#27885-aff in pt, rev in pt & rem in pt-LSW

2017 S.D. 8

IN THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

* * * *

THAD DUERRE; CLINT DUERRE; 

ROBERT DUERRE; and LARON HERR, Plaintiffs and Appellees,

v.

KELLY R. HEPLER, in his official capacity as 

Secretary of the State of South Dakota Game, 

Fish and Parks Department; SOUTH DAKOTA 

DEPARTMENT OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS; 

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA; and a class of 

individuals, similarly situated, who have used

or intend to use the bodies of water described 

in this complaint without the permission of 

the owners of the property which the waters lie, Defendants and Appellants.

* * * *

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF

THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

DAY COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA

* * * *

THE HONORABLE JON S. FLEMMER

Judge

* * * *

RONALD A. PARSONS, JR.

SHANNON R. FALON of

Johnson Janklow Abdallah,

 Reiter & Parsons LLP 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

and

JACK HIEB

ZACHARY W. PETERSON of

Richardson, Wyly, Wise

 Sauck & Hieb, LLP

Aberdeen, South Dakota Attorneys for plaintiffs 

and appellees.

* * * *

ARGUED ON 

NOVEMBER 8, 2016

OPINION FILED 03/15/17
MARTY J. JACKLEY

Attorney General

ANN F. MINES BAILEY

Assistant Attorney General

RICHARD J. NEILL

Special Assistant Attorney General

Pierre, South Dakota Attorneys for defendants 

and appellants. 
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WILBUR, Justice

[¶1.] Multiple landowners in Day County, South Dakota brought suit 

against the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GF&P), Secretary 

Jeffrey Vonk, the State of South Dakota, and certain unnamed defendants for 

declaratory and injunctive relief concerning the public’s right to use the waters and 

ice overlying the landowners’ private property for recreational purposes. The circuit 

court granted the landowners’ request to certify a defendant class to include 

individuals who have used or intend to use the floodwaters located on the 

landowners’ property for recreational purposes. The court appointed the Secretary 

of GF&P as the class representative. The parties filed cross-motions for summary 

judgment. After a hearing, the circuit court entered declaratory and injunctive 

relief against the named and class defendants. Defendants appeal. We affirm in 

part, reverse in part, and remand. 

Background

[¶2.] Thad Duerre, Clint Duerre, Robert Duerre, and Laron Herr 

(Landowners) own land in Day County, South Dakota. In 1993, excessive rainfall 

submerged portions of their land. The submerged land includes Jesse Slough, also 

known as Jesse Lake, and Duerre Slough, also known as Duerre Lake. Jesse 

Slough comprises approximately 1,175 acres, and Duerre Slough comprises 

approximately 1,495 acres. 

[¶3.] In Parks v. Cooper, we noted that, in the late 1800s, the United States 

Surveyor General’s Office commissioned surveyors to survey bodies of water in 

South Dakota. See 2004 S.D. 27, ¶ 2, 676 N.W.2d 823, 824. “The 1868 instructions, 
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effective at the time the areas in dispute were surveyed, provided that if a body of 

water was: (a) 40 acres or less; or (b) shallow or likely in time to dry up or be greatly 

reduced by evaporation, drainage, or other causes, the surveyors should not draw 

meander lines around that body of water but should simply include the water body 

and its bed in their survey as part of the lands available for settlement.” Id. ¶ 2. 

Although Duerre Slough and Jesse Slough are sizeable waters now, these sloughs 

did not meet the criteria to be considered meandered when originally surveyed. So 

the landowners own the lakebeds under the non-meandered sloughs. Nonetheless, 

in Parks, we held that all waters, including non-meandered waters, are public 

property. See 2004 S.D. 27, ¶ 46, 676 N.W.2d at 839. 

[¶4.] According to the Landowners, the general public began to use the 

sloughs for recreational purposes in 2001. Members of the public would set up 

villages of ice shacks, drive their vehicles on the ice, camp on the ice and, according 

to the Landowners, fire guns, blare music, operate loud machinery, get drunk, litter, 

cookout, etc. The Landowners claimed that, on certain days in the spring and fall, 

over 200 boats would launch into the waters. In the winter, over 70 ice shacks and 

vehicles would be present. Although members of the public generally accessed the 

waters legally via county roads, the Landowners reported what they believed to be

trespassing to GF&P. They claimed that GF&P responded that the public could use 

the waters so long as they entered the waters legally. 

