Nelson v. Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

333 P.2d 771, 166 Cal. App. 2d 783, 1959 Cal. App. LEXIS 2547
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 6, 1959
DocketCiv. 9386
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 333 P.2d 771 (Nelson v. Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nelson v. Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 333 P.2d 771, 166 Cal. App. 2d 783, 1959 Cal. App. LEXIS 2547 (Cal. Ct. App. 1959).

Opinion

WARNE, J. pro tem. *

An accusation was filed with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control charging George L. Nelson, doing business as California Club, the possessor of a general on-sale liquor license, with six violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. Count I of the accusation charges the keeping of a disorderly house between November 10, 1955, and November 26, 1955. Count II charges that the appellant on the 10th day of November, 1955, permitted one Frances Patterson to solicit an act of prostitution. Count III charges that appellant on the 12th day of November, 1955, permitted one Sally Franklin to solicit an act of prostitution. Count IV charges that appellant on the 17th day of November, 1955, permitted one Ruth Rose to solicit an act of prostitution. Count V charges that appellant between November 10 and November 26, 1955, permitted his licensed premises to be used “as a resort for illegal possessors or users of narcotics, prostitutes, pimps and panderers,” and Count VI charges that on November 26, 1955, appellant permitted his licensed premises to be used by one Yvonne Joyner, a known prostitute, to solicit an act of prostitution.

After a hearing upon the accusations, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, hereinafter referred to as the department, rendered its decision finding the charges to be true and revoked appellant’s license separately and severally as to each count, and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board affirmed the department’s decision. The appellant then sought a writ of mandate in the superior court. The court affirmed the decision of the department and denied a peremptory writ of mandate. The appellant has appealed from the judgment of the superior court.

As stated by the trial court, it appears from the evidence “that from November 10th to November 26th, 1955, the premises operated by petitioner were, during the late evening and early morning hours, frequented by known prostitutes, pimps, and panderers and a known narcotics addict, also a known panderer. It is also clear from the evidence that during said *786 period the known prostitutes solicited patrons of the establishment and liquor control agents on those portions of the premises upon which the activities permitted by the license were conducted. The activities stated were not only known to the bartender, an employee of the petitioner, but were, in fact, encouraged and participated in by him while he was engaged in the course and scope of his employment with petitioner and while on the premises.”

Appellant does not question the sufficiency of the evidence to support Counts I and Y.

The appellant contends that to revoke his license for the acts of his employees is a violation of “substantive and procedural due process.” He argues that, impliedly at least, he, as a licensee, had no knowledge that prostitutes were frequenting his premises or that they were soliciting acts of prostitution. While it is true that there is no direct evidence that the petitioner was personally aware of the stated activities, although on two evenings he was present on the premises when the activity was being carried on, he was aware that there had been a substantial increase in the number of women patronizing the business, a fact which pleased him as he testified that “a bar without a girl in it is a dead bar.” In Mantzoros v. State Board of Equalization, 87 Cal.App.2d 140 [196 P.2d 657], the court held that the licensees could be liable for the action of their employees in making a sale after hours even though it was not shown that the sale was known to, or directed or authorized by the licensees. “. . . The licensee, if he elects to operate his business through employees must be responsible to the licensing authority for their conduct in the exercise of his license, else we could have the absurd result that liquor could be sold by employees at forbidden hours in licensed premises and the licensees would be immune to disciplinary action by the board. . . . [Citing eases.]” (Also see Karides v. Department Alcoholic Bev. Control, 164 Cal.App.2d 549 [331 P.2d 145]; Swegle v. State Board of Equalization, 125 Cal.App.2d 432 [270 P.2d 518]; Endo v. State Board of Equalization, 143 Cal.App.2d 395 [300 P.2d 366].)

Appellant also contends that the department does not have jurisdiction to consider a case arising under section 25601 of the Alcoholic Beverage Act, since a violation of that section constitutes a misdemeanor and should be tried in a court of law. There is no merit in this contention. Section 24200, subdivision (b), provides that one of the grounds for *787 revoking a license is: “ [V] iolation ... by a licensee of this division,” that is division 9 of the Business and Professions Code. Section 25601 is part of that division, and it is quite clear that any conduct constituting a violation of any of the sections of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act is a ground for the suspension or revocation of the license. Further, this is a civil proceeding, not a criminal prosecution; hence the fact that section 25601 constitutes a misdemeanor does not limit the power of the department to proceed where the facts are such as to bring it within the provisions of the section. The constitutional provisions and cases relating to criminal proceedings cited by appellant are not applicable.

Appellant also contends that the hearing office committed prejudicial error in admitting into evidence the record of Don Taylor, appellant’s bartender, for the crime of pandering. (Exhibit E.) The exhibit was not before the trial court, nor is it a part of the record on this appeal. “It cannot be presumed on appeal that the appellant has been prejudiced by the introduction of evidence which does not appear in the record.” (Turano v. Bailey, 86 Cal.App. 402, 404 [260 P. 841].)

Appellant also contends that Counts II, III, IV and VI do not state a cause of action and that the findings of fact as to said counts do not support the accusation. Apparently, this contention is based upon the failure to set forth in each of the above mentioned counts an allegation that the acts of solicitation for the purpose of prostitution occurred on the licensed premises. The findings are essentially in the words of the accusation.

While section 11503 of the Government Code provides that the charges shall set forth in ordinary and concise language the acts or omissions with which the licensee is charged, to the end that the licensee will be able to prepare his defense, and the accusation shall specify the statutes and rules which the licensee is alleged to have violated, but shall not consist merely of charges phrased in the language of the statutes and rules, nevertheless, in administrative proceedings, as stated in Wright v. Munro, 144 Cal.App.2d 843, 848 [

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Bluebook (online)
333 P.2d 771, 166 Cal. App. 2d 783, 1959 Cal. App. LEXIS 2547, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nelson-v-department-of-alcoholic-beverage-control-calctapp-1959.