Wayne Johnson & Judie Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, Wayne Johnson & Judie Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350 (9th Cir. 1992). · Go Syfert
Wayne Johnson & Judie Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, Wayne Johnson & Judie Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350 (9th Cir. 1992). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“he burden of establishing a basis for exclusion falls on the opponent of the 3 evidence.”
47 citation events (24 in the last 25 years) across 14 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Greer v. County of San Diego (casd, 2023-03-01)
Treatment trajectory · 1993 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1993 2009 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 32 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Greer v. County of San Diego
S.D. Cal. · 2023 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
he burden of establishing a basis for exclusion falls on the opponent of the 3 evidence.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Polskie Linie Lotnicze Lot SA v. The Boeing Company
W.D. Wash. · 2025 · confidence medium
“A party opposing the introduction of a public record bears the burden of coming 11 forward with enough negative factors to persuade a court that a report should not be 12 13 admitted.” Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir. 1992).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Reimer v. South Snohomish County Fire and Rescue Regional Fire Authority
W.D. Wash. · 2020 · confidence medium
The burden of establishing 19 otherwise falls on the opponent of the evidence, who must come ‘forward with enough 20 negative factors to persuade a court that a report should not be admitted.’ ” Gilbrook v. City of Westminster, 177 F.3d 839, 858 (9th Cir.1999) (quoting Johnson v. City of 21 Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. HVI Cat Canyon, Inc.
C.D. Cal. · 2016 · confidence medium
This rule is premised on the assumption that public officials perform their duties properly without motive or interest other than to submit accurate and fair reports.” Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352-53 (9th Cir. 1992).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Bank of America, N.A. v. Cd-04, Inc. (In re Owner Management Service, LLC Trustee Corps)
Bankr. C.D. Cal. · 2015 · confidence medium
Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352-53 (9th Cir.1992), citing Keith v. Volpe, 858 F.2d 467, 481 (9th Cir.1988).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Shorter v. Baca
C.D. Cal. · 2015 · confidence medium
Thus, the Court may presume “that the tendered public records are trustworthy” and the “burden of establishing a basis for exclusion falls on the opponent of the evidence.” Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (1992).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Sullivan v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.
9th Cir. · 2010 · confidence medium
“A party opposing the introduction of a public record bears the burden of coming forward with enough negative factors to persuade a court that a report should not be admitted.” Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cinapian v. Holder
9th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
Even if an “assumption that public offi- cials perform their duties properly without motive or interest other than to submit accurate and fair reports,” Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352-53 (9th Cir. 1992) (internal quotations omitted), is warranted, it would not obvi- ate the importance of Petitioners’ right to cross-examine wit- nesses against them and test the strength and establish the scope of an expert witness’s factual determinations.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cinapian v. Holder
9th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
Even if an “assumption that public officials perform their duties properly without motive or interest other than to submit accurate and fair reports,” Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352-53 (9th Cir.1992) (internal quotations omitted), is warranted, it would not obviate the importance of Petitioners’ right to cross-examine witnesses against them and test the strength and establish the scope of an expert witness’s factual determinations.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Admissibility in Federal Court of Electronic Copies of Personnel Records
OLC · 2008 · confidence medium
“This result is founded on the assumption that the public employees having custody of such records will carry out their public duty to receive and maintain only genuine official [documents].” 2 McCormick § 226, at 70–71 (“If a writing is claimed to be an official report or record of a public governmental agency, and is also proved to have come from the proper public office where such official papers are kept, it is generally agreed that this authenticates the offered document as genuine.”); Gilbrook v. City of Westminster, 177 F.3d 839, 858 (9th Cir. 1999) (noting presumption that p…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) San Jose Christian College v. City of Morgan Hill (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
9th Cir. · 2004 · confidence medium
If the regulation is “content-neutral,” it “will be upheld against a First Amendment challenge so long as it furthers a substantial governmental interest and does not unreasonably limit alternative avenues of communication.” Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 353 (9th Cir.1992), citing Renton, 475 U.S. at 47 , 106 S.Ct. 925 . 5 A zoning restriction on speech is content-based only if the ordinance is shown to be a “pretext for suppressing expression.” Renton, 475 U.S. at 48, 54 , 106 S.Ct. 925 (citation omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) San Jose Christian College v. City Of Morgan Hill (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
9th Cir. · 2004 · confidence medium
If the regulation is "content-neutral," it "will be upheld against a First Amendment challenge so long as it furthers a substantial governmental interest and does not unreasonably limit alternative avenues of communication." Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 353 (9th Cir.1992), citing Renton, 475 U.S. at 47 , 106 S.Ct. 925 . 5 41 A zoning restriction on speech is content-based only if the ordinance is shown to be a "pretext for suppressing expression." Renton, 475 U.S. at 48, 54 , 106 S.Ct. 925 (citation omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Jaimes
D. Haw. · 2003 · confidence medium
E.g., Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 353 (9th Cir.1992).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Lewis
9th Cir. · 2001 · confidence medium
Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992). .
cited Cited as authority (rule) American Greyhound Racing, Inc. v. Hull