[¶5.] In August 2014, the Landowners brought suit for injunctive and 

declaratory relief against the GF&P, Secretary Vonk, the State of South Dakota, 

and individual defendants who have used or intend to use the floodwaters located 
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on the Landowners’ property for recreational purposes. In April 2015, Secretary 

Kelly Hepler replaced Secretary Vonk, and the circuit court entered an order 

substituting Secretary Hepler for Secretary Vonk. The Landowners asked the 

circuit court to certify the defendant class as all people who enter or use, have 

entered or used, intend to enter or use, or encourage others to enter or use the 

bodies of water overlying the Landowners’ private property. In response, the State 

argued that the Landowners did not meet their burden of proof to warrant 

certification under SDCL 15-6-23 (Rule 23). 

[¶6.] The court held a hearing and entered findings and conclusions and an 

order certifying a defendant class under Rule 23(a) and (b)(1). The court limited the 

certification “to declaratory and injunctive relief sought prohibiting public entrance 

and use of the water overlying the Plaintiffs’ private property in the absence of 

Legislative authorization.” The court identified the certified class as:

All individuals who have entered or used, intend to enter or use, 

or have permitted others to enter or use the bodies of water that 

overlie private property owned by the Plaintiffs as detailed on 

Exhibits A and B to the Plaintiffs’ Complaint for Declaratory 

and Injunctive Relief.

The court designated Secretary Hepler as the class representative. 

[¶7.] The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The 

Landowners asked the circuit court to declare that, in the absence of legislative 

authorization, the State defendants, class members, and public have no legal 

authorization to enter or use the water and ice overlying the Landowners’ private 

property. The Landowners also asked the circuit court to declare that the State 

defendants “may not adopt or enforce any policy allowing or encouraging members 
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of the public to enter or use nonmeandered bodies of water, including water or ice 

located on the Plaintiffs’ private property, for recreational purposes including 

hunting and fishing.” In regard to injunctive relief, the Landowners sought to 

enjoin the State defendants, the class, and members of the public from entering or 

using the water or ice overlying the Landowners’ private property for recreational 

purposes without the Landowners’ permission. And the Landowners requested that 

the court enjoin the State defendants “from encouraging or permitting the entry or 

use of bodies of water or ice on the Plaintiffs’ private property . . . or adopting or in 

any way enforcing any policy allowing members of the general public to enter or use 

water or ice located on the Plaintiffs’ private property for any recreational purpose 

including hunting and fishing.” 

[¶8.] The State responded in its cross-motion for summary judgment that 

the Landowners have no right to exclude the general public from using the waters 

overlying private land because “all waters within South Dakota, not just those 

waters considered navigable under the federal test, are held in trust by the State for 

the public.” See Parks, 2004 S.D. 27, ¶ 46, 676 N.W.2d at 839. The State also 

asserted that GF&P acted within its authority when it allowed the public to use the 

waters overlying the Landowners’ private property so long as the public accessed 

the waters legally. The State relied on GF&P’s and other State agencies’ broad 

authority to manage the waters in South Dakota. 

[¶9.] After a hearing, the circuit court granted the Landowners declaratory 

and injunctive relief. The court did not grant the broad relief requested by the 
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Landowners. In regard to the Landowners’ request for declaratory relief, the court 

held:

(a) Pursuant to Parks v. Cooper, 2004 S.D. 27, 676 N.W.2d 823, 

in the absence of authorization from the Legislature, 

members of the general public are not legally authorized to 

enter or use any of the water or ice located on the Plaintiffs’ 

private property for any recreational use such as hunting or 

fishing without the permission of the landowner.

The court denied any further declaratory relief. The court also entered a permanent 

injunction in favor of the Landowners:

(a) Prohibiting the Defendants, the certified Class, and members 

of the public from entering or using for any recreational 

purpose, including hunting and fishing, the bodies of water 

or ice located on the private property owned by the Plaintiffs 

without permission of the landowner.

(b) Prohibiting the Department of Game, Fish and Parks and

other Defendants from facilitating access to members of the 

public to enter or use the bodies of water or ice on the 

Plaintiffs’ private property for any recreational purpose, 

including hunting and fishing, in the absence of permission 

from the landowner or authorization from the Legislature.

The court denied the Landowners further injunctive relief and denied the State’s 

cross-motion for summary judgment. 

[¶10.] The State appeals asserting the following issues for our review:

1. Whether the circuit court erred in certifying the class, 

naming Secretary Hepler as the class representative, and 

compelling the Attorney General’s Office to represent private 

individuals.

