Opinion ID: 2517037
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Protectable Interest

Text: [¶ 17] In evaluating the first two conditions, an applicant seeking intervention of right must present a significant protectable interest. Platte County, 638 P.2d at 1279. A significant protectable interest is distinguished from a merely contingent interest, an interest shared by members of the public at large, or a mere concern in the outcome. Halliburton, ¶ 6, 167 P.3d at 648 (citing State Farm, 871 P.2d at 194; Platte County, 638 P.2d at 1279). An applicant seeking intervention of right has the burden of demonstrating a significant protectable interest. Platte County, 638 P.2d at 1279. [¶ 18] Proposed Intervenors argue that, as land owners within Spring Creek Ranch whose lands are benefited and burdened by the CC & Rs and Architectural Controls and Design Guidelines for Spring Creek Ranch, they have a protectable interest in the underlying litigation. According to Article XIV, § 1(b) of the CC & Rs: The Architectural Committee and any Owner shall have the right to enforce by any proceeding at law or in equity all restrictions and conditions imposed by, pursuant to, or in accordance with the provisions of this Declaration including particularly the provisions of Article VI regarding Use Restrictions and the provisions of Article VII regarding Architectural Control, and any rules or regulations of the Architectural Committee. Amended and Restated Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restriction[s] of Spring Creek Ranch, Article XIV, § 1(b), at 54 (2001) (emphasis added). The underlying case, however, involves Tips Up's claim against the Board of Directors and Architectural Committee regarding their denial of Tips Up's Preliminary Architectural Plan. It involves the actions of the Board of Directors and Architectural Committee and not, strictly speaking, the enforcement of the CC & Rs. [¶ 19] The district court held that the Proposed Intervenors failed to demonstrate a significantly protectable interest in the subject of the litigation. Clearly, the Proposed Intervenors have a significant protectable interest in the enforcement of the CC & Rs; however, any impact on Proposed Intervenors' property interest by the outcome of the underlying case is contingent. Proposed Intervenors' interests are contingent because the underlying case simply involves the Board of Directors' and the Architectural Committee's actions in denying Tips Up's Preliminary Architectural Plan. If the district court finds in favor of Tips Up or a settlement agreement is reached, Tips Up must still proceed through the formal processes required by the CC & Rs and other laws in order to have the full reaches of the Preliminary Architectural Plan approved. During this process, Proposed Intervenors' interests in the enforcement of the CC & Rs become vested. Because Proposed Intervenors' interests are contingent, the district court properly held that they failed to show a significant protectable interest which would be affected by the underlying litigation.