United States v. George M. Hall, No. 16-1783 (8th Cir. 2017)
Annotate this CaseCourt Description: Per Curiam - Before Colloton, Murphy and Gruender, Circuit Judges] Civil case - Injunctions. The record supports the district court's finding that the acts it was enjoining were taken solely to frustrate the court-approved sale of the Benton County Sewer District's assets and ongoing operations through the court-appointed receiver.
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United States Court of Appeals For the Eighth Circuit ___________________________ No. 16-1783 ___________________________ United States of America lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee State of Missouri lllllllllllllllllllllIntervenor Plaintiff - Appellee v. Benton County Sewer District No. 1 of Benton County, Missouri lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellee William Seek, solely in his capacity as President an Trustee of Benton County Sewer District No. 1, also known as Ted Seek; Gerald DuVall, solely in his capacity as Vice President and Trustee of Benton County Sewer District No. 1; John Grate, solely in his capacity as Trustee of Benton County Sewer District No. 1; Joseph Gualco, solely in his capacity as Trustee of Benton County Sewer District No. 1; Stephen Tibbetts, solely in his capacity as Trustee of Benton County Sewer District No. 1 lllllllllllllllllllll Defendants -----------------------------George M. Hall lllllllllllllllllllllInterested party - Appellant ____________ Appeal from United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri - Kansas City ____________ Submitted: January 5, 2017 Filed: February 8, 2017 [Unpublished] ____________ Before COLLOTON, MURPHY, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges ____________ PER CURIAM. George Hall appeals following the district court’s1 order granting in part an emergency motion for injunctive relief, filed jointly by the United States and the State of Missouri and joined in by Benton County Sewer District No. 1. Following careful review, we find no abuse of discretion because the record supports the district court’s finding that Hall’s enjoined acts were taken solely to frustrate the court-approved sale of the Benton County Sewer District’s assets and ongoing operations through the court-appointed receiver. See 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a) (federal courts may issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of their respective jurisdictions); id. at § 2283 (federal courts may not grant injunction to stay proceedings in state court except as expressly authorized by Act of Congress, or where necessary in aid of its jurisdiction, or to protect or effectuate its judgments); USCOC of Greater Mo., LLC v. Cty. of Franklin, Mo., 636 F.3d 927, 932-33 (8th Cir. 2011) (noting All Writs Act has been held to give federal courts power to implement orders they issue by compelling non-parties of action to act or by ordering them not to act); Liles v. Del Campo, 350 F.3d 742, 746 (8th Cir. 2003) (reviewing order enjoining related litigation for abuse of discretion). 1 The Honorable Beth Phillips, United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri. -2- Further, Hall’s attempt to challenge the district court’s jurisdiction and its approval of an asset sale as contrary to an election outcome prove meritless. See 28 U.S.C. § 1345 (“Except as otherwise provided . . . the district courts shall have original jurisdiction of all civil actions, suits or proceedings commenced by the United States . . . .”); United States v. Geranis, 808 F.3d 723, 726 (8th Cir. 2015) (noting no issue was presented on ballot concerning fate of physical infrastructure of common sewer system operated by Benton County Sewer District No. 1). Accordingly, the district court’s judgment is affirmed. See 8th Cir. R. 47B. ______________________________ -3-
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