D. Ariz. · 2001 · confidence medium
Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Coast Federal Bank, FSB v. United States
Fed. Cl. · 2000 · confidence medium
Johnson v. City of Pleasan-ton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992); see also Fed.R.Evid. 803(8) advisory committee’s note (the rule “assumes admissibility in the first instance but with ample provision for escape if sufficient negative factors are present”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gilbrook v. City of Westminster (2×) also: Cited "see"
9th Cir. · 1999 · confidence medium
Defendants have not contested the factual foundation of the report, nor have they suggested that the FRC failed to perform “their duties properly without motive or interest other than to submit accurate and fair reports.” Id. at 352-53 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Neufeld v. City of Baltimore
4th Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
See Members of the City Council of Los Angeles v. Taxpayers for Vincent, 466 U.S. 789, 805 (1984); Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 353 (9th Cir.1992) (upholding constitutionality of height, screening, and setback requirements for satellite dishes as reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions; "[t]he Ordinance serves the substantial governmental interest in public safety and aesthetic values"). 7 And, the City reasonably could have believed that a 30-foot front 8 yard setback for single-family detached dwellings in R-1 districts would enhance the aesthetic value of Baltimore.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Ramiro Cruz Espinoza v. Immigration & Naturalization Service
9th Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Russell A. Tinsley v. Lomax, Correctional Officer Cunningham, Correctional Officer
9th Cir. · 1994 · confidence medium
Thus, defendants' contention that the report was never submitted appears wholly without merit 2 While Rule 803(8)(c) encompasses "factually based conclusions or opinions," Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey, 488 U.S. 153, 162 (1988); Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992); In Re Aircrash in Bali, Indonesia, 871 F.2d at 816 , the statement "not guilty" appears more of a legal conclusion.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Washington Central Railroad v. National Mediation Board
E.D. Wash. · 1993 · confidence medium
Id. at 352 (citations omitted).
cited Cited "see" South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control v. Atlantic Steel Industries, Inc.
D.S.C. · 1999 · signal: see · confidence high
See Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 353 (9th Cir.1992).
cited Cited "see" Desrosiers v. Flight International of Florida Inc.
9th Cir. · 1998 · signal: see · confidence high
See Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992) (stating public records covered by Rule 803(8)(C) can be challenged on grounds of untrustworthiness).
discussed Cited "see" 98 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 7182, 98 Daily Journal D.A.R. 9928 Herbert Desrosiers Gene Desrosiers, Guardian Ad Litem for Herbert Desrosiers v. Flight International of Florida Inc.
9th Cir. · 1998 · signal: see · confidence high
See Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992) (stating public records covered by Rule 803(8)(C) can be challenged on grounds of untrustworthiness). 54 The district court's actions were consistent with its role under Daubert and Rule 702 as a "gatekeeper" for relevant and reliable evidence.
examined Cited "see" Abbott v. City of Cape Canaveral (3×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
M.D. Fla. · 1994 · signal: see · confidence high
See Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 353 (9th Cir.1992) (recognizing public safety and aesthetic values as substantial governmental interests).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Ruiz v. Fernandez
E.D. Wash. · 2013 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Under Federal Rule of Evidence 803(8), a public record or report is not excluded by the hearsay rules in a civil case if it sets out “factual findings from a legally authorized investigation” and “neither the source of information nor other circumstances indicate a lack of trustworthiness.” Documents that fall within Rule 803(8) “are presumed trustworthy, placing the burden of establishing untrustworthiness on the opponent of the evidence.” United States v. Loyola-Dominguez, 125 F.3d 1315, 1318 (9th Cir.1997) (internal quotation omitted); see also Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982…
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Freitag v. Ayers
9th Cir. · 2006 · signal: see also · confidence medium
EVID. 803(8); see also Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir. 1992) (holding that, under Rule 803(8), reports of public agencies shall be admitted where the challenging party fails to meet its burden to show untrustworthiness).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Freitag v. Ayers
9th Cir. · 2006 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Evid. 803(8); see also Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992) (holding that, under Rule 803(8), reports of public agencies shall be admitted where the challenging party fails to meet its burden to show untrustworthiness).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Freitag v. Ayers
9th Cir. · 2006 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Evid. 803(8); see also Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992) (holding that, under Rule 803(8), reports of public agencies shall be admitted where the challenging party fails to meet its burden to show untrustworthiness).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Jerry Banks v. Idaho Board of Corrections Steve Russik Pam Sonnen Jim Hope, Warden James Spalding, Director, Idaho Dept. Of Corrections
9th Cir. · 1997 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See Fed.R.Evid. 803(8)(C); see also Johnson v. City of Pleasanton, 982 F.2d 350, 352 (9th Cir.1992) ("a court should admit records, reports, statements, or data compilations, in any form of public offices or agencies setting forth factual findings resulting from an investigation made pursuant to authority granted by law, unless the sources of information or other circumstances indicate lack of trustworthiness").
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Wayne JOHNSON and Judie Johnson, Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
CITY OF PLEASANTON, Defendant-Appellee; Wayne JOHNSON and Judie Johnson, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. CITY OF PLEASANTON, Defendant-Appellant
Daniel C. Rooney, Redwood City, CA, for plaintiff-appellant-cross-appellee., Dennis Beougher, Asst. City Atty., Pleasanton, CA, for defendant-appellee-crossappellant.
Goodwin, Schroeder, Keep.
Cited by 34 opinions  |  Published

