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Constitutional Law - Due Process - Dismissal Of Appeal As Exercise Of Contempt Power, Morton A. Polster S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

A superior court of the state of Washington rendered a $475,000 judgment against the petitioner union for the circulation of a libelous letter. The union filed an appeal to the Washington Supreme Court but obtained no stay of proceedings in the lower court because it made no offer of the required supersedeas bond. In a supplemental proceeding it was learned that the union had no substantial assets in Washington but did have $298,000 of United States bonds in its possession in California. The Superior Court ordered the union to deliver these bonds to the court's receiver to protect the judgment …