Gm 520 Legal Case Brief

Case Brief Week 2

➢ Style of Case and Citation:

U.S. v Sun-Diamond Growers of California 526 U.S. 398 (1999)

➢ Court Rendering Final Decision:

The U.S. Supreme Court

➢ Identification of Parties and Procedural Details:

The U.S. (plaintiff) alleged that Sun Diamond Growers of California (defendant) was making illegal gifts to then Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Epsy, in order to receive favorable treatment.

➢ Discussion of the Facts:

The U.S. alleges that Sun-Diamond Growers of California has violated § 201(c)(1)(A) and illegally gave, directly or indirectly, different items of value to then Secretary of Agriculture, Mr Epsy, in order to receive favorable treatment from him.

➢ Statement and Discussion of the Legal Issues in Dispute:

The Court is being asked to address that Sun-Diamond Growers of California has violated the laws and statues that pertain to illegally giving gifts, offers, or promises in exchange for favorable treatment. The Court is being asked to establish the allegations that Sun-Diamond Growers intent was to bribe or to influence in an official act. The U.S. is asking the court to establish quid pro quo, which classifies the gifts that the defendant gave to the State of Agriculture as a meant by which to give or receive something of value for an “official act”.

18 U.S.C. § 201(c)(1)(A), the “illegal gratuity statute,” which prohibits giving “anything of value” to a present, past, or future public official “for or because of any official act performed or to be performed by such public official.

Violation of § 201(c)(1)(A). That statute provides, in relevant part, that anyone who otherwise than as provided by law for the proper discharge of official duty… directly or indirectly gives, offers, or promises anything of value to any public official, former public official, or person selected to be a public official, for or because of any official act...