Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165 (10th Cir. 1947). · Go Syfert
Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165 (10th Cir. 1947). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“arties may by stipulation establish evidentiary facts to obviate the necessity of offering proof, but based thereon the court must itself find the ultimate facts upon which the conclusions of law and the judgment are based”
111 citation events (42 in the last 25 years) across 36 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: David H. Zimmer (pawb, 2021-01-22)
Treatment trajectory · 1947 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1947 1986 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 26 distinct citers.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) David H. Zimmer
Bankr. W.D. Pa. · 2021 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
arties may by stipulation establish evidentiary facts to obviate the necessity of offering proof, but based thereon the court must itself find the ultimate facts upon which the conclusions of law and the judgment are based
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State ex rel. Peterson v. Crawshaw
Okla. Civ. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
To lessen the labor of; to assist; ..." Id at ¶ 9, 82 P.3d at 112-113 ; Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 166-167 (10th Cir.1947) the court of appeals found that the firearms, located in the house, a distance of over 100 yards from the growing operation, neither facilitated the outdoor cultivation of the marijuana or its use or possession within the residence.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State Ex Rel. Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs Control v. One (1) Stevens 12 Ga. Shotgun, Ser. 0895260 (2×)
Okla. Civ. App. · 2003 · confidence medium
The court concluded, "What is then meant by the use of the word 'facilitate' is that if an automobile is used to assist in the commission of the crime, it is subject to forfeiture." Id. at 167 (footnote omitted). 110 The court noted that the crime charged was illegal purchase of narcotics and "[t]he use of the automobile did not make the accomplishment of the purchase more easy, or free it from obstructions or hindrance, or make the sale any less difficult." Id. at 167 (emphasis added).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Riley v. 1987 Station Wagon, Vin: 1JCMT7840HTI07485
Minn. · 2002 · confidence medium
See, e.g., United States v. Lane Motor Co., 344 U.S. 630, 630-31 , 73 S.Ct. 459 , 97 L.Ed. 622 (1953) (per curiam); Howard v. United States, 423 F.2d 1102, 1103-04 (9th Cir.1970); Simpson v. United States, 272 F.2d 229, 230-31 (9th Cir.1959); Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 166-67 (10th Cir. 1947).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) McCormick v. Travelers Insurance Company
Cal. Ct. App. · 2001 · confidence medium
Co. (N.D.Cal. 2000) 96 F.Supp.2d 995, 1002 .) Furthermore, WYO insurers are not compensated through premiums because they must remit those payments to the federal government, with the exception of a small amount necessary to meet current expenditures. ( Flick, supra, 205 F.3d at pp. 392-393; Van Holt, supra, 163 F.2d at p. 165.) Earnings only result when WYO insurers approve a claim and authorize payment, in which case they receive a 3.3 percent commission on the amounts that are paid. (44 C.F.R. pt. 62, appen.
cited Cited as authority (rule) In Re Valley View Shopping Center, L.P.
Bankr. D. Kan. · 1999 · confidence medium
O’Connor v. City and County of Denver, 894 F.2d 1210 , 1225-26 (10th Cir.1990) (citing Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 168 (10th Cir.1947)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) T I v. DelBonis
1st Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
