UNITED THEATRES OF FLORIDA, INC., D/B/A UNITED MINI-ADULT THEATRE, ET AL., APPELLANTS,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA EX REL. RICHARD E. GERSTEIN, AS STATE ATTORNEY OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Florida appellate court affirmed an obscenity injunction against a theatre but limited its geographic scope to Dade County, and reversed contempt orders against corporate officials and a theatre employee where the employee's contempt was based on an order issued when the court lacked jurisdiction.
An obscenity injunction against a theatre is affirmed but limited geographically to Dade County, while contempt orders against corporate officials and an employee are reversed where the underlying order was void due to lack of jurisdiction.
[1] A contempt order is void when based on a court order issued during a period when the court lacked jurisdiction due to pending removal proceedings in federal court.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceUnited Theatres of Florida operated a theatre showing films found obscene by the trial court. A contempt order was issued against corporate officials …
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The defendants have appealed from a final judgment enjoining the showing of certain moving picture films found by the trial court to be obscene. Assigned as error also was a separate contempt order. Upon consideration of the contentions of the appellants in the light of the record, briefs and argument we conclude no basis in law has been shown for reversal on the final judgment, and the same is hereby affirmed, but is modified to limit the injunction contained therein, against the showing of moving picture films, to the area within the territorial limits of the circuit court of Dade County.
The order adjudging individuals in contempt is reversed. Error was conceded by appellant as to the order holding officials of the defendant corporation in contempt. The order holding the employee (theatre cashier) Celia Winesette in contempt is reversed. The order of the court that was charged to have been violated by her, and which was the basis for the contempt order, was void because entered during a period when the court did not have jurisdiction of the cause, while it was pending in the United States District Court on proceedings for removal from the state court, and prior to its remand therefrom to the Dade County circuit court. Celia Winesette, an employee at the theatre, was the person upon whom was served the subpoena or order to produce which had been issued against the defendant corporation. The order did not specify or require that Winesette personally appear before the court, and the officer who served it by delivering it to her, advised her it did not require her appearance.
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent from that portion of the opinion and decision which holds that a Circuit Court may not enjoin the showing of obscene films at any public place in the State of Florida. My reasons are set forth in United Theaters of Florida, Inc. v. State of Florida ex rel. Gerstein, Fla.App., 259 So.2d 210, released on the 15th day of February, 1972.
SWANN, Chief Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent from that portion of the opinion and decision which holds that a Circuit Court may not enjoin the showing of obscene films at any public place in the State of Florida. My reasons are set forth in United Theaters of Florida, Inc. v. State of Florida ex rel. Gerstein, Fla.App., 259 So. 2d 210, released on the 15th day of February, 1972.
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United Theaters OF Fla., Inc. v. State of Fla. ex rel. Richard E. Gerstein, 292 So. 2d 18 (Fla. 1972)…Certiorari denied. 259 So. 2d 215. ROBERTS, C. J., and BOYD, McCAIN and DEKLE, JJ., concur. ERVIN, CARLTON and ADKINS, JJ., dissent.…
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United Theaters OF Fla., Inc. v. The State of Fla. ex rel. Richard E. Gerstein, 323 So. 2d 309 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975)…inions that the injunctions be confined to Dade County. Affirmed as modified. . See United Theaters of Florida, Inc. v. State ex rel. Gerstein, Fla.App.1972, 259 So. 2d 210; United Theatres of Florida, Inc. v. State ex rel. Gerstein, Fla.App.1972, 259 So. 2d 215.…
Authorities Cited
- United Theaters OF Fla., Inc. v. State of Fla. ex rel. Richard E. Gerstein, 259 So. 2d 210 (Fla. 3d DCA 1972)