Opinion ID: 1597233
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: In 1975, Hunter Roussel, Jr. bought 12 3/4 acres of land in Rankin County from Morris Gray, and there built a home. In 1978, Gray sold Melvin Hutton a two acre plot near Roussel's land, and sold about 7 2/3 acres of land to MP & L. Over the next ten years, Roussel opposed efforts of Gray, MP & L, and the City of Brandon to rezone various parcels of land in the area surrounding his home. [1] In 1988, Roussel filed suit against twelve defendants, including Gray, Hutton, and MP & L, alleging a conspiracy amongst the parties to effectuate changes in the zoning ordinances which would financially benefit all the defendants. All claims against Hutton, Gray, and MP & L were dismissed on motions for summary judgment in April and October of 1989. Roussel appeals, assigning the following errors: I. THE LOWER COURT ERRED BY DISMISSING MELVIN B. HUTTON FROM THE LAWSUIT BY WAY OF SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND FURTHER ERRED BY AWARDING ATTORNEY'S FEES IN THE FORM OF RULE 11 SANCTIONS. II. THE LOWER COURT ERRED BY DISMISSING MORRIS GRAY FROM THE LAWSUIT BY WAY OF SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND FURTHER ERRED BY AWARDING ATTORNEY'S FEES IN THE FORM OF RULE 11 SANCTIONS. III. THE LOWER COURT ERRED BY DISMISSING MP & L FROM THE LAWSUIT BY WAY OF SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND FURTHER ERRED BY AWARDING ATTORNEY'S FEES IN THE FORM OF RULE 11 SANCTIONS. IV. JUDGE BRIDGES RECUSED HIMSELF ON OCTOBER 9, 1989, VOIDING JUDGMENTS OF OCTOBER 10, 1989 AND OCTOBER 20, 1989. Finding insufficient evidence that the trial judge recused himself from the case, we hold that his judgments were valid. We affirm the grants of summary judgment in favor of Hutton, Gray, and MP & L.