Case Title: Hoffer v. Ancel

Citation: 176 Vt. 630, 2004 VT 38, 852 A.2d 592

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 2004-04-28T00:00:00Z

Document:
Hoffer v. Ancel (2003-036); 176 Vt. 630; 852 A.2d 592

2004 VT 38

[Filed 28-Apr-2004]

                                 ENTRY ORDER

                                 2004 VT 38

                      SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 2003-036

                             NOVEMBER TERM, 2003

  Douglas Hoffer	               }	APPEALED FROM:
                                       }
                                       }
       v.	                       }	Chittenden Superior Court
                                       }	
  Janet Ancel and Charles Merriman     }
                                       }	DOCKET NO. S352-02 CnC

                                                Trial Judge:  Matthew Katz	

             In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       ¶  1.  This appeal arises out of plaintiff Douglas Hoffer's dispute
  with the Vermont Department of Taxes (the department) over the department's
  adjustments for the years 1999 and 2000 to his education property tax
  assessments.  In March 2002, plaintiff brought suit in the Chittenden
  Superior Court against Janet Ancel, State Tax Commissioner, and Charles
  Merriman, a department attorney (defendants), in their individual
  capacities under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claiming that defendants had violated his
  due process and equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment to
  the United States Constitution.  In response to this suit, defendants filed
  a motion for summary judgment, arguing, among other grounds, that
  defendants were entitled to qualified immunity because plaintiff had not
  suffered any violation of his constitutional rights, any rights claimed
  were not clear and it was objectively reasonable for defendants to believe
  that their conduct did not violate plaintiff's rights.  The trial court
  agreed with this argument and granted defendants summary judgment.  We
  affirm. 
        
       ¶  2.  The Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1997 (Act 60) funds
  the state's educational expenses through a general state grant and local
  property taxes. See Town of Killington v. State, 172 Vt. 182, 183,