ORDER

The opinion filed November 23, 1992, is withdrawn.

The petition for rehearing is granted in part. A new opinion will be filed concurrently with this order.

OPINION

GOODWIN, Circuit Judge:

Wayne and Judie Johnson (“the John-sons”) appeal from a summary judgment in favor of the City of Pleasanton, and the City appeals from a partial summary judgment in favor of the Johnsons, in an action for damages and injunctive relief in a controversy over the installation of a satellite dish antenna alleged to be in violation of City of Pleasanton Municipal Code chapter 18.112 (“the Ordinance”).

The Ordinance sets height, screening, and setback requirements for satellite receive-only antennas. The Johnsons concede that their satellite dish does not conform to the Ordinance, but contend that their installation is protected by the Federal Communications Act (“FCA”), 47 U.S.C. § 605, and the First and Fourteenth Amendments, all of which, they claim, trump the city’s land use regulation.

The City contends that its ordinance is a reasonable time, place, and manner regulation that is permissible under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, and that the FCC regulation under which the Johnsons claim that the city ordinance has been preempted does not prohibit the city from enforcing its land use regulations in this case.

I. Federal Communications Act

The district court examined the Ordinance in light of FCC regulation 47 C.F.R. § 25.104, enacted pursuant to the FCA. The regulation provides that state or local regulations differentiating between satellite receive-only antennas and other antennas are preempted unless such regulations meet two criteria. First, the regulation must have a reasonable and clearly defined health, safety or aesthetic objective. Second, the regulation must not impose unreasonable limitations on, or prevent, reception of satellite-delivered signals by receive-only antennas or impose costs on antenna users that are excessive in light of the purchase and installation cost of the equipment.