2. Whether the circuit court erred in finding that the waters 

held in public trust could not be used for recreational 

purposes under the public trust doctrine and existing laws.

3. Whether the circuit court erred in granting an injunction 

that prohibits the use of waters held in public trust for 

recreation by the public without express authorization from 
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the Legislature but allows private landowners the right to 

use and control the access to those waters. 

Analysis 

1. Defendant Class Certification

[¶11.] In Trapp v. Madera Pacific, Inc., we recognized that “[c]lass actions 

serve an important function in our judicial system.” 390 N.W.2d 558, 560 (S.D. 

1986). A class action “both eliminates the possibility of repetitious litigation and 

provides small claimants with a method of obtaining redress for claims which would 

otherwise be too small to warrant individual litigation.” Id. A class may be 

certified if all the requirements of Rule 23(a) and at least one of the provisions of 

Rule 23(b) are met. Id.; Thurman v. CUNA Mut. Ins. Soc’y, 2013 S.D. 63, ¶ 13, 836 

N.W.2d 611, 617. The burden to demonstrate the elements necessary for class 

certification rests with the party seeking to certify the class. Trapp, 390 N.W.2d at 

560. Because resolution of the State’s argument against certification “‘requires us 

to consider legal concepts in the mix of fact and law and to exercise judgment about 

the values of animate legal principles,’” we review the court’s decision to certify the 

defendant class de novo. Thurman, 2013 S.D. 63, ¶ 12, 836 N.W.2d at 617 (quoting 

McNeil v. Superior Siding, Inc., 2009 S.D. 68, ¶ 6, 771 N.W.2d 345, 347).

[¶12.] The State claims that the circuit court erred when it certified the class 

to include non-resident defendants over whom the South Dakota circuit court may 

not have jurisdiction. But the State cites no law to support the claim that 

jurisdiction over all class members is a prerequisite to the certification of a 

defendant class. Nor can we find any authority directly on point. 
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[¶13.] A review of cases examining the certification of a defendant class 

reveals that courts have recognized that due process concerns may arise from the 

certification of a defendant class, particularly when a class action has the potential 

to impose liability against unnamed defendants or a class action could award a 

plaintiff damages against unnamed defendants. See In re Integra Realty Res., Inc. 

(Integra Realty II), 354 F.3d 1246, 1265 (10th Cir. 2004); In re Integra Realty Res., 

Inc. (Integra Realty I), 262 F.3d 1089, 1105 (10th Cir. 2001) (“defendant class 

actions create a special need to be attentive to the due process rights of absent 

parties”); Bakalar v. Vavra, 237 F.R.D. 59, 63-64 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (discussing 

concerns relevant to certification of defendant classes); Marchwinski v. Oliver 

Tyrone Corp., 81 F.R.D. 487, 489 (W.D. Pa. 1979) (“one may be required to pay a 

judgment without having had the opportunity to personally defend the suit”). 

Despite these concerns, courts approve certification because “Rule 23 recognizes the 

due process concomitants of this situation[.]” United States v. Trucking Emp’rs, 

Inc., 72 F.R.D. 101, 105 (D.C. Cir. 1976); see also Major League Baseball Props., Inc. 

v. Price, 105 F. Supp. 2d 46, 55 (E.D.N.Y. 2000). Under Rule 23, “the interests of 

such involuntary absent defendants [are] protected by a determination by the court 

that the interests of named and nonparty defendants coincide sufficiently that the 

substantive positions taken by the named defendants will protect the interests of 

the nonparty defendants.” Trucking Emp’rs, 72 F.R.D. at 105-06.

[¶14.] Courts have also approved certification of a defendant class although 

the court may not have personal jurisdiction over each class member so long as the 

court has “in personam jurisdiction over the named individual representative of the 
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class.” Calagaz v. Calhoon, 309 F.2d 248, 253 (5th Cir. 1962) (“[i]ndividual 

members of the class are before the court only as far as they are class members”); 

Nat’l Fair Housing Alliance v. A.G. Spanos Constr., Inc., 542 F. Supp. 2d 1054, 

1065-66 (N.D. Cal. 2008) (“Personal jurisdiction need not be proper as to the 

unnamed members of a defendant class, so long as it is proper as to all named 

defendant members.”); Sherman v. Twp. High Sch. Dist. 214, 540 F. Supp. 2d 985, 

991 (N.D. Ill. 2008). This is in accord with the nature of a class action—an action in 

the absence of nearly all the class members. Calagaz, 309 F.2d at 254 (“all the

members of the class are before the court in the person of their representatives”). 

