Lindsey v. Martinez

568 P.2d 263, 90 N.M. 737
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 2, 1977
Docket2800
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 568 P.2d 263 (Lindsey v. Martinez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lindsey v. Martinez, 568 P.2d 263, 90 N.M. 737 (N.M. Ct. App. 1977).

Opinion

OPINION

WOOD, Chief Judge.

This appeal involves the constructive contempt of Sheldon Lindsey. We reverse the trial court’s contempt decision because it was made in the absence of Sheldon. We discuss (1) the type of contempt; (2) notice of the contempt charge; and (3) appearance by counsel.

Plaintiffs and Martinez occupied adjoining property; they did not get along. Plaintiffs’ suit against Martinez sought a resolution of the difficulties and included a request that Martinez be restrained from certain action. In March, 1975 the trial court entered an order restraining both parties. As to the plaintiffs, the restraining order read:

“That the Plaintiffs are hereby restrained from in any way molesting, interfering with, or harassing the Defendant, in any way, manner or form.”

Although Lindsey has various complaints as to the vagueness of this restraint, he is in no position to complain. His brief-in-chief states that the restraining order was entered by agreement between counsel for the parties.

In October, 1975 Martinez moved that the trial court require plaintiffs to show cause why they should not be held in contempt for disobeying the restraining order. The motion alleged the plaintiffs had “continuously disobeyed the Court’s Order as more specifically set forth in the affidavit attached hereto.” The affidavit of Martinez named specific instances of purported violations of the restraining order. This motion and the supporting affidavit are the contempt charge. In Re Fullen, 17 N.M. 394, 128 P. 64 (1912); see Escobedo v. Agriculture Products Co., Inc., 86 N.M. 466, 525 P.2d 393 (Ct.App.1974).

An order to show cause was issued and a hearing date was set. Plaintiffs’ attorney moved to vacate the hearing date. The trial court granted the motion. The hearing was subsequently held in November, 1975.

Plaintiffs did not personally attend the hearing. However, their counsel did appear. Counsel announced ready for trial and participated in the hearing. The participation consisted of cross-examining witnesses called by Martinez and argument to the court. Plaintiffs’ counsel called no witnesses on behalf of plaintiffs. No objection was made by any one concerning the physical absence of plaintiffs or the sufficiency of service upon them of the order to show cause.

After the hearing, the trial court’s order of November 14, 1975 held that Sheldon Lindsey was in contempt on the basis of evidence which “conclusively” showed that he had disobeyed the terms” of the restraining order. The trial court sentenced Sheldon to six months in the county jail; the trial court’s order provided that Sheldon could purge himself of the contempt by complying with five items specified in the order. Four of the five items required affirmative action on Sheldon’s part and thus contrast with the restraining order which required only that Sheldon refrain from action.

In June, 1976 Martinez moved that Sheldon be incarcerated pursuant to the contempt sentence. This motion alleged that Sheldon had failed to purge himself of the contempt. The motion was supported by the affidavit of Martinez. Sheldon was personally served with a copy of the motion and affidavit, and a copy of the court’s show cause order. The transcript indicates that Sheldon was present in person for the evidentiary hearing and that his counsel participated fully in the hearing, including calling witnesses on Sheldon’s behalf.

After the evidentiary hearing was concluded, the trial court found that Sheldon had willfully ignored the path outlined to him by which he could purge himself of the contempt of which he had been found guilty.” The sentence “heretofore imposed” was ordered to be carried out.

Type of Contempt

Only one finding of contempt was made; it appears in the order of November 14, 1975. However the sentence, imposed at that time was stayed and Sheldon was given the opportunity to purge himself of the contempt. As of November 14, 1975, was the contempt civil or criminal? We recognize the difficulty in answering this question. Jencks v. Goforth, 57 N.M. 627, 261 P.2d 655 (1953); see Rhodes v. State, 58 N.M. 579, 273 P.2d 852 (1954). To the extent the trial court’s purpose was to secure future compliance with the restraining order, the contempt was civil. The purging provision indicates a civil contempt. To the extent the trial court’s purpose was punishment for past violations of the restraining order, the contempt was criminal. The same conduct may justify the court in resorting to both civil and criminal contempt. State v. Our Chapel of Memories of New Mexico, Inc., 74 N.M. 201, 392 P.2d 347 (1964). In this ease both civil and criminal contempt were involved.

Sheldon was found in contempt for past violations of the restraining order. He was given a fixed jail term because of those violations. The conditions for purging himself of the contempt and, thus, avoiding the jail sentence provided no remedy to Martinez for the past violations. In these circumstances, a primary purpose was punishment for disobedience and to that extent the contempt was criminal. State v. Greenwood, 63 N.M. 156, 315 P.2d 223 (1957).

To the extent the contempt was criminal, the contempt hearing and sentence were governed by rules of criminal law. State v. Greenwood, supra.

Notice of the Contempt Charge

The notice issue involves notice of the contempt charge. No issue as to this was raised during the evidentiary hearing resulting in the contempt decision. The issue was raised, and litigated, at the evidentiary hearing on Sheldon’s failure to purge himself of contempt. The transcript at that hearing indicates that Mrs. Lindsey was personally served with notice, but that Sheldon was not personally served. The transcript shows that plaintiffs’ counsel received notice, that he informed the plaintiffs and advised them not to attend the contempt hearing.

Momsen-Dunnegan-Ryan Co. v. Placer Syndicate Mining Co., 41 N.M. 525, 71 P.2d 1034 (1937) states:

“If the proceeding be one in criminal contempt, personal service is, of course, necessary and service on defendants’ attorney would not suffice.”

In a situation such as here, where Sheldon instituted the litigation out of which the contempt arose, why is personal service of the show cause order for contempt required? “. . [A] proceeding to punish for constructive contempt is the institution of a new proceeding, though arising out of a pending cause and auxiliary thereto. The court would have no jurisdiction and no power to punish without the initiation of the proper proceeding.” State v. Armijo, 38 N.M.

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Bluebook (online)
568 P.2d 263, 90 N.M. 737, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lindsey-v-martinez-nmctapp-1977.