The motions for summary judgment required the district court to examine the affidavits and other documentary evidence to determine whether a material question of fact had been presented. The City offered affidavits and staff reports to counter the Johnsons’ assertion that the Ordi[*352] nance was inconsistent with the FCC regulation because it placed such unreasonable limitations, or imposed such excessive costs, on their use of the antenna as to prevent their access to satellite delivered signals. The Johnsons objected to the City’s proffer as hearsay and opinion evidence. The district court agreed and excluded the evidence. The City challenges this ruling.

The City’s evidence was a sworn declaration by Brian Swift, the City’s Director of Planning and Community Development, and associated staff reports. Swift’s declaration discussed the Johnsons’ ability to comply with the Ordinance:

There appears to be no reason why the height of the dish cannot be lowered. In investigating the requirements for locating a receiving satellite dish, staff found that the height of the dish above the ground does not matter as long as the angle at which it is to receive ... does not meet with any interference. In this case, the satellite dish is not meeting with any interference____ If it were lowered, its angle would have to be adjusted slightly, but it does not appear that it would meet with any interference. There is a clearing in which there are no trees nor roof lines in the southerly direction that the satellite dish will be facing. In addition, the distance which the satellite dish is set back from the one-story house and the tree on the side property line is ample to avoid interference if the dish were lowered to the required ten-foot (10') height.

Swift’s declaration was based on Planning Department staff reports which the City also sought to introduce as evidence.

The first district judge to consider the matter held that the City should have produced supporting affidavits detailing the staff members’ level of expertise in the field of satellite antenna reception, and the Planning Director’s qualifications to reach a conclusion regarding technical aspects of satellite reception.

Federal Rule of Evidence 803(8)(C) provides for the admission of “factual findings” resulting from an investigation made pursuant to authority granted by law. In civil actions and proceedings and against the Government in criminal cases, a court should admit “[rjecords, reports, statements, or data compilations, in any form, of public offices or agencies setting forth ... factual findings resulting from an investigation made pursuant to authority granted by law, unless the sources of information or other circumstances indicate lack of trustworthiness.” Fed.R.Evid. 803(8).

Under Rule 803(8)(C), the district court should have admitted Swift’s declaration and the associated staff reports. “[F]actually based conclusions or opinions ... are not on that account excluded from the scope of Rule 803(8)(C).” Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey, 488 U.S. 153, 162, 109 S.Ct. 439, 446, 102 L.Ed.2d 445 (1988); Jenkins v. Whittaker Corp., 785 F.2d 720, 726 (9th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 918, 107 S.Ct. 324, 93 L.Ed.2d 296 (1986). The Johnsons did not challenge the Planning Department’s staff report and Swift’s declaration as untrustworthy; rather, they contend that the City bears the burden of overcoming the hearsay rule before it can offer the documents. On summary judgement, however, this shifting of the burden would stand the public records exception on its head.

The trial court is entitled to presume that the tendered public records are trustworthy. If the Johnsons seriously think the documents are untrustworthy, they can challenge them on that ground. When public records are presumed authentic and trustworthy, the burden of establishing a basis for exclusion falls on the opponent of the evidence. Keith v. Volpe, 858 F.2d 467, 481 (9th Cir.1988), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 813, 110 S.Ct. 61, 107 L.Ed.2d 28 (1989). A party opposing the introduction of a public record bears the burden of coming forward with enough negative factors to persuade a court that a report should not be admitted. Bradford Trust Co. v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith, Inc., 805 F.2d 49, 54 (2d Cir.1986). This rule is “premised on the assumption that public officials perform their duties properly without motive or in[*353] terest other than to submit accurate and fair reports.” Id.

In the present case, the Johnsons offered no evidence on the unreliability of the Planning Department staff report and the declaration which summarized its findings. The City was under no obligation, at that stage of the litigation, to provide affidavits regarding the qualifications of the Planning Department’s staff and its director. It was error to exclude the City’s evidence. The error resulted in a summary judgment for the Johnsons on their claim that the FCC regulation preempted the City Ordinance. We reverse the district court’s evidentiary ruling and its preliminary ruling (a partial summary judgment holding the Ordinance preempted). There remains a fact question of whether or not the Ordinance prevents or imposes unreasonable limitations on satellite signal reception or imposes disproportionate costs on satellite antenna users.