To conclude otherwise and require “personal jurisdiction over all of the class 

members would in effect destroy the class action concept[.]” Funliner of Alabama, 

L.L.C. v. Pickard, 873 So. 2d 198, 213 (Ala. 2003). “[B]y definition there could be no 

‘absent’ class members. All class members would have to be named and be before 

the court as a prerequisite to the prosecution of the action.” Id. 

[¶15.] Here, the circuit court has jurisdiction over the named defendants and 

the class representative. Also, the due process concerns associated with an action 

for damages or liability against unnamed defendants is not present here. This case 

concerns declaratory and injunctive relief against future action. We further note 

that before certifying the defendant class, the circuit court scrutinized whether the 

interests of representative party coincided with the interests of the member 

defendants such that the representative party would protect the interests of the 

nonparty defendants. The circuit court did not err when it certified the defendant 

class to include possible non-resident defendants. 
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[¶16.] We next address whether the circuit court erred when it held that the 

Landowners established the elements necessary for certification. 

A. Rule 23(a) Elements

[¶17.] Under Rule 23(a): 

One or more members may sue or be sued as representative 

parties on behalf of all only if: 

(1) The class is so numerous that joinder of all members

 is impracticable;

(2) There are questions of law or fact common to the

class;

(3) The claims or defenses of the representative parties

are typical of the claims or defenses of the class;

(4) The representative parties will fairly and adequately

protect the interests of the class; and

(5) The suit is not against this state for the recovery of a

tax imposed by chapter 10-39, 10-39A, 10-43, 10-44,

10-45, 10-46, 10-46A, 10-46B, or 10-52. 

SDCL 15-6-23(a) (This case does not concern element (5).).

1. Numerosity

[¶18.] In Shangreuax v. Westby, we said that the numerosity prong “requires

that there be at least some evidence of the number of class members[.]” 281 N.W.2d 

590, 593 (S.D. 1979). The State claims this phrase means that the Landowners 

must present evidence identifying a specific number of potential class members. On 

the contrary, when determining the numerosity factor for class certification, specific 

numbers are not required. See Robidoux v. Celani, 987 F.2d 931 (2d Cir. 1993) 

(“Courts have not required evidence of exact class size or identity of class members 

to satisfy the numerosity requirement.”); Szczubelek v. Cendant Mtg. Corp., 215 

F.R.D. 107, 116 (D.N.J. 2003) (“specific numbers are not required when ‘common 
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sense’ manifests that a reasonable estimate can be inferred from the facts”); Scott v. 

Clark, 61 F. Supp. 3d 569, 584 (W.D. Va. 2014). This is especially true when the 

relief sought is declaratory and injunctive. “Defining a class as consisting of all 

persons who have been or will be affected by the conduct charged to the defendants 

is entirely appropriate where only injunctive or declaratory relief is sought.” Rice v. 

Philadelphia, 66 F.R.D. 17, 20 (E.D. Pa. 1974) (discussing certification under Rule 

23(b)(2)). 

[¶19.] Here, the Landowners’ evidence supports the circuit court’s conclusion 

that “[t]he members of the defendant class are so numerous that their individual 

joinder in a single action is not only impracticable, but impossible.” The record 

contains pictures of several ice shacks located on the ice overlying the Landowners’ 

property and at least 14 vehicles parked on the county road suggesting that the 

public accessed the waters and ice. These pictures capture isolated moments in 

time, and common sense would indicate that if the moments in time were repeated 

throughout the length of South Dakota’s recreational seasons, the number of 

potential defendants is numerous. As the circuit court found, it would be 

impracticable for the Landowners “to serve and bring a lawsuit against all of the 

members of the public who have or might seek to use the water or ice on the 

Plaintiffs’ submerged private property in this case.” 

2. Commonality

[¶20.] The State avers that the Landowners’ claims are not sufficiently 

common because the Landowners’ complaint alleges a takings cause of action 

against the State and a trespass cause of action against the nonparty defendants. 
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The commonality factor, however, does not require a class of clones, identical in all 

respects. Trapp, 390 N.W.2d at 561. Nor does this factor require commonality in 

“all questions of law or fact raised[.]” Id. “This requirement is concerned with 

whether or not the particular issues in an action are individual in nature, and 

therefore, must be decided on a case-by-case basis.” Id. The test for commonality is 

qualitative, not quantitative. See id.; Parsons v. Ryan, 754 F.3d 657, 675 (9th Cir. 

