Translate
Text Highlighter

Bookmark

PDF

Share

Report a problem
AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
Attorney(S)
Judges
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
Attorney(S)
Judges

KEATON v VILLAGE OF BEVERLY HILLS

MICHAEL J. KELLY, P.J.

Plaintiffs appeal as of right from a decision of the circuit court denying plaintiffs' motion for summary disposition and dismissing plaintiffs' complaint seeking a writ of mandamus to force defendant, Village of Beverly Hills, to grant a split of a parcel of land owned by plaintiffs. We affirm.

The essential facts are not in dispute. Plaintiffs are the owners of Lot 67, Cranbrook Woods Subdivision No. 1, in the Village of Beverly Hills, Michigan. Plaintiffs' personal residence is located on the west side of the lot. Plaintiffs desired to divide their lot into two separate parcels. Plaintiffs' lot was one of the larger lots in the subdivision, and, if the proposed division were approved, the two resulting smaller lots would still be larger than some of the other lots in the subdivision.

On November 16, 1989, plaintiffs submitted an application to the Village of Beverly Hills requesting the split. The village commissioned McKenna Associates, Inc., to conduct a study of the effect that the proposed split would have on the community. After conducting its study and finding that both lots would exceed the required minimum lot area of 25,000 square feet, McKenna recommended that the split be allowed.

On January 10, 1990, the village planning board held a hearing. In a 7-1 vote, the planning commission voted to deny plaintiffs' request. On February 5, 1990, a hearing was held before the village council. The council voted 4-2 against granting the split.

On October 2, 1990, plaintiffs filed suit in circuit court, seeking a writ of mandamus to compel the village council to grant plaintiffs' request for a division of the lot. Defendants subsequently filed a motion for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(8) and (10). Following a hearing on that motion, the trial court held that plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate that they had a "clear legal right or legal duty by defendant to approve the split." Additionally, the trial court found that mandamus was not the appropriate remedy because plaintiffs were not without an adequate legal remedy.

The dispositive issue raised in this appeal is whether the trial court erred in denying plaintiffs' request for a writ of mandamus. A trial court's decision to deny a writ of mandamus will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion. Michigan Waste Systems, Inc v Dep't of Natural Resources, 157 Mich. App. 746, 760; 403 N.W.2d 608 (1987). Being an extraordinary remedy, "[t]he requirements for issuance of a writ of mandamus are: (1) the plaintiff must have a clear legal right to performance of the specific duty sought to be compelled; (2) the defendant must have the clear legal duty to perform such act; and (3) the act must be ministerial, `"where the law prescribes and defines the duty to be performed with such precision and certainty as to leave nothing to the exercise of discretion or judgment."'" Delly v Bureau of State Lottery, 183 Mich. App. 258, 260-261; 454 N.W.2d 141 (1990), quoting Carlson v City of Troy, 90 Mich. App. 543, 547; 282 N.W.2d 387 (1979), and Toan v McGinn, 271 Mich. 28, 34; 260 N.W. 108 (1935). In addition, the plaintiff must be without an adequate legal remedy. Clarke v Hill, 132 Mich. 434; 93 N.W. 1044 (1903); Garner v Michigan State Univ, 185 Mich. App. 750, 757; 462 N.W.2d 832 (1990); Cyrus v Calhoun Co Sheriff, 85 Mich. App. 397, 399; 271 N.W.2d 249 (1978). The general rule is that a writ of mandamus is not to be issued where the plaintiff can appeal the error. Trojan v Taylor Twp, 352 Mich. 636; 91 N.W.2d 9 (1958); Lake Angelo Associates v White Lake Twp, 198 Mich. App. 65, 73; 498 N.W.2d 1 (1993).

In this case, the circuit court found that an adequate legal remedy in the form of an appeal to the circuit court was available to plaintiffs. Plaintiffs claim that defendant has failed to cite any support for the proposition that they had an adequate legal remedy. However, it is the party seeking the writ that must prove entitlement to such relief. McDonald's Corp v Canton Twp, 177 Mich. App. 153, 156; 441 N.W.2d 37 (1989). Therefore, it was plaintiffs' obligation to show that they did not have an adequate legal remedy in this matter. This they have failed to do.

The parties agree that the applicable statutes provide no guidance concerning the appeal procedure to be followed. Where the statutes provide no guidance concerning procedures to be followed, the court rules governing such matters are applicable. Macenas v Village of Michiana, 433 Mich. 380, 388; 446 N.W.2d 102 (1989). Even if an appeal of right was not available to plaintiffs under MCR 7.101, plaintiffs could have sought leave to appeal in the circuit court pursuant to MCR 7.101(B)(2) and MCR 7.103. Because plaintiffs could have appealed the village council's decision to deny their split request to the circuit court, mandamus was not the appropriate remedy. Therefore, the trial court did not err in denying plaintiffs' request for a writ of mandamus.

Affirmed.

Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

KEATON v. BEVERLY HILLS
(Dec 6, 1993)