II. First Amendment Claim

The case was then taken over by a second judge who turned to the constitutional questions presented by the Johnsons.

The First Amendment protects the public’s right to receive “suitable access” to meaningful television broadcasts. Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 395 U.S. 367, 390, 89 S.Ct. 1794, 1806, 23 L.Ed.2d 371 (1967). However, Red Lion does not stand for an absolute right to receive the maximum amount of programming feasibly accessible via satellite. The Ordinance is a content-neutral ordinance regulating the time, place, and manner of expression. A content-neutral ordinance will be upheld against a First Amendment challenge so long as it furthers a substantial governmental interest and does not unreasonably limit alternative avenues of communication. City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc., 475 U.S. 41, 47, 106 S.Ct. 925, 928, 89 L.Ed.2d 29 (1986).

The Ordinance serves the substantial governmental interest in public safety and aesthetic values. Members of City Council of Los Angeles v. Taxpayers for Vincent, 466 U.S. 789, 805, 104 S.Ct. 2118, 2129, 80 L.Ed.2d 772 (1984). It does not unreasonably limit alternative avenues of communication. In Howard v. City of Burlingame, 937 F.2d 1376 (9th Cir.1991), the court found that a zoning ordinance which set a limit on the height of radio antennas was a legitimate time, place, and manner restriction. 937 F.2d at 1381. With a shorter antenna, a “ham” radio enthusiast is not able to receive signals from as great a distance as with a taller antenna, but he is still able to exercise his First Amendment rights.

Similarly, in the case at hand, the City offered evidence that the Johnsons could exercise their First Amendment rights by installing a smaller satellite dish, by adapting their backyard so that their present dish could meet the Ordinance’s requirements, or by using cable transmissions or traditional television programming.

The Johnsons argue that, under the First Amendment, the Ordinance “cannot be upheld as a ‘reasonable time, place and manner’ regulation unless the local authority can prove that there are reasonable alternative methods for obtaining access to the same television services.” This argument fails on two grounds.

First, the district court found that there is evidence that, even with their current antenna, the Johnsons could comply with the requirements of the Ordinance. The conflict between the Johnsons and the City became acute because the Johnsons had occupied a good part of their lot by installing a swimming pool. The best place for the satellite dish which would be consistent with both the Ordinance and good signal reception would have involved some deck or platform construction over a part of the swimming pool. The case becomes as much a freedom to swim case as a freedom of speech case.

Second, the Johnsons’ argument is unsupported by the case law. The Johnsons’ reliance on Linmark Associates, Inc. v. Township of Willingboro, 431 U.S. 85, 97 S.Ct. 1614, 52 L.Ed.2d 155 (1977) (ordinance prohibiting “for sale” signs in residential lots is invalid), and Virginia Pharmacy [*354] Board v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Inc., 425 U.S. 748, 96 S.Ct. 1817, 48 L.Ed.2d 346 (1976) (statute prohibiting advertisement of prices for prescription drugs is invalid), is misplaced. Neither of these cases deals with a content-neutral statute. Linmark, 431 U.S. at 94, 97 S.Ct. at 1619; (“That the prescription at issue applies only to one mode of communication, therefore, does not transform this into a ‘time, place, or manner’ ease.”); Virginia Board, 425 U.S. at 771, 96 S.Ct. at 1830.

The Ordinance is a valid time, place, and manner regulation. It is not a blanket prohibition on the use of satellite dishes. Indeed, the city offered to prove that more than twenty satellite antennas have been installed in the City. The Ordinance merely prevents the installation of satellite antennas that unreasonably interfere with other individuals’ enjoyment of their land and which pose issues of public safety. The district court correctly ruled that the Ordinance did not violate the constitutional rights of the Johnsons.

CONCLUSION

The district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED insofar as it denied the Johnsons relief on their constitutional claim and it is REVERSED insofar as it held the Ordinance preempted by the FCC regulation. Accordingly, the case is remanded for disposition of the question of fact whether or not the City Ordinance prevents or imposes unreasonable limitations on satellite signal reception or imposes disproportionate costs on satellite antenna users. Neither party to recover costs in this court.