STATE OF FLORIDA ON THE RELATION OF ASSOCIATED OUTDOOR CLUBS, INC., RELATOR,
v.
ROBERT C. LECHNER, JACK FIVEASH, LOUIE BANDEL, JAMES L. LEE AND MARTIN SEGAL AS AND CONSTITUTING THE FLORIDA STATE RACING COMMISSION, RESPONDENTS

Fla. | 1967-04-12
No. 35943
THORNAL, C. J., and DREW, CALDWELL and ERVIN, JJ., concur.
197 So. 2d 512 Florida Supreme Court (1967)

AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.

Synopsis

Associated Outdoor Clubs seeks mandamus to prevent the Florida State Racing Commission from issuing a second jai-alai permit to Gandy Operating Company, which would exceed the statutory limit of 105 operating days per year. The court grants mandamus, finding the second permit violates Florida statute regardless of whether the statute expressly prohibits multiple permits at one location.


Holding

The peremptory writ of mandamus is granted. The second permit and related operating dates are invalid because they violate F.S. Section 550.291, which limits any single parimutuel operator to 105 operating days per year. This limit applies regardless of whether the statute expressly prohibits multiple permits at the same location.


Key Quotes

“F.S. Section 550.291, F.S.A., commands that the respondent commission grant no more than one hundred and five days of operation to any one greyhound, harness or jai-alai per-mittee.”

Establishes the statutory limit at the heart of the dispute

Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.

Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence

Facts & Procedural History

Gandy Operating Company held a jai-alai permit issued in 1952 for operation from December 26, 1966 through May 2, 1967 (131 days). On August 22, 1966,…

The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.

Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence

© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.


Opinion of the Court
O’CONNELL, Justice.

O’CONNELL, Justice.

Gandy Operating Company, Inc. is the holder of two permits to operate a jai-alai fronton at 5125 Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, Florida. One permit was issued Gandy on July 12, 1952, the second was issued August 22, 1966. Under the first of said permits the respondents granted Gandy the right to operate its fronton from December 26, 1966 through May 2, 1967. Under the second permit respondents granted Gandy the right to operate from May 6 through September 4, 1967. The operating dates total 213 days in the twelve months period ensuing after December 26, 1966.

In its petition for writ of mandamus the relator, a holder and user of a permit to operate dog racing in Hillsborough County, asks us to command the respondents to revoke and rescind its action taken in issuing the second permit issued August 22, 1966 and the action taken granting operating dates for the period May 6 through September 4, 1967. The relator does not question the propriety of the permit issued in 1952 or the operating dates assigned consequent thereto.

The issuance of the alternative writ was not opposed by the respondents who have made return thereto and also filed their motion to quash.

Respondents argue that mandamus is not the proper remedy and that Gandy is a necessary party. Neither argument has merit. In State ex rel. Pensacola Greyhound Racing, Inc. v. Lechner, et al., Fla.1967, 195 So.2d 206, a case involving similar but not identical issues we granted the peremptory writ of mandamus and we did not require the holder of the disputed permit to be made a party.

The invalidity of the respondents’ action in granting to Gandy the second permit and related operating days is so obvious as to require little discussion. F.S. Section 550.291, F.S.A., commands that the respondent commission grant no more than one hundred and five days of operation to any one greyhound, harness or jai-alai per-mittee. While it may be, as respondents contend, that the relevant statutes do not expressly prohibit the issuance of more than one permit for use at the same fronton, *514we think it is apparent that such was the legislative intent. The legislature clearly intended to limit the number of days of pari-mutuel wagering at each of the locations, tracks or frontons, at which it is permitted. This vital part of the whole statutory design would be nullified if what was attempted here were to be sanctioned. See ex rel. Volusia Jai-Alai, Inc. v. Ring, Fla.1960, 122 So.2d 4.

Notwithstanding the return and the motion to quash the peremptory writ of mandamus is granted.

It is so ordered.

THORNAL, C. J., and DREW, CALDWELL and ERVIN, JJ., concur.


Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Authorities Cited

Full citator, related cases, and AI research tools

Open in FLexlaw