Title: STATE EX REL KESTERSON v DISTRICT
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 80-221
State: Montana
Issuer: Montana Supreme Court
Date: July 24, 1980

No. 80-221 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA THE STATE OF MONTANA ex rel. COLLEEN KESTERSON, VIRGINIA POLSEN, MELODY NEBEL, BARBARA WOOD, SHERI BARDO, and ANNE KOBYLENSKI, on behalf of them- selves and all other persons similarly situated, Relators, DISTRICT COURT OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MISSOULA, and the HONORABLE JOHN S. HENSON, Judge thereof, Respondents. ORIGINAL PROCEEDING: Counsel of Record: For Relators: McClelland Law Offices, Missoula, Montana Arden C.McClelland argued, Missoula, Montana For Respondents: Gough,, Shanahan, Johnson & Waterman, Helena, Montana Ronald Waterman argued, Helena, Montana Boone, Karlberg & Haddon, Missoula, Montana Sam Haddon argued, Missoula, Montana Richard P. Heinz, County Attorney, Polson, Montana Kurt W. Kroschel, Billings, Montana Hughes, Bennett, Kellner and Sullivan, Helena, Montana Garlington, Lohn and Robinson, Missoula, Montana Submitted: July 17, 1980 Decided : JuL "E W80 Clerk M r . C h i e f J u s t i c e F r a n k I. H a s w e l l d e l i v e r e d t h e O p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t . R e l a t o r s h a v e a p p l i e d t o t h i s C o u r t f o r a w r i t o f s u p e r - v i s o r y c o n t r o l , d i r e c t e d t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t o f t h e F o u r t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , i n and f o r t h e C o u n t y o f M i s s o u l a , and t h e H o n o r a b l e J u d g e J o h n S . Henson. R e l a t o r s a r e p l a i n t i f f s i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t a c t i o n , and seek t o h a v e t h e p r o c e e d i n g s on a m o t i o n f o r a t e m p o r a r y i n j u n c t i o n c o n t i n u e d i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t , d e s p i t e an a p p e a l t a k e n t o t h i s C o u r t b y d e f e n d a n t s . T h i s C o u r t o r d e r e d an e x p e d i t e d h e a r i n g on J u l y 17, 1980. On F e b r u a r y 1 5 , 1 9 8 0 , t w o women r e s i d i n g i n L a k e C o u n t y a n d f o u r women r e s i d i n g i n M i s s o u l a C o u n t y f i l e d a s u i t i n M i s s o u l a C o u n t y , d e n o m i n a t i n g i t a c l a s s a c t i o n . The d e f e n d a n t s f o r p u r p o s e s o f t h i s a p p e a l a r e Dow C h e m i c a l Company, L a k e C o u n t y , t h e L a k e C o u n t y Weed B o a r d , M i s s o u l a C o u n t y , and t h e M i s s o u l a C o u n t y Weed B o a r d . A1 1 p l a i n t i f f s a1 l e g e m i s c a r r i a g e s , p r o p e r t y damage, and o t h e r m e n t a l and p h y s i c a l i n j u r i e s as a r e s u l t o f h e r b i c i d e s p r a y i n g i n t h e i r home e n v i r o n m e n t s . P r i o r t o t h e h e a r i n g on p l a i n t i f f s ' m o t i o n f o r an i n j u n c t i o n t o s t o p t h e s p r a y i n g , d e f e n d a n t Dow C h e m i c a l Company moved f o r a change o f venue t o L a k e C o u n t y as t o t h e c l a i m s f i l e d b y t h e t w o L a k e C o u n t y p l a i n t i f f s . L a k e C o u n t y and t h e L a k e C o u n t y Weed B o a r d moved t o c h a n g e venue t o L a k e C o u n t y as t o a l l c l a i m s f i l e d a g a i n s t them. Because o f u n c e r t a i n t y as t o w h e t h e r t h i s a c t i o n c o u l d be m a i n t a i n e d as a c l a s s a c t i o n , a m a t t e r y e t t o be h e a r d , t h e d i s t r i c t j u d g e d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n s f o r change o f venue, w i t h " l e a v e t o r e f i l e t h e m o t i o n s i f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s l a t e r on i n t h e p r o c e e d i n g s s h o u l d be s u c h t h a t i t w o u l d be a