{ "id": 2621699, "name": "The City of Chicago, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Vincent Geraci et al., Defendants-Appellants", "name_abbreviation": "City of Chicago v. Geraci", "decision_date": "1975-06-27", "docket_number": "No. 61497", "first_page": "699", "last_page": "705", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "30 Ill. App. 3d 699" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "203 N.E.2d 587", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "54 Ill.App.2d 178", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5282420 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/54/0178-01" ] }, { "cite": "45 N.E.2d 48", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "316 Ill.App. 217", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "case_ids": [ 3395618 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app/316/0217-01" ] }, { "cite": "287 N.E.2d 177", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "116 N.E.2d 359", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "1 Ill.2d 618", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5315398 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/1/0618-01" ] }, { "cite": "109 N.E.2d 390", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "348 Ill. App. 542", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "case_ids": [ 5095525 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app/348/0542-01" ] }, { "cite": "320 N.E.2d 202", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "23 Ill.App.3d 797", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2507963 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/23/0797-01" ] }, { "cite": "108 N.E. 994", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "weight": 5, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "268 Ill. 156", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 4793629 ], "weight": 5, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/268/0156-01" ] }, { "cite": "287 N.E. 2d 177", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "7 Ill.App.3d 253", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2675586 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/7/0253-01" ] }, { "cite": "112 N.E. 342", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "273 Ill. 53", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2404934 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/273/0053-01" ] }, { "cite": "196 N.E.2d 494", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "47 Ill.App.2d 46", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5269025 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-2d/47/0046-01" ] }, { "cite": "215 N.E.2d 443", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "34 Ill.2d 257", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2879591 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/34/0257-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 612, "char_count": 13179, "ocr_confidence": 0.733, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.782047321176313e-07, "percentile": 0.8352234049166573 }, "sha256": "2ccde0879b830e296ec678841cabba180eaa40d36b67b907538878a4e555d343", "simhash": "1:b295157c556da56b", "word_count": 2061 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:56:28.126609+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "The City of Chicago, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Vincent Geraci et al., Defendants-Appellants." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Mr. JUSTICE LORENZ\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nDefendants appeal from a preliminary injunction enjoining them from operating the \u201cGaisha Bath House.\u201d They contend that the amended complaint fails to allege conduct which constitutes a public nuisance; improperly seeks to enjoin criminal conduct; and fails to allege facts sufficient to support an injunction. They further contend that the injunction lacks specificity.\n- On January 8, 1975, pl\u00e1intiff filed a verified amended complaint seeking to enjoin defendants from operating their business and alleging that defendants operate the \u201cGaisha Bath House\u201d at 4816 N. Western Avenue in Chicago; that they purport to furnish baths there but in fact provide \u201cblatantly sexual genital stimulation\u201d; that on July 18, 1974, Police Sergeant Henry Kramer went to the \u201cGaisha Bath House\u201d and after paying $25 \u201cwas taken into a small room in the premises where a completely nude female offered to and did in fact fondle and stroke his penis\u201d; that similar conduct occurred at the \u201cGaisha Bath House\u201d on August 19, 1974, August 27, 1974, October 18, 1974, October 25, 1974, and December 27, 1974; that employees of the \u201cGaisha Bath House\u201d have been arrested on at least six separate occasions for violating section 192 \u2014 1 of the Municipal Code of Chicago (Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code, ch. 192, par. 1); that plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law since such arrests have had no effect and such blatantly sexual conduct continues despite the irreparable injury being suffered by the citizens of Chicago; and that such conduct \u201cis deleterious and a menace to the health, safety, or general welfare of the community and constitutes a public nuisance.\u201d Plaintiff also filed a verified motion for a temporary restraining order. The complaint and the motion were verified by Chicago Police Officer Jerry P. Leahy who on oath stated that \u201che has knowledge of the statements and allegations in the foregoing complaint and that such allegations are true in substance and in fact.\u201d The trial court entered a temporary restraining order, to expire on January 18, 1974, enjoining defendants \u201cfrom operating [the \u2018Gaisha Bath House\u2019] where illegal, lewd and blatantly sexual genital stimulation is occurring.