Co., 243 U.S. 281 , ____ ________________________________________ 289-90 (1917); O'Connor v. City and County of Denver, 894 ________________________________________ F.2d 1210, 1225-26 (10th Cir. 1990)(citing Platt v. United ________________ States, 163 F.2d 165, 168 (10th Cir. 1947)); C.C.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) T I Federal Credit Union v. DelBonis
1st Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
Co., 243 U.S. 281, 289-90 , 37 S.Ct. 287, 289-91 , 61 L.Ed. 722 (1917); O’Connor v. City and County of Denver, 894 F.2d 1210 , 1225-26 (10th Cir.1990) (citing Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 168 (10th Cir.1947)); Gunn v. United States, 283 F.2d 358, 364 (8th Cir.1960); In re Dawson, 162 B.R. 329, 334 (Bankr.D.Kan.1993).
cited Cited as authority (rule) In Re Dawson
Bankr. D. Kan. · 1993 · confidence medium
O’Connor v. City and County of Denver, 894 F.2d 1210 , 1225-26 (10th Cir.1990) (citing Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 168 (10th Cir.1947)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) O'Connor v. City and County of Denver (2×)
10th Cir. · 1990 · confidence medium
"His unexplained absence at the trial connotes an abandonment of his claims." Relying on Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 168 (10th Cir.1947), the trial court concluded: "In the absence of the plaintiff at the trial, the stipulations of O'Connor's attorney are insufficient to establish any wrongdoing by the defendant." The trial judge did not err in determining that the stipulations of O'Connor's attorney are insufficient to establish any wrongdoing by the City. 73 Citing United States v. Northern Colo. Water Conservancy Dist., 608 F.2d 422, 431 (10th Cir.1979), O'Connor seems to argue th…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) O'Connor v. City & County of Denver (2×)
10th Cir. · 1990 · confidence medium
“His unexplained absence at the trial connotes an abandonment of his claims.” Relying on Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 168 (10th Cir.1947), the trial court concluded: “In the absence of the plaintiff at the trial, the stipulations of O’Connor’s attorney are insufficient to establish any wrongdoing by the defendant.” The trial judge did not err in determining that the stipulations of O’Connor’s attorney are insufficient to establish any wrongdoing by the City.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. $39,000 in Canadian Currency
10th Cir. · 1986 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Cf. Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 167 (10th Cir.1947) (vehicle not forfei-table under statute making unlawful use of vehicle to facilitate purchase of contraband article where drug addict drove it to buy morphine).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
10th Cir. · 1986 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Cf. Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 167 (10th Cir.1947) (vehicle not forfeitable under statute making unlawful use of vehicle to facilitate purchase of contraband article where drug addict drove it to buy morphine).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. 1966 Beechcraft Aircraft Model King Air A90 Cream
4th Cir. · 1985 · confidence medium
United States v. One 1972 Chevrolet Corvette, 625 F.2d 1026, 1028 (1st Cir.1980); see also Howard v. United States, 423 F.2d 1102, 1104 (9th Cir.1970); Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 167 (10th Cir.1947).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) ca4 1985
4th Cir. · 1985 · confidence medium
United States v. One 1972 Chevrolet Corvette, 625 F.2d 1026, 1028 (1st Cir.1980); see also Howard v. United States, 423 F.2d 1102, 1104 (9th Cir.1970); Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 167 (10th Cir.1947).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mosley v. State Ex Rel. Broward Cty.
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1978 · confidence medium