p p r o p r i a t e . " D e f e n d a n t s p r o m p t l y f i l e d an a p p e a l t o t h i s C o u r t f r o m t h e o r d e r d e n y i n g c h a n g e o f venue and t h e d i s t r i c t j u d g e s t o p p e d a l l f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t . P l a i n t i f f s , a r g u i n g t h a t t h e j u d g e ' s o r d e r was a non- a p p e a l a b l e o r d e r , a p p l i e d t o t h i s C o u r t f o r a w r i t , r e q u e s t i n g t h i s C o u r t t o d i s m i s s t h e ,appeal and t o o r d e r t h e p r o c e e d i n g s t o _ 1 -- / -. LOyL t f/)-. ( . , . ,c L, - / ( <.-4-;- A /.;<~:,t<+t ( . {L4;,4J!, ,-,(L,( { : ! 4 ' 1 ? ~ ' , , , , / : ' ~ - The o r d e r i s s u e d b y t h e d i s t r i c t j u d g e d e n y i n g t h e change o f venue was an a p p e a l a b l e o r d e r . An i n t e r l o c u t o r y o r d e r i s n o r m a l l y n o t a p p e a l a b l e , u n l e s s t h e r e i s a s p e c i a l p r o v i s i o n m a k i n g i t so. S c h u l t z v. Adams ( 1 9 7 3 ) , 1 6 1 M o n t . 463, 465, 5 0 7 P.2d 530, 532. By t h e t e r m s o f R u l e l ( b ) , M.R.App.Civ.P., an o r d e r d e n y i n g t h e change o f venue i s s p e c i f i c a l l y a p p e a l a b l e : "A p a r t y a g g r i e v e d may a p p e a l f r o m a j u d g m e n t o r o r d e r . . . i n t h e f o l l o w i n g c a s e s : ( b ) . . . f r o m an o r d e r c h a n g i n g o r r e f u s i n g t o c h a n g e t h e p l a c e o f t r i a l when t h e c o u n t y d e s i g n a t e d i n t h e c o m p l a i n t i s n o t t h e p r o p e r c o u n t y . . ." The s t a t u t o r y l a n g u a g e o f R u l e l ( b ) does n o t r e q u i r e t h e d e f e n d a n t s t o w a i t and see i f t h e y g e t a n o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t y t o r a i s e t h e venue i s s u e . It a l l o w s them t o t a k e an i m m e d i a t e a p p e a l on t h e d e n i a l o f t h e venue m o t i o n , so as t o n o t j e o p a r d i z e t h e i r r i g h t t o an a p p e a l . See S e a l e y v. M a j e r u s ( 1 9 6 7 ) , 1 4 9 M o n t . 268, 2 6 9 , 425 P.2d 70. B e c a u s e t h e venue o r d e r i n t h i s c a s e i s a p p e a l a b l e , and an a p p e a l was t i m e l y f i l e d , t h e d i s t r i c t j u d g e a c t e d p r o p e r l y i n s t a y i n g f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t . I t i s w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t once a n o t i c e o f a p p e a l i s f i l e d , t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t l o s e s j u r i s d i c t i o n t o p r o c e e d . McCormick v. M c C o r m i c k ( 1 9 7 5 ) , 1 6 8 M o n t . 1 3 6 , 1 3 8 , 5 4 1 P.2d 765, 766. S i n c e t h e a p p e a l was p r o p e r l y t a k e n , we n e x t p r o c e e d t o t h e m e r i t s o f t h a t a p p e a l . The i s s u e s r a i s e d b y d e f e n d a n t s on a p p e a l a l l i n v o l v e q u e s t i o n s o f venue: 1 ) Does t h e f i l i n g o f a s u i t as a c l a s s a c t i o n a f f e c t t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f venue? 2 ) I s venue p r o p e r i n M i s s o u l a C o u n t y as t o t h e c l a i m s f i l e d a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t s L a k e C o u n t y and t h e L a k e C o u n t y Weed B o a r d ? 