Connection lost
Server error
People v. Lauria Case Brief
Why Top Law Students (And Those Aspiring to Be) Use LSD+ Briefs
Let's be real, law school is a marathon. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full case system is designed by Harvard Law School and MIT grads to match your pace: Quick summaries when you're slammed, detailed analysis when you need to go deep. Only LSD+ offers this kind of flexibility to genuinely fit your study flow.
Adaptive Case Views
Toggle between Flash, Standard, and Expanded. Get what you need, when you need it.
Exam-Ready IRAC Format
We deliver the precise structure professors look for in exam answers.
Complex Cases, Clarified
We break down dense legal reasoning into something digestible, helping you grasp core concepts.
Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: An answering service owner provided services to known prostitutes. The court held that his mere knowledge of their illegal activities, which were misdemeanors, was insufficient to establish the requisite intent to participate in a criminal conspiracy without further evidence of direct participation or a special interest.
Legal Significance: This case establishes a crucial test for conspiracy liability for suppliers of legal goods or services. It holds that mere knowledge of a customer’s illegal use is insufficient to prove intent, requiring either direct evidence, a “special interest” in the venture, or knowledge of a serious felony.
People v. Lauria Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
The defendant, Lauria, operated a telephone answering service. An investigation into prostitution revealed that three active prostitutes were using his service. A policewoman, posing as a prostitute, signed up for the service and explicitly hinted at her illegal activities to both Lauria and his office manager. Lauria’s response was to defend the quality of his service, stating his business was simply “taking messages.” After his arrest, Lauria admitted he knew some of his clients were prostitutes and that he kept separate records for them, but stated he tolerated them as long as they paid their bills. He was indicted, along with the three prostitutes, for conspiracy to commit prostitution. The prosecution presented no evidence that Lauria charged inflated rates, that his service had no legitimate use, or that prostitutes constituted a disproportionate share of his business. The trial court set aside the indictment for lack of probable cause, and the People appealed.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Can a supplier of a lawful service be convicted of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor merely by knowing that the service is being used for criminal purposes, without additional evidence of intent to participate in the crime?
No. The court affirmed the dismissal of the indictment, holding that for Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
IRAC Legal Analysis
Complete IRAC Analysis for Higher Grades
IRAC (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion) is the exact format professors want to see in your exam answers. Our exclusive Flash-to-Full briefs combine holding, analysis, and rule statements formatted to match what A+ students produce in exams. These structured briefs help reinforce the essential legal reasoning patterns expected in law school.
Legal Issue
Can a supplier of a lawful service be convicted of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor merely by knowing that the service is being used for criminal purposes, without additional evidence of intent to participate in the crime?
Conclusion
The case provides a foundational framework for analyzing supplier liability in conspiracy, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehend
Legal Rule
The intent of a supplier to participate in a criminal conspiracy may Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit
Legal Analysis
The court began by distinguishing the two elements of conspiracy: knowledge of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipi
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- To be liable for conspiracy, a supplier of legal goods/services must