Summary
holding that the plaintiff could not seek enforcement of a property use ordinance because "[i]t is the township, not plaintiffs, that has standing to enforce the ordinance"
Summary of this case from Smith v. City of Keego HarborOpinion
No. 214338.
Submitted November 7, 2000, at Detroit.
Decided May 4, 2001, at 9:10 a.m. Updated June 22, 2001.
Appeal from Oakland Circuit Court, LC No. 97-002290-CK.
The Davis Law Group, P.C. (by Robert Charles Davis), for Tibor L. and Terrie Gyarmati.
Seyburn, Kahn, Ginn, Bess, Deitch and Serlin, P.C. (by Joel H. Serlin and Barry M. Rosenbaum), for Jay A. and Diane Bielfield.
Secrest, Wardle, Lynch, Hampton, Truex and Morley (by Thomas P. McKenney), for Bloomfield Charter Township.
Before: Gribbs, P.J., and Kelly and Sawyer, JJ.
Plaintiffs appeal as of right from an order granting summary disposition in favor of defendant, Bloomfield Township (Township). Plaintiffs also raise issues related to an earlier order granting defendants, Jay Bielfield and Diane Bielfield (the Bielfields), summary disposition and denying plaintiffs' motion for summary disposition. We affirm.
Plaintiffs filed a complaint for declaratory judgment against the Township and their neighbors, the Bielfields, alleging that an easement that the Bielfields had over plaintiffs' land was illegal because it violated a Township ordinance that prohibited riparian use of property by anyone other than the riparian owner or occupant. Plaintiffs sought to have a prior stipulated order between the parties which reaffirmed the easement declared void due to illegality. The Township moved for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(8). Plaintiffs also moved for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10). In response to plaintiffs' motion for summary disposition, the Bielfields argued that they were entitled to judgment as a matter of law pursuant to MCR 2.116(I)(2) because plaintiffs did not have standing to bring suit. The trial court granted the Bielfields summary disposition, finding that plaintiffs did not have standing to seek to enforce a public ordinance. The trial court also granted summary disposition to the Township, finding that plaintiffs failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
Plaintiffs argue that the trial court erred in granting the Bielfields summary disposition and denying plaintiffs' motion for summary disposition. We disagree. Appellate review of a motion for summary disposition is de novo. Spiek v Dep't of Transportation, 456 Mich. 331, 337; 572 N.W.2d 201 (1998). The trial court granted the Bielfields summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(I)(2). "Summary disposition is properly granted [under this rule] to the opposing party if it appears to the court that that party, rather than the moving party, is entitled to judgment." Sharper Image v Dep't of Treasury, 216 Mich. App. 698, 701; 550 N.W.2d 596 (1996). Whether a party has standing to bring an action is a question of law reviewed de novo on appeal. Dep't of Consumer Industry Services v Shah, 236 Mich. App. 381, 384; 600 N.W.2d 406 (1999).
Pursuant to Comstock v Wheelock, 63 Mich. App. 195; 234 N.W.2d 448 (1975), "public rights actions must be brought by public officials vested with such responsibility." Id. at 202. Contrary to plaintiffs' assertions, they are, in fact, seeking enforcement of the ordinance by requesting that the court declare that the Bielfields may not use the easement for riparian purposes. It is the Township, not plaintiffs, that has standing to enforce the ordinance. Plaintiffs are attempting to be released from their stipulated agreement and nothing more. It is immaterial whether or not the township enforces the ordinance or seeks redress by criminal prosecution for failure to obey it. This is not a mandamus action. Because plaintiffs do not have standing, it is axiomatic that they, in turn, were not entitled to summary disposition.