See Nichols v. State, 356 So.2d 933 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1978). [5] In re Forfeiture of 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, 334 So.2d 82 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1976); In re Forfeiture of 1972 Porsche, 307 So.2d 451 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1975). [6] Section 943.42(3), Florida Statutes (1977). [7] In Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 167 (10th Cir.1947), the court held that what is meant by the word "facilitate" is that if an automobile is used to assist in the commission of the crime, it is subject to forfeiture.
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. One 1950 Chevrolet 4-door Sedan
10th Cir. · 1954 · confidence medium
Black’s Law Dictionary, 4th Ed., p. 705; Platt v. United States, 10 Cir., 163 F.2d 165, 166; 2 Pon Wing Quong v. United States, 9 Cir., 111 F.2d 751 .
cited Cited "see" State v. Ramsey
N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. · 2010 · signal: accord · confidence high
Accord Platt v. U.S., 163 F. 2d 165, 168 (10th Cir.1947) (in forfeiture proceeding invited-error standard not applied when position at trial did not mislead court or "cause it to fall into error").
discussed Cited "see" State v. Jenkins (2×)
N.J. · 2004 · signal: accord · confidence high
Accord Platt v. U.S., 163 F.2d 165, 168 (10th Cir.1947) (in forfeiture proceeding invited-error standard not applied when position at trial did not mislead court or “cause it to fall into error”).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. One 1972 Datsun, Vehicle Identification No. LB1100355950
D.N.H. · 1974 · signal: see · confidence high
See Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165 (10th Cir. 1947) ; United States v. One Porsche Coupe Auto, supra; cf. United States v. United States Coin & Currency, 401 U.S. 715 , 91 S.Ct. 1041 (1971). 8 .
cited Cited "see" United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
9th Cir. · 1972 · signal: see · confidence high
See Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 166-167 (10th Cir. 1947).
cited Cited "see" United States v. One 1967 Ford Mustang, 2-Door Hardtop, Serial No. 7R02C149263, California License No. WFJ 079
9th Cir. · 1972 · signal: see · confidence high
See Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 166-167 (10th Cir. 1947).
cited Cited "see" United States v. One 1950 Buick Sedan, Serial No. 56272505
3rd Cir. · 1956 · signal: see · confidence high
See Platt v. United States, 10 Cir., 1947, 163 F.2d 165, 166-167 ; United States v. One 1949 Ford Sedan, D.C.N.C.1951, 96 F.Supp. 341, 343 .
cited Cited "see" United States v. One 1951 Oldsmobile Sedan Model 98
D. Conn. · 1954 · signal: see · confidence high
See Platt v. U. S., 10 Cir., 163 F.2d 165 (Bratton, C.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Lincoln v. BNSF Railway Company
D. Kan. · 2019 · signal: see also · confidence medium
While “parties to a lawsuit are free to stipulate to factual matters,” they “may not stipulate to the legal conclusions to be reached by the court.” Saviano v. Comm’r of Internal Revenue, 765 F.2d 643, 645 (7th Cir. 1985); see also O’Connor v. City and Cty. of Denver, 894 F.2d 1210 , 1225–26 (10th Cir. 1990) (‘“Parties may not stipulate the findings of fact upon which conclusions of law . . . are to be based.”’ (quoting Platt v. United States, 163 F.2d 165, 168 (10th Cir. 1947))).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Peddicord v. Franklin
Md. · 1973 · signal: see also · confidence low
See also Albert v. Brownell, 219 F. 2d 602 (1954) and Platt v. United States, 163 F. 2d 165 (1947).
Platt
v.
United States
3469.
Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Jul 10, 1947.
163 F.2d 165
G. C. Spillers and Donald S. Voorhees, both of Tulsa, Okl. (Spillers, Spillers & Voorhees, of Tulsa, Okl., on the brief), for Appellant., Lawrence E. Todd, Asst. U. S. Atty., of Tulsa, Okl., (Whit Y. Mauzy, U. S. Atty., of Tulsa, Okl., on the brief), for appellee. .
Phillips, Bratton and Huxman, Circuit Judges.
Cited by 67 opinions  |  Published