2014) (even a single common question will do); Savino v. Computer Credit, Inc., 173 

F.R.D. 346, 352 (E.D.N.Y. 1997). 

[¶21.] The common question here is whether, absent legislative 

authorization, the public may enter or use the water that overlies the Landowners’ 

private property for recreational purposes. This “common contention” is “of such a 

nature that it is capable of classwide resolution—which means that determination 

of its truth or falsity will resolve an issue that is central to the validity of each one 

of the claims in one stroke.” Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 349, 131 

S. Ct. 2541, 2551, 180 L. Ed. 2d 374 (2011). The circuit court did not err when it 

concluded that the common question of law “applies in exactly the same manner to 

all of the members of the defendant class” and that there are no individual 

questions of law or fact. 

3. Typicality

[¶22.] Like commonality, the claims and defenses for typicality need not be 

identical or absolute. Trapp, 390 N.W.2d at 561. And, in certain contexts, 

commonality and typicality requirements merge—if the representative parties’ 

claims and defenses are typical, it is just as likely that the claims are common to
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those in the rest of the defendant class. Thurman, 2013 S.D. 63, ¶ 17, 836 N.W.2d 

at 619; Trapp, 390 N.W.2d at 561. Commonality and typicality “[b]oth serve as 

guideposts for determining whether under the particular circumstances 

maintenance of a class action is economical and whether the named” parties’ claims 

and defenses and the class’s claims and defenses “are so interrelated that the 

interests of the class members will be fairly and adequately protected in their 

absence.” Dukes, 564 U.S. at 349 n.5, 131 S. Ct. at 2551 n.5 (quoting General 

Telephone Co. v. Falcon, 457 U.S. 147, 157 n.13, 102 S. Ct. 2364, 2370 n.13, 72 L. 

Ed. 2d 740 (1982)). 

[¶23.] Here, the State’s interest—a declaration that the waters overlying the 

Landowners’ property are open for use by the public for recreational purposes—will 

also advance the interests of the absent class members—a declaration that the 

public can use the waters overlying the Landowners’ property for recreational 

purposes. And, as the court found, the resolution of the case does “not depend upon 

the identities of the representative parties”—“[t]he same nature and quantum of 

proof regarding the defenses asserted by the named representative in this case are 

applicable to all defendants.”

4. Adequacy of Representation 

[¶24.] Whether the representative parties can fairly and adequately 

represent the interests of the class depends on two factors: (1) the quality and 

experience of counsel, such that counsel is generally able to conduct the proposed 

litigation, and (2) whether the class representative has interests antagonistic to 

those of the class. Thurman, 2013 S.D. 63, ¶ 17, 836 N.W.2d at 619; Trapp, 390 
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N.W.2d at 562. The State does not question the quality and experience of counsel. 

Instead, it avers that the Attorney General’s Office is not generally able to conduct 

the proposed litigation because the Attorney General is not authorized to represent 

private citizens, let alone private citizens of another state. The State also contends 

that Secretary Hepler is not an appropriate class representative because he does 

not share the same interests as the members of the class. 

[¶25.] SDCL 1-11-1(1) and (2) authorizes the Attorney General to “appear for 

the state and prosecute and defend all actions and proceedings, civil or criminal, in 

the Supreme Court, in which the state shall be interested as a party” and “to appear 

for the state and prosecute or defend, in any court or before any officer, any cause or 

matter, civil or criminal, in which the state may be a party or interested[.]” The 

Attorney General, however, “shall not actively engage in the private practice of 

law.” SDCL 1-11-1.1. Assistant attorneys general “shall have the same power and 

authority as the attorney general[.]” SDCL 1-11-4. 

[¶26.] The Landowners’ class action seeks to prevent the public from using 

the waters and ice overlying the Landowners’ private property and enjoin the State 

defendants from facilitating the public’s access absent legislative authorization. 

The class no doubt includes private defendants but resolution of the proposed 

litigation does not implicate the legality of any private person’s actions. This case 

concerns the interests of the public at large, and, in defending the action, the 

Attorney General’s Office is pursuing a matter in which the State is both a “party”

and “interested.” See SDCL 1-11-1(2). The Attorney General is not engaging in the 

private practice of law. 
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[¶27.] We also conclude that Secretary Hepler is an appropriate member of 

the class as the class representative. “The appropriate test for determining whether 

the interests of the class representatives and other members of the class are 

antagonistic is whether or not those interests may be deemed coextensive; a total 

identity of interests is not required.” In re Tetracycline Cases, 107 F.R.D. 719, 730 

(W.D. Mo. 1985); Matamoros v. Starbucks Corp., 699 F.3d 129, 138 (1st Cir. 2012) 

(“perfect symmetry of interest is not required and not every discrepancy among the

interests of class members renders a putative class action untenable”). GF&P, via 

Secretary Hepler, is charged with conserving, protecting, and managing the State’s 

game and fish and land and water for recreational purposes. SDCL 41-3-1; SDCL 

41-2-38. The public has an interest in using the water and ice for recreational 

purposes. The public’s interests are compatible with GF&P’s interests, via 

Secretary Hepler. 

