for: (1) false arrest; (2) malicious prosecution; and (3) interference with his business of photography by the alleged acts of defendants. 4 The Secret Service agents protecting Mrs. Onassis’ son theretofore had filed a criminal complaint against Galella who was detained and arrested but eventually acquitted. 5 While this acquittal may have ostensibly precipitated the filing of the complaint, we found to the contrary. As we saw it, Galella’s motivation was two-fold: “[T]o induce by harassment the payment of money to him by the defendant . . . and to obtain an advantage that his action would promote— publicity and its resultant financial rewards.” 6

Mrs. Onassis’ answer was filed on March 8, 1971 and included counterclaims seeking relief based on: (1) common law, statutory and the constitutional right of privacy; (2) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (3) assault; (4) harassment; and (5) malicious prosecution. Mrs. Onassis sought injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive *1078 damages aggregating $1.5 million. Reply papers were filed on March 25, 1971. 7

On July 2, 1971 the late Judge McLean of this Court granted the Government’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed Galella’s complaint against the three Secret Service agents, holding that the agents were well within the scope of their employment in performing the acts of which Galella complained and were therefore immune from suit. 8 The Government then moved to intervene in the instant action, seeking injunctive relief against Galella for his alleged interference with the protective duties exercised by the Secret Service towards the then minor children of the late President Kennedy and Mrs. Onassis. On July 6, 1971 Judge McLean granted that motion, and on October 20, 1971 the Government’s complaint to intervene was filed. 9 On July 7, 1971 we denied the motions by Mrs. Onassis for summary judgment on the complaint and counterclaims. 10

Sitting in the motion part of this Court on October 8, 1971, we were presented with an order to show cause brought on by Mrs. Onassis seeking a temporary restraining order against Galella. On that day we signed the order in essence preventing Galella from harassing, alarming, blocking the path, or touching the person of Mrs. Onassis and her children. 11 The viability of that order was extended (by our order filed October 28, 1971) following a hearing, by consent of the parties and upon good cause shown. 12

On December 2, 1971 we were presented with another order to show cause by Mrs. Onassis, prepared by the firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, substituted counsel for Mrs. Onassis. 13 This proposed order (coupled with another temporary restraining order) sought sanctions *1079 against Galella for his alleged surveillance of Mrs. Onassis and her two children and for contempt of our October 8, 1971 order. We signed the proposed order on December 2, 1971; directed Galella and his agents remain a distance of 100 yards from the Onassis residence in New York City and 50 yards from Mrs. Onassis and her children. 14

At the same time, we gave the parties an opportunity to change the distance requirements so ordered upon a proper showing. We noted in our earlier opinion:

“We gave the parties opportunity to resettle this order upon adducing proof on the distance requirement: ‘Now, make no mistake about this, that if that distance differs from the normal distance for taking a picture in the normal way, I am ready to change that order accordingly... . If that is excessive, I am ready to change it.’ Minutes, January 19, 1972, pp. 31-32. ...” 15

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Bluebook (online)
533 F. Supp. 1076, 8 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1321, 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11614, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/galella-v-onassis-nysd-1982.