Lead Opinion

HUXMAN, Circuit Judge.

This is an appeal from a judgment of forfeiture of a 1941 Chrysler automobile under 49 U.S.C.A. § 782. Sec. 782 in part reads: “Any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft which has been or is being used in violation of any provision of section 781, or in, upon, or by means of- which any violation of section 781 has taken or is taking place, shall be seized and forfeited; * * *

Section 781 (a) in part reads as follows: “It shall be unlawful * * * (3) to use any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to facilitate the transportation, carriage, conveyance, concealment, receipt, possesion, purchase, sale, barter, exchange, or giving away of any contraband article.”

The facts in the case are these: Blanche Cooper was a dope addict. She was living at home with her mother, the appellant, who was the owner of the automobile in question. Apparently she had been obtaining drugs on questionable doctor’s prescriptions. On the evening of the day in question, she asked her mother for the use of her automobile. Her request was granted. There is some evidence that she had been permitted the use of the car on a few .other occasions. About 8:30 p. m. on the date in question, accompanied by a neighbor’s little girl, she drove up to the Montgomery Drug Store. She parked the car across the street from the store, entered the drugstore, presented a prescription purporting to be signed by Dr. Dolan, and obtained twelve quarter grain morphine tablets. As she came out of the drugstore she was arrested by a United States narcotics agent, and the drug was seized and taken from her. Her mother knew that she was a drug addict, but did not know, if she had it in mind when she asked for the use of the car, that she intended to go to the drugstore to obtain drugs. These facts are not in dispute. The only disputed issue of fact relates to the genuineness of the prescription. Blanche Cooper claimed that the prescription was genuine, while the government, on the other hand, contended that the doctor’s name was forged thereto.

The case was tried to a jury sitting in an advisory capacity. The following questions were submitted to the jury for answer. “1. Do you find from the evidence that narcotics were obtained by Blanche Cooper on June 19, 1946, by means of a forged prescription?” and “2. Do you find that the 1941 Chrysler Sedan was used by Blanche Cooper to facilitate the procurement of such narcotics?” Both questions were answered in the affirmative. Question No. 2 was answered in the affirmative by direction of the court. The court adopted the answers of the jury as its findings of fact, and made additional findings of fact on matters not submitted to the jury. These additional findings are not in issue here and are therefore not set out. Based on the findings, the court concluded as a matter of law that the drugs were contraband within the. terms of Title 49, Sec. 781 et seq., U.S.C.A. and that the automobile in question was subject to forfeiture.

One of the main points urged for reversal is that the provisions of Section 781 (a) (3) are so vague and indefinite as to render the Act unconstitutional. The main attack is directed against the phrase “to facilitate.” It is argued that this phrase is of such indefinite meaning that the statute is void for uncertainty. The word “facilitate” is one of common use in business and transactions between ordinary persons. It is a term of everyday use, with a well understood and accepted meaning. Webster defines “facilitate” as meaning: “To make easy or less difficult; to free from difficulty[*167] or impediment; as to facilitate the execution of a task. (2) To lessen the labor of; to assist; * * * ”. Funk & Wagnall’s New Standard Dictionary defines “facilitate” as follows: “To make more or less difficult; free more or less completely from obstruction or hindrance; lessen the labor of.” The word “facilitate” appears in many federal statutes. In none of them is it defined, but the presumption is that when Congress used this word, it ascribed to it its ordinary and accepted meaning. What is then meant by the use of the word “facilitate” is that if an automobile is used to assist in the commission of the crime[1] , it is subject to forfeiture. The crime charged here was the illegal purchase of narcotics. The use of the automobile did not make the accomplishment of the purchase more easy or free it from obstructions or hindrance, or make the sale any less difficult. It was merely the means of locomotion by which Blanche Cooper went to the store to make the purchase. Its use enabled her to get to the store more quickly than if she had walked or had used a slower means of transportation. But the argument that this facilitated the purchase disregards the ordinary and accepted meaning of the word when applied to the sale. Ascribing such a meaning to the use of the word “facilitate” would raise grave doubts as to the constitutionality of the statute on the ground of vagueness and indefiniteness. The means employed by Blanehe Cooper in going to the store had nothing to do with the purchase. The ease or difficulty of the purchase would have been the same no matter how she got there. Ascribing to the word “facilitate” its ordinary, everday, accepted meaning and understanding, we have no difficulty in upholding the constitutionality of the Act against a charge that the statute is so vague and indefinite as to fail to apprise one charged with its violation of the exact nature of the crime charged.

The point that the parties stipulated that the automobile was used to facilitate the purchase of the drug and that the court therefore did not decide this issue, and that in any event the cause should be remanded for a determination of that issue by the trial court, lurks in the background. A careful analysis of the record, however, establishes that this is not the case.