B. Rule 23(b)(1) Elements

[¶28.] There is no dispute that a court may certify a defendant class under 

Rule 23(b)(1). SDCL 15-6-23(b). Rule 23(b)(1) refers to “actions by or against 

individual members[.]” (Emphasis added.) But this Court has not before examined 

the certification of a defendant class. On appeal, the State does not identify why 

the circuit court erred when it concluded that certification was proper under Rule 

23(b)(1). In a footnote, the State offers a general statement that, because the 

Landowners “did not satisfy SDCL 15-6-23(a), and such satisfaction is a 

prerequisite for complying with (b), the circuit court additionally erred in finding 

that Plaintiffs met the requirements of SDCL 15-6-23(b).” The Landowners respond 
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that the State waived the issue for our review by not specifically addressing it. We 

agree. It is well-settled that the failure to brief an issue and support an argument 

with authority waives the right to have this Court review it. Daily v. City of Sioux 

Falls, 2011 S.D. 48, ¶ 10 n.6, 802 N.W.2d 905, 910 n.6; Centrol, Inc. v. Morrow, 489 

N.W.2d 890, 893-94 (S.D. 1992). The circuit court did not err when it certified the 

defendant class in this case. 

2. Declaratory Ruling

[¶29.] The State asserts the circuit court erred when it declared that, absent 

legislative authorization or permission from the Landowners, the public cannot use 

the non-meandered waters overlying the Landowners’ private property for 

recreational purposes. The State relies on the Legislature’s broad policy that the 

public has a right to use South Dakota’s waters and that recreation is a beneficial 

use of water in this State. In response, the Landowners argue that Parks controls 

and, until the Legislature specifically authorizes recreational use, the public may 

not use the non-meandered waters overlying their property for recreational 

purposes. “This Court reviews declaratory judgments as we do any other order, 

judgment, or decree, giving no deference to a circuit court’s conclusions of law under 

the de novo standard of review.” In re Pooled Advocate Tr., 2012 S.D. 24, ¶ 20, 813 

N.W.2d 130, 138 (quoting Fraternal Order Eagles No. 2421 v. Hasse, 2000 S.D. 139, 

¶ 8, 618 N.W.2d 735, 737). 

[¶30.] In Parks, we examined our existing laws and recognized that GF&P 

and the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources have authority to 

manage the public waters in this State, including the non-meandered waters held in 
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trust. 2004 S.D. 27, ¶¶ 43-46, 676 N.W.2d at 837-39. But we said, “In abolishing 

private ownership of ‘standing water,’ the Legislature did not necessarily intend 

that such waters would become open for recreation.” Id. ¶ 50. We noted that use of 

non-meandered waters for recreational purposes may be a beneficial use. Id. ¶¶ 50-

53. But “[d]ecisions on beneficial use belong ultimately to the Legislature.” Id.

¶ 51. “The Legislature may conclude that the public expenditure of money for 

services and infrastructure to support recreational uses may not be wisely spent, in 

view of the inevitable reality that these waters will diminish, and perhaps 

disappear, in the near future.” Id. ¶ 52.

[¶31.] Since our decision in Parks, the Legislature has not decided these 

questions. In 2006, 2013, and 2014, GF&P sought specific legislation governing 

what recreational use may be made of these waters and attempted to enact 

legislation clarifying the meaning of “beneficial use” in the Water Resources Act. 

But the Legislature enacted no legislation. H.B. 1096; H.B. 1135; S.B. 169. Also, in 

2004, GF&P asked the Water Management Board to promulgate a rule to allow the 

general public to use water or ice overlying private lands for recreational purposes. 

The Board rejected the proposed rule. 