3 ) I s venue p r o p e r i n M i s s o u l a C o u n t y as t o t h e c l a i m s f i l e d a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t Dow C h e m i c a l Company b y t h e t w o L a k e C o u n t y p l a i n t i f f s ? B e c a u s e t h i s s u i t was f i l e d as a c l a s s a c t i o n , r e s p o n d e n t s s u g g e s t t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t s h o u l d c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r venue as t o any one p l a i n t i f f i n t h e c l a s s i s p r o p e r i n M i s s o u l a C o u n t y , i n o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e a c t i o n c a n be m a i n t a i n e d i n M i s s o u l a C o u n t y . T h i s a p p r o a c h does n o t a p p e a r t o be c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e t r a d i t i o n a l n o t i o n s o f venue w h i c h a i m t o w a r d p l a c i n g a t r i a l i n a c o u n t y f a v o r a b l e t o d e f e n d a n t . A l t h o u g h t h i s C o u r t h a s n o t had o c c a s i o n t o a d d r e s s t h e i s s u e o f w h e t h e r t h e f i l i n g o f a s u i t as a c l a s s a c t i o n a f f e c t s venue, s e v e r a l f e d e r a l c o u r t s h a v e l o o k e d a t t h i s q u e s t i o n . The d e c i s i o n s u n i f o r m l y h o l d t h a t v e n u e f o r a c l a s s a c t i o n u n d e r R u l e 23, F.R.Civ.P. i s d e t e r m i n e d j u s t as i t i s f o r a c o m p a r a b l e n o n c l a s s a c t i o n . Thus, v e n u e m u s t b e s a t i s f i e d as t o a l l named c l a s s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , j u s t as i t m u s t be as t o a l l p l a i n t i f f s and d e f e n d a n t s i n a n o n c l a s s a c t i o n . C a r o l i n a C a s u a l t y I n s u r a n c e Co. v. L o c a l No. 612, e t c . (N.D.Ala. 1 9 5 6 ) , 1 3 6 F.Supp. 941, 943; 3 B M o o r e ' s F e d e r a l P r a c t i c e 923.96 ( 1 9 8 0 ) ; R e s e a r c h Corp. v. P f i s t e r A s s o c i a t e d G r o w e r s , I n c . (N.D.111. 1 9 6 9 ) , 3 0 1 F.Supp. 4 9 7 , 501. I n so h o l d i n g t h e c o u r t s h a v e r e l i e d on t h e l a n g u a g e o f R u l e 82, F.R.Civ.P., w h i c h has a c o u n t e r p a r t i n R u l e 82, M.R.Civ.P.: " E x c e p t as p r o v i d e d i n R u l e 4 t h e s e r u l e s s h a l l n o t be c o n s t r u e d t o e x t e n d o r l i m i t t h e j u r i s - d i c t i o n o f t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s o f M o n t a n a o r t h e v e n u e o f a c t i o n s t h e r e i n . " See U n i t e d S t a t e s and EEOC v. T r u c k i n g E m p l o y e r s , I n c . (D. D.C. 1 9 7 6 ) , 72 F.R.D. 98, 100. W e r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e l e g i s l a t u r e h a s t h e power t o d e t e r - m i n e where a c t i o n s s h a l l o r may be t r i e d , F r a s e r v. C l a r k ( 1 9 5 4 ) , 1 2 8 M o n t . 1 6 0 , 176, 273 P.2d 105, 1 1 4 , and we n o t e t h a t t h e M o n t a n a s t a t u t e s c o n t a i n no s p e c i f i c venue p r o v i s i o n s f o r c l a s s a c t i o n s . I n t h e a b s e n c e o f a d i r e c t i v e o t h e r w i s e b y t h e l e g i s l a - t u r e we h o l d i n a c c o r d w i t h t h e f e d e r a l c o u r t s and f i n d t h a t v e n u e i n a c l a s s a c t i o n s h o u l d be d e t e r m i n e d as i t i s i n a n o n c l a s s a c t i o n . See a l s o , W a l k e r v. C i t y o f H o u s t o n (S.D. Tex. 1 9 7 2 ) , 3 4 1 F.Supp. 1124. I f l a t e r c e r t i f i c a t i o n p r o c e e d i n g s r e s u l t , we h a v e f o u n d no a u t h o r i t y , s t a t e o r f e d e r a l , c o n c e r n i n g t h e s t a t u s o f c l a i m e d c l a s s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i n t h e p e r i o d o f t i m e b e t w e e n t h e f i l i n g o f t h e s u i t and t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s c e r - t i f i c a t i o n o f p r o p e r c l a s s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . A c c o r d i n g l y , we h a v e assumed t h a t t h e named p l a i n t i f f s a r e p r o p e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e c l a s s i n t h e e v e n t t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t d e t e r m i n e s t h i s i s a p r o p e r c l a s s a c t i o n . A p p e l l a n t s L a k e C o u n t y and t h e L a k e C o u n t y Weed B o a r d moved f o r a change o f venue as t o a l l c l a i m s f i l e d a g a i n s t them i n M i s s o u l a C o u n t y . The b a s i s f o r t h e i r m o t i o n was s e c t i o n 2 5 - 2 - 1 0 6 , MCA, w h i c h p r o v i d e s i n p a r t t h a t " [ a l n a c t i o n a g a i n s t a c o u n t y may be commenced and t r i e d i n s u c h c o u n t y . . ." T h i s C o u r t h e l d i n Good Roads M a c h i n e r y Co. v. B r o a d w a t e r C o u n t y ( 1 9 3 3 ) , 94 M o n t . 