United States v. National Dairy Products Corp.

231 F. Supp. 663, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8959, 1964 Trade Cas. (CCH) 71,155
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Missouri
DecidedMay 28, 1964
DocketNo. 20542
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 231 F. Supp. 663 (United States v. National Dairy Products Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. National Dairy Products Corp., 231 F. Supp. 663, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8959, 1964 Trade Cas. (CCH) 71,155 (W.D. Mo. 1964).

Opinion

JOHN W. OLIVER, District Judge.

This case pends on the separate motions of defendant Wise and defendant National for judgment of acquittal, notwithstanding the verdict and, in the alternative, for a new trial as to Counts Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen, and on the similar separate motion of defendant National in regard to Counts One through Ten.

The motions that relate to the Kansas City counts, (Counts Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen) are identical except that paragraph 16 of defendant Wise’s motion alleges in addition that we erred in refusing to sever defendant Wise and accord him a separate trial on the Kansas City counts for the reason that the introduction of evidence against defendant National on all the counts prevented defendant Wise from obtaining a fair trial in connection with the only counts in which defendant Wise was charged.

Defendant National’s motion in regard to the distributor counts (Counts One through Ten, inclusive) contain many paragraphs that duplicate the allegations made in regard to the Kansas City counts and, except for naming different witnesses and different exhibits, follows the same general pattern of the separate motions that relate to the Kansas City counts.

The reasons assigned in all the pending motions, with one exception to be noted, are the reasons that careful lawyers usually assign in such motions in order that all questions of possible error be preserved for appellate review. For example, paragraphs 1 through 3 of defendant National’s Kansas City counts motion are directed to our charge to the jury; paragraphs 4 through 9 relate generally to our rulings on questions of evidence; paragraph 10 and 11 are directed to the use we permitted and the procedure we followed in connection with the Grand Jury transcript; paragraphs 12 through 15 preserve defendants’ various contentions concerning our refusal to sever and to grant separate trials, both in regard to the two defendants and in regard to the particular counts of the indictment; paragraphs 17 through 19 allege in general and usual fashion that the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence, that it is not supported by substantial evidence, and that it is contrary to the law; paragraph 20 alleges that we erred in denying the motion for acquittal filed at the conclusion of the Government’s case and again at the close of all the evidence; and paragraph 21 alleges that we erred in overruling defendant Wise’s motion to dismiss Count Thirteen.

Paragraph 16 of defendant National’s motion, which we noted above as an exceptional allegation, reads as follows:

“16. The defendants were substantially prejudiced and deprived of a fair trial by reason of the comments and rulings by the Court, the restrictions placed by the Court upon cross-examination and presentation of evidence by defendants, and by the attitude of the Court toward defendants, defendants’ evidence, and defendants’ counsel during the trial.”

The allegation just quoted is made in identical language by both defendants in regard to each count to which their separate motions are directed. (See paragraph 17 of defendant Wise’s motion and paragraph A. 11 on page 3 of defendant National’s distributor motion directed to Counts One and Two. And see also paragraphs B.l on page 3, C.l on page 4, D.l on page 4, and E.l on page 5 of National’s distributor motion where paragraph A.11 relating to Counts One and Two is incorporated by reference as being applicable to all of the other distributor counts).

In spite of the over 1000 pages of the post-trial briefs that have been filed, we do not believe it necessary for us to Write an extensive memorandum and opinion in support of our action on the pending motions. In connection with the major contentions presented, the [665]*665transcript reflects our particular rulings and the reasons upon which those rulings were based. We have studied the briefs filed; we have read the authorities cited; we have again considered each of the over 7300 pages of the transcript of the trial proceedings and are satisfied that the defendants had a fair trial and that defendants’ contentions are not tenable.

In our memorandum and order of May 1, 1963, prior to trial, we ruled defendant Wise’s motion for a separate trial. We there cited and applied what we believed are the controlling authorities. At several points during the trial we reviewed the question of whether Rule 14 should be invoked.

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Related

United States v. National Dairy Products Corp.
313 F. Supp. 534 (W.D. Missouri, 1970)
Adams Dairy Company v. National Dairy Products Corp.
293 F. Supp. 1135 (W.D. Missouri, 1968)
National Dairy Products Corporation v. United States
350 F.2d 321 (Eighth Circuit, 1965)

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Bluebook (online)
231 F. Supp. 663, 1964 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8959, 1964 Trade Cas. (CCH) 71,155, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-national-dairy-products-corp-mowd-1964.