\u201d\nOn January 17, 1975, defendants filed a motion to strike and dismiss the amended complaint and a motion to vacate and set aside the temporary restraining order raising substantially the same issues raised on appeal.\nOn the same day, plaintiff filed a.verified motion for a preliminary injunction based upon the amended complaint and defendants renewed their objections.\nAfter hearing arguments of counsel, the trial court denied defendants\u2019 motions and ordered them to answer the amended complaint. The court also entered a preliminary injunction holding that \u201cthe blatantly sexual conduct purported to be baths that is occurring at the premises located at 4816 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, constitutes a public nuisance\u201d and enjoined defendants during the pendency of the proceedings \u201cfrom operating this purported bath house at 4816 N. Western Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, where illegal, lewd, and blatantly sexual genital stimulation is occurring.\u201d Defendants appeal from the entry of the preliminary injunction.\nOpinion\nIn the instant case, defendants did not file an answer to the amended complaint. Therefore, no evidentiary hearing was required. (See Centennial Laundry Co. v. West Side Organization, 34 Ill.2d 257, 215 N.E.2d 443.) Instead, they filed a motion to strike and dismiss. Accordingly, the well-pleaded factual allegations of the amended complaint must be taken as true. (H. K. H. Development Corp. v. Metropolitan Sanitary District, 47 Ill.App.2d 46, 196 N.E.2d 494; Dunne v. County of Rock Island, 273 Ill. 53, 112 N.E. 342.) Thus, we are presented only with questions of law.\nDefendants contend that plaintiff\u2019s amended complaint failed to allege conduct constituting a public nuisance. Their contention may be summarized as foHows: (1) The legislature must define a public nuisance. (2) Since the legislature has not defined masturbatory massage pailors to be public nuisances, masturbatory massage parlors are not public nuisances.\nDefendants\u2019 initial proposition is erroneous. Notwithstanding contrary dicta in the case of People v. Goldman, 7 Ill.App.3d 253, 287 N.E. 2d 177, the legislature need not define a public nuisance. A public nuisance is a separate and distinct civff cause of action under the common law, unrelated to legislative enactments. People ex rel. Dyer v. Clark, 268 Ill. 156, 108 N.E. 994.\nMoreover, defendants\u2019 argument is based upon their assumption that their conduct is not \u201cprostitution\u201d under the laws of nuisance. They rely solely upon the definition of \u201cprostitution\u201d under the Criminal Code which defines the term to mean acts of \u201csexual intercourse\u2019\u201d or \u201cdeviate sexual conduct\u201d for money. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 11 \u2014 14.) \u201cDeviate sexual conduct,\u201d for purposes of the Criminal Code, \u201cmeans any act of sexual gratification involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another.\u201d (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 11 \u2014 2.) Thus, by omission, \u201cprostitution,\u201d under the Criminal Codes, does not expressly include the type of commercial conduct involved in the instant case \u2014 acts of sexual gratification involving the sex organs of one person and the hand of another.\nHowever, defendants\u2019 reliance upon the definition of \u201cprostitution\u201d under the Criminal Code is misplaced. They have ignored section 1 \u2014 4 of the Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 1 \u2014 4) which specifically provides:\n\u201cThis code does not bar, suspend, or otherwise affect any # # * other remedy authorized by law to be * * * enforced in a civil action, for any conduct which this Code makes punishable * #\nThus, the civil remedy for nuisance is not affected by the definition of prostitution under the Criminal Code. This statute is consistent with the rule that a cause of action in nuisance is unrelated to legislative enactments as discussed above (See People ex rel Dyer v. Clark, 268 Ill. 156, 108 N.E. 994.) The definition of \u201cprostitution\u201d under the Criminal Code does not limit actions in nuisance.\nUnder the common law, houses of prostitution are nuisances. (People ex rel. Dyer v. Clark, 268 Ill. 156, 108 N.E. 994.) The activities of a house of prostitution unquestionably involve commercial sexual acts of every sort, including commercial acts of sexual gratification involving the sex organs of one person and the hand of another. Clearly, masturbatory massage parlors, such as the one in the instant case, are engaged in commercial acts of sexual gratification involving the sex organs of one person and the hand of another. Therefore, such parlors are, in essence, specialized houses of prostitution. Specialization in no way changes the real nature of the enterprise; they are still engaged in commercial sexual acts. Accordingly, masturbatory massage parlors are public nuisances and may be enjoined. See Toushin v. City of Chicago, 23 Ill.App.3d 797, 320 N.E.2d 202.\nDefendants\u2019 contention lacks merit for another reason; their second proposition, that the legislature has not defined masturbatory massage parlors to be public nuisances, is also erroneous. Both the legislature and the Chicago City Council have declared masturbatory massage parlors to be nuisances.\nThe Illinois legislature enacted a public nuisance act. Section 1 of that act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 100%, par. 1) provides:\n\u201cThat all buildings and apartments * * * used for purposes of lewdness, assignation, or prostitution, are hereby declared to be public nuisances, and may be abated as hereinafter provided.\u201d (Emphasis added.)\nThis statute was not intended to displace common-law actions to abate nuisances. (See People ex rel. Dyer v. Clark, 268 Ill. 156, 108 N.E. 994.) We note that the instant action was not brought pursuant to this Act.