At the conclusion of the trial, the court instructed the jury. Its closing instruction related to the consideration the jury should give to the answer to the two questions propounded, as outlined above. At this point the following colloquy occurred between the court and attorney for appellant:

“Mr. Spillers: If the Court please, I think question No. 2 ought to be withdrawn because there is no question about that.
“The Court: Well, I will ask you to answer No. 2 in the affirmative because there actually isn’t any question. * * *
“Mr. Spillers: No question about that.
“The Court: No.”

Just what appellant’s attorney meant by his statement that there was no question about Question No. 2 is not clear. If he meant that the evidence required an affirmative answer, then his suggestion that the question be withdrawn was improper. In that event the jury should have been instructed, as it was, to answer in the affirmative. That the court was of the opinion that the evidence required an affirmative answer to Question No. 2 is clear from its instruction to the jury to return an affirmative answer thereto.

While appellant’s main reliance in the trial was largely on the theory that the Act in question was unconstitutional, this was not the only issue nor was it the basis of the court’s decision. The court decided the case on the theory that the right to forfeit the automobile depended upon whether it was used to facilitate the purchase of the drugs in question. This is evidenced by the fact that the court did not withdraw Question No. 2 from the jury as suggested by appellant’s attorney, but directed an affirmative answer thereto. In its findings of fact it adopted the answer of the jury to the question as a finding of fact, and based its conclusions of law and its judgment thereon. One of the grounds set up in the motion for a new trial by appellant was: “That the plaintiff wholly failed to show that the car in question was used to facilitate the[*168] purchase or transport any contrabands of whatsoever nature or kind.” Thus it appears that the issue whether the car was used to facilitate the purchase of the drugs in question was presented to the court and decided by it.

It is doubtful if the statement by appellant’s attorney in respect to this matter can be construed as a stipulation as to a finding of fact, but, in any event, parties may not stipulate the findings of fact upon which conclusions of law and the judgment of the court are to be based. Parties may by stipulation establish evidentiary facts to obviate the necessity of offering proof, but based thereon the court must itself find the ultimate facts upon which the conclusions of law and the judgment are based.[2]

So, likewise, it may be argued that appellant’s attorney by his remarks caused the court to fall into error and therefore may not now complain thereof. It is a well established principle that a party may not complain of error on the part of the court which was induced by him.[3]

It is quite clear, however, from the record that the statement of counsel for appellant that Question No. 2 ought to be withdrawn because there was no question about that, did not mislead the court or cause it to fall into error in directing the jury to answer the question in the affirmative and base its ultimate finding thereon, because it did not withdraw the question and was itself of the view, as evidenced by the directions to the jury, that only an affirmative answer could be given thereto.

Other questions are presented which, because of the conclusions we have reached, as outlined above, are not necessary to be answered. The finding should have been that the automobile was not used to facilitate the procurement or purchase of the drug within the meaning of the statute in question.

The judgment is accordingly reversed and the cause is remanded with directions to dismiss. •

1

See Pon Wing Quong v. United States, 9 Cir., 111 F.2d 751.

2

Swift & Co. v. Hocking Valley Ry. Co., 243 U.S. 281, 289, 37 S.Ct. 287, 61 L.Ed. 722; Andrews v. St. Louis Joint Stock Land Bank, 8 Cir., 107 F. 2d 462, 470; Macklin v. Kaiser Co., D. C., 69 F.Supp. 137.

3

Law v. United States, 266 U.S. 494, 496, 45 S.Ct. 175, 69 L.Ed. 401; Mach v. Abbott Co., 8 Cir., 136 F.2d 7, 10.

Dissent

BRATTON, Circuit Judge,

(dissenting).

My view is that the statute, 49 U.S.C.A. § 781(a) (3), is valid. And my further view is that the automobile was used to facilitate the purchase of narcotics. But I think it was error to admit certain testimony given by an agent of the Bureau of Narcotics. Accordingly, I would reverse on that ground, but not on the ground that the automobile was not used to facilitate the purchase of narcotics.