Plaintiffs also argue that the trial court erred in granting summary disposition in favor of the Township. We disagree. A motion for summary disposition relying on MCR 2.116(C)(8) tests the legal sufficiency of a plaintiff's complaint. Celina Mutual Ins Co v Aetna Life Casualty Co, 434 Mich. 288, 294; 454 N.W.2d 93 (1990). The court must accept the factual allegations of the plaintiff's complaint as true, and if, even after considering the facts in a light most favorable to the plaintiff, a claim is clearly unenforceable as a matter of law, then the motion should be granted and there is no right to recovery. Scameheorn v Bucks, 167 Mich. App. 302, 306; 421 N.W.2d 918 (1988).
In order to maintain an action for declaratory judgment, a plaintiff must demonstrate that an "actual controversy" exists between the parties. Durant v State of Michigan, 238 Mich. App. 185, 204; 605 N.W.2d 66 (1999); Chrysler Corp v Home Ins Co, 213 Mich. App. 610, 613; 540 N.W.2d 485 (1995). "Generally, an actual justiciable controversy exists where a declaratory judgment is necessary to guide a plaintiff's future conduct in order to preserve the plaintiff's legal rights." Durant, supra, 238 Mich. App. 204 . To demonstrate an actual controversy, a plaintiff must "`lead and prove facts which indicate an adverse interest necessitating a sharpening of the issues raised.'" Id., quoting Fieger v Comm'r of Ins, 174 Mich. App. 467, 470-471; 437 N.W.2d 371 (1988).
There was nothing adverse in plaintiffs' declaratory action against the Township. Plaintiffs did not argue that the ordinance was unconstitutional or unenforceable in any way. Plaintiffs did not seek a ruling from the court that would have been detrimental to the Township. In fact, in their brief on appeal, plaintiffs seem to contend that the Township would be an ally in their fight against the Bielfields, stating, "[i]t was expected that Bloomfield Township would support the validity of Ordinance No. 340" and that the Township had "an interest in the efficacy of its Ordinance 340." This language clearly demonstrates that there was no "actual controversy" between plaintiffs and the Township. Even if all of plaintiffs' allegations are accepted as true, there is no action against the Township. As such, plaintiffs' complaint for declaratory judgment failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted and summary disposition was proper.
Affirmed.
I respectfully dissent in part.
I agree with the majority the plaintiffs do not have standing to enforce the ordinance. Comstock v Wheelock, 63 Mich. App. 195, 202; 234 N.W.2d 448 (1975). Therefore, I agree that summary disposition in favor of the township was appropriate. However, I disagree that plaintiffs did not have standing to seek a declaratory judgment regarding their obligations under the easement with respect to the Bielfields.
First, as the majority acknowledges, the issue whether the township would enforce its ordinance against plaintiffs is irrelevant to this case. However, plaintiffs are in a position where they have certain obligations under an easement which may or may not violate a local ordinance. Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable for them to seek a declaratory judgment to determine exactly what obligations under the easement, if any, they must meet in light of the restrictions imposed by the ordinance. The majority is simply wrong in its statement that plaintiffs are "seeking enforcement of the ordinance by requesting that the court declare that the Bielfields may not use the easement for riparian purposes." Ante, slip op at 2. With respect to the Bielfields, what plaintiffs are seeking is a determination of to what extent, if any, the easement is enforceable in light of the township's ordinance.
Plaintiffs are in an untenable position: they must determine if the easement violates the ordinance. If they reach the wrong decision on that issue, then they face the possibility of being sued by defendants for violating the easement or criminal enforcement by the township for violating the ordinance. To me, plaintiffs' position is perfectly reasonable: to seek a declaratory judgment of their obligations under the easement so as to avoid the possibility of violating either the easement or the ordinance.
For these reasons, I conclude that plaintiffs are entitled to seek a declaratory judgment to determine the extent to which it is obligated to comply with the easement in light of the restrictions imposed by the ordinance. Plaintiffs have standing to obtain a declaratory judgment so as not to be put in the position of having to violate either the ordinance or the easement, or even both. Therefore, I would reverse the decision of the circuit court with respect to the summary disposition for the Bielfields.