[¶32.] Similar to one argument advanced in Parks, the State in this case asks 

us to declare that the public trust doctrine includes recreational use. Yet, in Parks, 

we specifically examined whether the public trust doctrine includes the right to use 

non-meandered waters for recreation. We noted that other “states have recognized 

that the public trust extends to recreational use of public waters[.]” Id. ¶¶ 38-40, ¶ 

47 (citing cases from other jurisdictions). We, however, declined to follow suit 
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because, “[i]n abolishing private ownership of ‘standing water’, the Legislature did 

not necessarily intend that such waters would become open for recreation.” Id. ¶ 

50. 

[¶33.] Today, we adhere to our position in Parks. “[I]t is not for us now to 

proclaim the highest and best use of these public waters in the interests of the 

‘general health, welfare and safety of the people.’” Id. ¶ 51 (quoting SDCL 46A-1-

10). Under SDCL 46-1-2, “the state shall determine in what way the water of the 

state, both surface and underground, should be developed for the greatest public 

benefit.” As we said in Parks, “[i]t is ultimately up to the Legislature to decide how 

these waters are to be beneficially used in the public interest.” 2004 S.D. 27, ¶ 53, 

676 N.W.2d at 841. Since Parks, the Legislature has not decided the question. The 

Legislature has not declared that the public’s right to use the waters of the State 

includes the right to use the waters for recreational purposes. Nor has the 

Legislature declared that the public must obtain permission from private 

landowners such that private landowners have a right in the water superior to the 

general public. Because the question remains open, and consistent with our 

position in Parks, we affirm the circuit court’s decision to grant declaratory relief. 

But we remand for the circuit court to modify the language of relief to provide:

(a) Pursuant to Parks v. Cooper, 2004 S.D. 27, 676 N.W.2d 823

and SDCL 46-1-2, the Legislature must determine whether 

members of the general public may enter or use any of the 

water or ice located on the Plaintiffs’ private property for any 

recreational use such as hunting or fishing. Currently, there 

is no such legislative authorization.

3. Injunctive Relief 
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[¶34.] The State contends that the circuit court erred when it issued an 

injunction conditioning the public’s use of the water and ice overlying the 

Landowners’ property on “permission from the landowner.” The State claims the 

Landowners have no protectable right in the public water to warrant an injunction 

under SDCL 21-8-14. It argues that the State, not the Landowners, “retains the 

right to use, control, and develop the water in these lakes as a separate asset in 

trust for the public.” The State also claims that injunctive relief was unwarranted 

because (1) the Landowners have a remedy against any alleged trespasser 

individually, (2) the State defendants did not cause any alleged damage, (3) the 

State defendants have not acted in bad faith, and (4) the Landowners presented 

only conclusory evidence that an injunction was necessary to prevent multiple 

judicial proceedings. 

[¶35.] “[T]he question whether an injunction is statutorily authorized is 

reviewed de novo, and the court’s subsequent decision to grant or deny the 

injunction is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.” Magner v. Brinkman, 2016 S.D. 

50, ¶ 19, 883 N.W.2d 74, 83. SDCL 21-8-14 authorizes permanent injunctions “to 

prevent the breach of an obligation existing in favor of the applicant” in the 

following limited circumstances:

(1) Where pecuniary compensation would not afford adequate 

relief;

(2) Where it would be extremely difficult to ascertain the 

amount of compensation which would afford adequate relief;

(3) Where the restraint is necessary to prevent a multiplicity of 

judicial proceedings; or

(4) Where the obligation arises from a trust.

The court also considers certain guiding factors: 
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(1) Did the party to be enjoined cause the damage? (2) Would 

irreparable harm result without the injunction because of lack of 

an adequate and complete remedy at law? (3) Is the party to be 

enjoined acting in bad faith or is the injury-causing behavior an 

innocent mistake? (4) In balancing the equities, is the hardship 

to be suffered by the enjoined party . . . disproportionate to 

the . . . benefit to be gained by the injured party?

Strong v. Atlas Hydraulics, Inc., 2014 S.D. 69, ¶ 11, 855 N.W.2d 133, 138 (quoting 

New Leaf, LLC v. FD Dev. of Black Hawk LLC, 2010 S.D. 100, ¶ 15, 793 N.W.2d 32, 

35). 

[¶36.] The circuit court determined that any one of the first three reasons 

under SDCL 21-8-14 justified imposition of a permanent injunction. In particular, 

the court explained that restraint was necessary to prevent multiple judicial 

proceedings in light of the fact the Legislature has not acted since Parks was 

decided. In review of the guiding factors, the court recognized that the State had

not acted in bad faith. The court nonetheless concluded that the other factors 

weighed in favor of an injunction. 