68, 70-71, 20 P.2d 8 3 4 , 8 3 5 , t h a t t h e "may" i n t h e s t a t u t e r e f e r r e d t o a g r a n t o f p e r m i s s i o n t o sue a c o u n t y , b u t i n so d o i n g a p l a i n t i f f was l i m i t e d t o b r i n g i n g t h e s u i t i n t h e d e f e n d a n t c o u n t y . R e s p o n d e n t s a t t e m p t t o r e l y on S t a t e ex r e l . M o n t a n a D e a c o n e s s Hosp. v. P a r k C o u n t y ( 1 9 6 3 ) , 1 4 2 Mont. 26, 3 8 1 P.2d 297, b u t we f i n d t h a t case d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e on t h e f a c t s . I n D e a c o n e s s H o s p i t a l , t w o c o u n t i e s d i s c l a i m e d l i a b i l i t y f o r one h o s p i t a l payment f o r a w e l f a r e p a t i e n t . B e c a u s e i t was n e c e s s a r y t o d e t e r m i n e w h i c h o f t h e c o u n t i e s was t h e r e s i d e n c e o f t h e p a t i e n t , and t h u s l i a b l e , b o t h c o u n t i e s had t o be j o i n e d as p a r t y d e f e n d a n t s . T h i s C o u r t f o u n d t h a t e i t h e r c o u n t y w o u l d be a p r o p e r one i n w h i c h t o p r o s e c u t e t h e a c t i o n . D e a c o n e s s H o s p i t a l , s u p r a , 1 4 2 M o n t . a t 27-28, 3 8 1 P . 2 d a t 298. I n t h i s case, t h e c o m p l a i n t does n o t a l l e g e t h a t e i t h e r M i s s o u l a C o u n t y o r L a k e C o u n t y was t h e e x c l u s i v e cause o f one i n j u r y . R a t h e r , t h e p l e a d i n g s i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f s c o u l d h a v e been damaged b y t h e a c t i o n s o f e i t h e r o r b o t h c o u n t i e s a c t i n g s e p a r a t e l y . I n s u c h a s i t u a t i o n b o t h c o u n t i e s a r e n o t n e c e s s a r y p a r t i e s t o one a c t i o n , and t h e c o u n t i e s s h o u l d be sued w h e r e t h e y a r e l o c a t e d . D e s p i t e r e s p o n d e n t s ' a r g u m e n t t h a t c o n v e n i e n c e and j u d i c i a1 economy d i c t a t e t h a t t h e s u i t be b r o u g h t i n M i s s o u l a C o u n t y , i t i s a p p a r e n t f r o m t h e s t a t u t e s and c a s e s c i t e d t h a t d e f e n d a n t s L a k e C o u n t y and t h e L a k e C o u n t y Weed B o a r d a r e e n t i t l e d t o have v e n u e c h a n g e d t o L a k e C o u n t y . S e c t i o n 2 5 - 2 - 2 0 1 ( I ) , MCA, r e q u i r e s t h a t " [ t l h e c o u r t o r j u d g e m u s t , o n m o t i o n , c h a n g e t h e p l a c e o f t r i a l i n t h e f o l l o w i n g c a s e s : ( 1 ) when t h e c o u n t y d e s i g n a t e d i n t h e c o m p l a i n t i s n o t t h e p r o p e r c o u n t y . " T h i s s e c t i o n i s n o t d i s c r e t i o n a r y . L u n t v. D i v i s i o n o f Workmen's C o m p e n s a t i o n ( 1 9 7 5 ) , 1 6 7 M o n t . 251, 253, 537 P.2d 1080, 1081. The j u d g e m u s t g r a n t t h e change, b e f o r e a m o t i o n r e l a t i n g t o c o n v e n i e n c e c a n be h e a r d u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 5 - 2 - 2 0 1 ( 3 ) , MCA. M a i o v. G r e e n e ( 1 9 4 3 ) , 1 1 4 Mont. 481, 487, 137 P.2d 670, 671. A p p e l l a n t Dow C h e m i c a l moved f o r a c h a n g e o f venue as t o t h e c l a i m s o f t h e t w o L a k e C o u n t y p l a i n t i f f s p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 2 5 - 2 - 1 0 2 , MCA, w h i c h p r o v i d e s i n p a r t t h a t " [ a l c t i o n s f o r t o r t s may be t r i e d i n t h e c o u n t y w h e