\nAlso, the Chicago City Council has declared masturbatory massage parlors to be nuisances. Section 192 \u2014 1 of the Municipal Code (Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code, ch. 192, par. 1) provides:\n\u201cEvery house of ill-fame or house of assignation where men and women resort for purpose of fornication, prostitution, or lewdness is hereby declared a nuisance. (Emphasis added.)\nWe note that the amended complaint does refer to this ordinance.\nDefendants argue that these enactments do not apply to masturbatory massage parlors. They say that the terms \u201cprostitution\u201d and \u201clewdness\u201d used in both enactments do not include acts of sexual gratification involving the sex organs of one person and the hand of another. Alternatively they state that those terms, especially the term \u201clewdness,\u201d are vague and fail to apprise them of what is prohibited.\nHowever, we find no confusion in the meaning of these terms. Although traditionally the term \u201clewdness\u201d is viewed as being broader than and including the term \u201cprostitution\u201d (People v. Lackaye, 348 Ill. App. 542, 109 N.E.2d 390, opinion adopted by Illinois Supreme Court, 1 Ill.2d 618, 116 N.E.2d 359), such terms refer to the same general class of activities which are normally associated with houses of prostitution (or whatever such establishments may be called). They \u00e1re intended to designate and prohibit sex acts of whatever nature which are performed for money.\nIn so holding, we find no essential inconsistency with the holding of the court in People v. Goldman, 7 Ill.App.3d 253, 287 N.E.2d 177, an obscenity case relied upon by defendants. Goldman determined that the Illinois public nuisance act and the term \u201clewdness\" does not apply to persons who sell pornography. We conclude that both the Illinois public nuisance act and section 192 \u2014 1 of the Municipal Code of Chicago are applicable to masturbatory massage parlors.\nTherefore, based both on common law and on statute, masturbatory massage parlors are public nuisances and may be enjoined. The trial court\u2019s determination in this regard was correct.\nDefendants next contend that the amended complaint improperly seeks to enjoin criminal conduct. They suggest that plaintiff seeks only to enforce the criminal law. Although equity will not ordinarily enjoin criminal conduct (People ex rel. Barrett v. Fritz, 316 Ill.App. 217, 45 N.E.2d 48), where criminal prosecution is ineffective, equity may act. (Toushin v. City of Chicago, 23 Ill.App.3d 797, 320 N.E.2d 202; People ex rel. Dyer v. Clark, 268 Ill. 156, 108 N.E. 994.) In the instant case, the criminal laws are ineffective in dealing with this type of nuisance particularly since the Criminal Code is inapplicable to the specialized acts of prostitution as alleged here. In these circumstances, we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in issuing a preliminary injunction enjoining defendants\u2019 enterprise.\nDefendants further contend that the amended complaint fails to allege facts sufficient to support an injunction. They argue that it relies upon conclusions and was improperly verified. While conclusions and allegations based upon information and belief will not support an injunction (Phelan v. Wright, 54 Ill.App.2d 178, 203 N.E.2d 587), we do not find the instant complaint deficient. Although the terms \u201cblatantly sexual genital stimulation\u201d are used in the complaint, the terms are sufficiently specific and are explained in the context of the other aUegations in the complaint. The complaint sufficiently defines the course of conduct in which defendants are engaged on their premises, specificaHy \u2014 the fondling and stroking of the male sex organs for money. Moreover, the complaint was verified by Officer Leahy upon his personal \u201cknowledge.\u201d Although the name of another officer is mentioned in the complaint, the complaint is not limited to one incident, but rather refers to a series of events and a continuing course of conduct of which Officer Leahy has stated under oath he has knowledge. The allegations in the complaint are sufficient to support the injunction.\nDefendants finaUy contend that the injunction lacks specificity. The law is clear that injunctions must specificaHy inform the parties enjoined regarding what is prohibited. We find that the injunction was specific and defendants clearly were enjoined during the pendency of the prosecution from operating their business at a specific location in the City of Chicago because it is a public nuisance.\nThe order of the trial court is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nBARRETT, P. J., and SULLIVAN, J., concur.\nWe use the term \u201cmasturbatory massage parlor\u201d to mean a commercial enterprise which masturbates its customers. The fact that such an enterprise calls itself a bath house rather than a \u201cmassage parlor\u201d is irrelevant. The \u201cGaisha Bath House\u201d is clearly a masturbatory commercial enterprise.", "type": "majority", "author": "Mr. JUSTICE LORENZ" } ], "attorneys": [ "Howard T. Savage and Patricia Unsinn, both of Chicago, for appellants.", "William R. Quinlan, Corporation Counsel, of Chicago (Daniel Pascale and Edmund Hatfield, Assistant Corporation Counsel, of counsel), for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "The City of Chicago, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Vincent Geraci et al., Defendants-Appellants.\n(No. 61497;\nFirst District (5th Division)\nJune 27, 1975.\nRehearing denied July 18, 1975.\nHoward T. Savage and Patricia Unsinn, both of Chicago, for appellants.\nWilliam R. Quinlan, Corporation Counsel, of Chicago (Daniel Pascale and Edmund Hatfield, Assistant Corporation Counsel, of counsel), for appellee." }, "file_name": "0699-01", "first_page_order": 725, "last_page_order": 731 }