[¶37.] We first note that Parks does not stand for the proposition that a

circuit court has no authority to enter an injunction. We said that the circuit court 

had erred when it granted the injunction on the basis that the subject waters were 

private property. 2004 S.D. 27, ¶ 51, 676 N.W.2d at 841. Here, the circuit court did 

not declare the waters private. Nor did the court enjoin the State from exercising 

control over the waters held in public trust. Instead, the court enjoined the State 

defendants from facilitating access for members of the public to use the water or ice 

overlying the Landowners’ property for recreational purposes “in the absence of 

permission from the landowner or authorization from the Legislature.” And the 
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court enjoined the State and class defendants and members of the public from 

entering or using the waters or ice for recreational purposes “without permission of 

the landowner.” 

[¶38.] According to the State, it “flies in the face of the public trust doctrine” 

to give the Landowners the power to dictate the use of these waters. The State is 

correct that the Landowners do not have an exclusive right to control the waters 

overlying their private land—all waters in the State are public property. See Parks,

2004 S.D. 27, ¶ 49, 676 N.W.2d at 839. But, as we said in Parks, the State holds 

these waters in trust for the public and controls these waters for the benefit of the 

public. Therefore, the Legislature (not this Court, not GF&P, and not the public) 

must “decide how these waters are to be beneficially used in the public interest.” 

See id. ¶ 53. 

[¶39.] This raises a complicated question: If neither a landowner nor the 

public has an exclusive right to control the waters and the entity responsible for 

controlling the waters has not acted, did the circuit court have statutory authority 

to issue an injunction that prevents the public from using the waters for 

recreational purposes? Under SDCL 21-8-14, a court may only grant a permanent 

injunction “to prevent the breach of an obligation existing in favor of the 

applicant[.]” Strong, 2014 S.D. 69, ¶ 11, 855 N.W.2d at 138. So we must decide 

whether the Landowners have a right protectable by SDCL 21-8-14. 

[¶40.] We begin with the premise that water rights are correlative in nature 

with no one person or entity holding the entire bundle of sticks. See generally 

Parks, 2004 S.D. 27, 676 N.W.2d 823; Belle Fourche Irrigation Dist. v. Smiley, 84 
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S.D. 701, 176 N.W.2d 239 (1970); Knight v. Grimes, 80 S.D. 517, 523, 127 N.W.2d 

708, 711 (1964). The State holds the waters in trust for the benefit of the public but 

not as an owner or proprietor. Parks, 2004 S.D. 27, ¶ 46, 676 N.W.2d at 838. The 

people of the State own the waters but not in the exclusive or absolute sense. The 

Landowners, on the other hand, as riparian owners, possess a right to use and enjoy 

the waters, including “for all useful purposes to which it may be applied[.]” See id. 

¶ 30 (quoting St. Germain Irrigating Co. v. Hawthorn Ditch Co., 32 S.D. 260, 143 

N.W. 124, 126-27 (1913) (discussing the extent of a riparian owner’s rights)). The 

Landowners’ rights, however, are qualified by State law and by the public’s superior 

right to use the waters for public purposes. Id. ¶¶ 43-44.

[¶41.] But the Legislature has not yet said that “public purposes” includes a 

right to use this State’s non-meandered waters for recreational purposes. So until 

the Legislature acts, neither the public nor the Landowners have a superior right to 

use the waters and ice overlying the Landowners’ private property. Similarly, until 

the Legislature acts, the GF&P and other State defendants cannot facilitate access 

for members of the public to enter or use the waters and ice overlying the 

Landowners’ private property for recreational purposes. 

[¶42.] With these principles in mind, in the absence of legislative 

authorization pursuant to Parks, and to avoid repeated judicial proceedings, the 

circuit court had the authority to issue an injunction. But the language of the 

circuit court’s injunction is too broad. Ultimately, until the Legislature acts, neither 

the Landowners nor the general public have an “obligation [i.e. a right] existing in 

[their] favor” that is superior and enforceable by injunction under SDCL 21-8-14. 
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We, therefore, remand for the circuit court to strike subsection (a) and modify the 

language of subsection (b) to provide:

Prohibiting the Department of Game, Fish and Parks and 

other Defendants from facilitating access for members of the 

public to enter or use the bodies of water or ice on the 

Plaintiffs’ private property for any recreational purpose, 

including hunting and fishing, in the absence of 

authorization from the Legislature.

[¶43.] Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded in part.

[¶44.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and ZINTER, SEVERSON and KERN, 

Justices, concur.