No. 18-585

Ernest J. Franceschi, Jr. v. Betty T. Yee, et al.

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2018-11-05
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: bill-of-attainder driver-licenses due-process hearing-opportunity license-suspension occupational-licenses procedural-rights retrospective-legislation substantive-due-process tax-delinquencies tax-delinquency
Latest Conference: 2018-12-07
Question Presented (from Petition)

California in 2012 enacted a statutory scheme to suspend the driver and occupational licenses of the largest state income tax delinquents. Revenue & Taxation Code section 19195 directs the Franchise Tax Board to publish a list twice a year of the top 500 state income tax delinquents who owe more than $100,000.00. These individuals are then singled out for special penalties. Section 494.5 of the Business & Professions Code requires the summary suspension of driver and occupational licenses of those named on the list. However, the legislation does not provide for any form of hearing to contest the suspensions or the tax liability, and operates retroactively. The tax liability of both Petitioners, for which their respective licenses were suspended accrued many years before the enactment of the legislation when license suspension was not a consequence of owing delinquent taxes.

There are three question presented:

1. Does the suspension of state issued occupational and driver licenses without a hearing opportunity, based upon tax delinquencies that predate enactment of the legislation violate substantive and/or procedural due process?

2. Is legislation that requires the deprivation of driver and occupational licenses without a hearing facially unconstitutional under the due process clause?

3. Is legislation which singles out a class of tax debtors for public disclosure and special legislative punishments without a hearing, an unconstitutional bill of attainder?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does the suspension of state issued occupational and driver licenses without a hearing opportunity, based upon tax delinquencies that pre date enactment of the legislation violate substantive and/or procedural due process?

Docket Entries

2018-12-10
Petition DENIED.
2018-11-20
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/7/2018.
2018-11-13
Waiver of right of respondents Betty T. Yee, et al. to respond filed.
2018-10-29
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 5, 2018)

Attorneys

Betty T. Yee, et al.
Michael James MonganState of CA, Department of Justice, Respondent
Ernest J. Franceschi, Jr., et al.
Ernest J. Franceschi Jr.Franceschi Law Corporation, Petitioner