State v. Opelousas Charity Bingo, Inc.

462 So. 2d 1380, 1985 La. App. LEXIS 8122
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 30, 1985
Docket84-1039
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 462 So. 2d 1380 (State v. Opelousas Charity Bingo, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Opelousas Charity Bingo, Inc., 462 So. 2d 1380, 1985 La. App. LEXIS 8122 (La. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

462 So.2d 1380 (1985)

STATE of Louisiana, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
OPELOUSAS CHARITY BINGO, INC., et al., Defendant-Appellant.

No. 84-1039.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

January 30, 1985.

*1381 William B. Faust, III, Asst. Atty. Gen., New Orleans, for plaintiff-appellee.

Darlene Simmons, Opelousas, for defendant-appellant.

Before DOUCET, YELVERTON and KNOLL, JJ.

KNOLL, Judge.

The State of Louisiana sought to declare certain bingo games and games of chance conducted in Opelousas by Opelousas Charity Bingo, Inc. (OCBI), Don W. Smith, Jerry Kotwitz and Darrell Wagley a public nuisance and to permanently enjoin their operation. The trial court ruled that OCBI was not a bona fide organization or club entitled to an exemption from the state's gambling laws, and its operations constituted a public nuisance; therefore, it granted a permanent injunction against OCBI. Only OCBI brings this appeal, accordingly, the trial court judgment is final as to all other defendants. OCBI asserts that the trial court erred: (1) by its failure to grant a motion for continuance after evidence was presented that the defendants had inadequate notice of the hearing, depriving the defendants of due process of law as guaranteed by the Louisiana Constitution and the United States Constitution; (2) by granting an injunction after the State failed to present any evidence of wrongdoing or any illegal activities when the sole regulatory and investigatory authority lay with the licensing municipality; (3) by granting an injunction under LSA-R.S. 14:90 or 13:4724 in light of the law and the evidence presented at the hearing; and (4) by ruling that OCBI was not lawfully licensed because of OCBI's failure to state in the application for a license a specific charitable purpose for which its net proceeds should be devoted. Since OCBI did not brief assignment of error three, it is considered abandoned. Rule 2-12.4, Uniform Rules of the Courts of Appeal; Stephens v. State, Through Dept. of Transp., 440 So.2d 920 (La.App. 2nd Cir.1983), writ denied, 443 So.2d 1119 (La.1984). We affirm for the following reasons.

FACTS

Jerry Kotwitz and Don W. Smith, residents of Monroe, incorporated OCBI in Ouachita Parish on June 1, 1984. The articles of incorporation provide, inter alia, that: (1) its purpose and object are to provide services and help to needy families and *1382 people in St. Landry Parish; (2) it is organized exclusively for charitable, educational and literary purposes; (3) it is empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered; and (4) no salaries shall be paid to any member or officer of the corporation. In summary, the articles are clear that OCBI purported to be a nonprofit organization dedicated to charitable, literary and educational purposes with no part of its net corporate profits inuring to the benefit of its officers.

In early June 1984 the City of Opelousas adopted an ordinance under the authority of R.S. 33:4861.1 et seq. which provided for the issuance of a license permitting charitable bingo and raffles within its corporate limits. On June 25, 1984, OCBI submitted an application to license its operation of charity bingo games and raffles. At an administrative meeting, the Opelousas City Council accepted OCBI's application and issued a license on October 3, 1984, permitting OCBI to conduct bingo in accordance with the Opelousas City Ordinance and R.S. 33:4861.1 et seq. The license specifically mentions that the corporation's net proceeds were to be devoted to persons, firms, agencies or institutions of educational, charitable, or public spirited needs who shall be designated by OCBI's board of directors and that the license was to be displayed where the games were to be conducted. There is no evidence that the license was displayed. On October 11, 1984, a second license was issued by the Opelousas City Clerk to OCBI to include raffles.

OCBI began conducting bingo and other games of chance in Opelousas at 1693 Creswell Lane on July 14, 1984, while its application was pending but without a license. Financial summaries prepared weekly by Borel Dauphin, OCBI's accountant, and filed with the City of Opelousas show that from July 14, 1984, through September 29, 1984, OCBI grossed approximately 1.3 million dollars from the playing of bingo, carney wheel games, and pull tab games. At the time of the hearing on the State's petition for injunctive relief, OCBI contended it was operating at a loss totaling approximately $68,000 and had donated only $500 to a needy organization.

MOTION FOR CONTINUANCE

OCBI argues that the trial court erred in failing to grant a motion for continuance alleging inadequate notice, thus depriving OCBI due process of law.

LSA-R.S. 13:4724 provides the procedure for the injunction to abate the nuisance. It provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

All actions brought under this Sub-part shall be tried in the following manner:
(1) Upon the filing of any suit the district judge, whether in term or vacation, shall immediately issue a rule on the defendant to show cause why the nuisance complained of should not be abated and why an injunction should not issue restraining the operation of the gambling house. This rule shall, at the time of its issuance, be fixed for hearing not later than, five days (counting Sundays, half-holidays and holidays) from the date of its issuance, and shall be heard by preference over all other matters and cases fixed for the same day and shall be heard continuously day after day until submitted for adjudication." (Emphasis added.)

The State's petition for an injunction was filed October 16, 1984, and the rule to show cause was issued that date setting the hearing for October 19. Although the record is void of any proof that OCBI was ever served, its attorney acknowledged that service was made on one of its agents for service of process in Ouachita Parish on October 18, 1984.

Initially OCBI objected at the hearing on October 19 and moved for a continuance alleging short notice and inadequate time to prepare for trial. The trial court referred to LSA-C.C.P. Art. 3602 which provides that a preliminary injunction shall not issue unless no fewer than two days notice is given after service of the notice. Therefore, the trial court announced that it was inclined to grant the continuance but it would also issue a temporary restraining order prohibiting OCBI's operation pending the hearing. OCBI then elected to withdraw *1383 its motion for continuance and the hearing proceeded to final adjudication.

By withdrawing its motion for a continuance OCBI waived its objection, therefore, we reject OCBI's complaint. Furthermore, there is no showing that OCBI was prejudiced by holding the hearing on the scheduled date, particularly since its accountant was present at the hearing and testified with all supporting documentation provided him by OCBI regarding its corporate income and expenditures.

PUBLIC NUISANCE

OCBI contends that its operations were legally authorized by the Opelousas City Council and do not constitute a public nuisance as provided in either R.S. 13:4721 et seq. or R.S. 14:90 et seq.

Unlike a preliminary injunction which requires only the presentation of a prima facie case to justify its issuance, a permanent injunction demands full proof by a preponderance of the evidence. Guidry v. Primeaux, 410 So.2d 1249 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1982); Picard v. Choplin, 306 So.2d 918 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1975); Schwegmann Bros. G.S. Mkts. v.

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462 So. 2d 1380, 1985 La. App. LEXIS 8122, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-opelousas-charity-bingo-inc-lactapp-1985.