Naked City, Inc. v. Aregood

667 F. Supp. 1246
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Indiana
DecidedAugust 21, 1987
DocketL 87-56
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 667 F. Supp. 1246 (Naked City, Inc. v. Aregood) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Naked City, Inc. v. Aregood, 667 F. Supp. 1246 (N.D. Ind. 1987).

Opinion

*1248 MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

ALLEN SHARP, Chief Judge.

I.

This case is before the court on the plaintiffs’, Naked City, Inc., Dick Drost, and Florence Gay Slater, request for preliminary injunctive relief. The complaint was filed on May 22, 1987. Ón June 18, 1987, the plaintiffs requested a preliminary injunction. On June 22, 1987, the court scheduled an evidentiary hearing for July 10, 1987, and that hearing was rescheduled for July 30, 1987. A subsequent request for a temporary restraining order was filed on July 17, 1987. Some of the thirty-seven named defendants filed a response on July 24, 1987. In addition, two defendants filed an answer and alleged that the plaintiffs failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. This memorandum is limited solely to the issue of preliminary injunctive relief and is not intended to make any final determination of the merits of any of the plaintiffs’ claims.

The facts relevant to the requested preliminary injunction are derived solely from the verified complaint, sworn affidavits, and certified copies of a plea agreement and orders entered in several state court proceedings. None of the parties called any witnesses or presented evidence during the July 30, 1987, hearing. 1 During that hearing the plaintiffs’ counsel stated that he believed that the facts could be stipulated to, but no such stipulation was entered or made orally.

The record in this case discloses the following facts relevant to the issue of preliminary injunctive relief. The county and state police, through the alleged use of undercover investigators, “raided” the three hundred and sixty acre tract of land in Newton County referred to as Naked City several times. The plaintiffs allege *1249 that personal property in the form of tapes and equipment have been taken during the “raids”. Specifically the plaintiffs allege Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000) worth of equipment was taken on April 14, 1980. In addition, the “joint” affidavit alleges that a friend of a friend of the plaintiffs said that the sheriff sold the plaintiffs’ equipment. The plaintiffs complain that they did not receive notice of the sale. As a result of those “raids” and investigations, the plaintiffs, Richard Drost and Naked City, Inc., were charged with several violations of Indiana Criminal Statutes under cause numbers SPRS 81-77, SPRS 81-78, SPRS 85-58, SPRS 85-81 and SPRS 86-43. On January 13, 1982, each defendant entered a guilty plea to certain misdemeanor charges and one Class D felony charge under cause numbers SPRS 81-77 and SPRS 81-78. The defendants were sentenced on February 16, 1982. The defendants appealed seeking modification of the sentence. See, Naked City, Inc. v. State of Indiana, 460 N.E.2d 151 (Ind.App. 3 Dist. 1984). The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions but reversed and remanded for resentencing. Subsequently, the defendant, Drost, filed a petition for post-conviction relief which was granted on November 26, 1984. On March 24, 1986, a plea agreement was filed in the Newton County Superior Court under cause numbers SPRS 81-77, SPRS 81-78, SPRS 85-58 and SPRS 85-81. That plea agreement was signed by Richard Drost individually and as agent for Naked City, Inc., as well as Richard Drost’s attorneys, Frederick Cohn, Patricia Riley and John B. Wilson. In addition, the prosecuting attorney R. Steven Ryan signed the plea agreement. Paragraphs nineteen (19), twenty-three (23) and twenty-four (24) of the plea agreement state:

19. That defendant hereby states that at the time of the execution of this agreement, he is not under the influence of intoxicating liquors, drugs, or medication which might effect (sic) his comprehension and understanding of the terms herein stated.
23. The defendant hereby acknowledges that this plea agreement is entered into knowingly, voluntarily, intelligently, and that no threats or promises other than those contained herein have been made to him to force him to do so; that he has full knowledge of its consequences and has been advised by counsel of his constitutional right; to trial by Court or jury, presumption of innocence, to have the charges to be proved against him beyond a reasonable doubt, to the right to remain silent, to see and hear the witnesses against him and to cross-examine them, the right to subpoena witnesses on his behalf, the right to assistance of counsel at all important stages, including appeal, if convicted by trial, and the right to pauper counsel if he cannot afford one, all said rights being guaranteed to the defendant in regard to each and every charge.
24. The defendant and his counsel state that they have fully and completely discussed the alternatives to trial and that their decision to enter into this plea agreement is made by the defendant of his own free will, without duress or coercion and with the advise (sic) and assistance of his attorneys.

On the same day the same parties signed and filed in open court an “Addendum to Plea Agreement”. Subsequently, Permanent Pro Tern Judge, Stephen Bower, entered an Order on April 1, 1986, which is consistent with the plea agreément. That Order sentenced the defendants, Richard Drost and Naked City, Inc., to a period of confinement of “one (1) year in each of the above ten (10) charges. The sentences of imprisonment shall be served consecutively.” Further, that Order held that “[sjaid sentences were suspended and the defendant is placed on probation for said period of time upon the following terms and conditions.” The terms and conditions which are alleged to be relevant in this case are:

8. That the business known as Naked City, Inc., in Roselawn, Newton County, Indiana, be closed instanter. The big sign in front shall be painted off by Monday evening, March 31, 1986.
9. That the Defendant offer for sale and sell either at public or private sale all *1250 real estate owned personally by Richard Drost or Naked City, Inc. and any other business or businesses within the State of Indiana in which he is the sole proprietor or controlling stockholder.
10. Further, the Defendant, Richard Drost, voluntarily agrees to remain out of the State of Indiana for a period of Ten (10) years from the date of this sentence, as a condition of probation. Provided, that in an emergency situation and upon prior approval of the Newton Superior Court, the Defendant may return to the State of Indiana for a reasonable period of time as directed by said Court.

Apparently, Judge Bower’s Order, sentence and probation have never been appealed in the state courts of Indiana although appellate remedies are readily available.

The plaintiffs premise their request for preliminary injunctive relief upon “the 41 page complaint filed 22 May 1987,” a “joint” affidavit of plaintiffs Dick Drost and Florence Slater, an affidavit of an individual named Donald Penden which was accompanied by photographs of unknown origin, and “evidence and testimony to be presented at the hearing.” However, there was no evidence or testimony presented at the hearing. A brief summary of the counts which remain 2

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Related

Fong v. Purdue University
692 F. Supp. 930 (N.D. Indiana, 1988)
Haan Crafts Corp. v. Craft Masters, Inc.
683 F. Supp. 1234 (N.D. Indiana, 1988)
Naked City, Inc. v. Aregood
117 F.R.D. 634 (N.D. Indiana, 1987)

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Bluebook (online)
667 F. Supp. 1246, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/naked-city-inc-v-aregood-innd-1987.