r e t h e t o r t was c o m m i t t e d . . ." T h i s C o u r t has d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h i s s e c t i o n s h o u l d be i n t e r p r e t e d t o a l l o w t r i a l i n t h e c o u n t y o f d e f e n d a n t ' s r e s i d e n c e , o r i n t h e c o u n t y where t h e t o r t was c o m m i t t e d . S e c t i o n 25-2-108, MCA; S e i f e r t v. G e h l e ( 1 9 5 8 ) , 1 3 3 Mont. 320, 3 2 2 , 3 2 3 P.2d 269, 270. The r e c o r d i s s i l e n t i n t h i s c a s e as t o t h e p l a c e o f r e s i d e n c e o f t h e d e f e n d a n t . Thus t h e s u i t w o u l d be p r o p e r l y f i l e d i n L a k e C o u n t y , t h e s i t u s o f t h e t o r t a l l e g e d l y c o m m i t t e d a g a i n s t t h e L a k e C o u n t y p l a i n t i f f s . A p p e l l a n t Dow C h e m i c a l Company i s e n t i t l e d t o t h e change o f venue as t o t h e c l a i m s f i l e d b y t h e L a k e C o u n t y p l a i n t i f f s . D e f e n d a n t Dow C h e m i c a l Company r a i s e s an a l t e r n a t i v e b a s i s o n w h i c h t o f i n d venue i n L a k e C o u n t y . I n t h e i r c o m p l a i n t , a l l p l a i n t i f f s a1 l e g e r e a l p r o p e r t y damage. S e c t i o n 2 5 - 2 - 1 0 3 ( 1 ) ( b ) , MCA, s e t s venue f o r a c t i o n s f o r i n j u r y t o r e a l p r o p e r t y " i n t h e c o u n t y i n w h i c h t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e a c t i o n . . . i s s i t u a t e d . . ." The " s u b j e c t o f t h e a c t i o n " i n t h i s c a s e w o u l d a p p e a r t o be l o c a t e d i n L a k e C o u n t y as t o t h e L a k e C o u n t y p l a i n t i f f s , and p r o - p e r l y t r i a b l e t h e r e . See F r a s e r v. C l a r k ( 1 9 5 4 ) , 128 M o n t . 1 6 0 , 1 7 8 , 273 P.2d 105, 115. T h i s C o u r t h a s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t i f a c o m p l a i n t c o n t a i n s more t h a n one cause o f a c t i o n , and a d e f e n d a n t i s e n t i t l e d t o a change o f venue i n one o f t h o s e a c t i o n s , t h e n t h e m o t i o n f o r change o f venue m u s t be g r a n t e d . T h i s i s so d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e o t h e r c a u s e s o f a c t i o n a r e p r o p e r l y t r i a b l e w h e r e t h e a c t i o n was commenced. B e a v e r s v. R a n k i n ( 1 9 6 3 ) , 1 4 2 Mont. 570, 572, 3 8 5 P.2d 640, 641. Thus, w h e r e venue a s t o t h e r e a l p r o p e r t y damage c l a i m a g a i n s t Dow C h e m i c a l Company i s p r o p e r l y i n L a k e C o u n t y , venue as t o a l l c l a i m s a g a i n s t Dow C h e m i c a l Company s h o u l d be moved t o L a k e C o u n t y . F o r t h e f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , we f i n d t h a t d e f e n d a n t s ' a p p e a l t o t h i s C o u r t was p r o p e r l y t a k e n , and t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t j u d g e a c t e d c o r r e c t l y i n r e f u s i n g t o c o n t i n u e f u r t h e r p r o c e e d i n g s i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t . Thus, t h e r e i s no s u f f i c i e n t b a s i s f o r r e l a - t o r s t o i n v o k e t h e s u p e r v i s o r y c o n t r o l o f t h i s C o u r t . R e l a t o r s ' p e t i t i o n i s C h i e f J u s t i c e W e c o n c u r : Hon. G o r d o n R. B e n n e t t , D i s t r i c t J u d g e , s i t t i n g i n p l a c e o f M r . J u s t i c e Gene B. D a l y . ................................ Hon. W. W. L e s s l e y , D i s t r i c t J u d g e , s i t t i n g i n p l a c e o f M r . J u s t i c e J o h n C. Sheehy. The H o n o r a b l e W . W. L e s s l e y , D i s t r i c t J u d g e , s i t t i n g i n p l a c e o f M r . J u s t i c e J o h n C. Sheehy, c o n c u r s a n d w i l l s i g n t h i s o p i n i o n t h e n e x t t i m e h e i s i n H e l e n a .