Opinion ID: 1906691
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Improper Delegation Claim

Text: The plaintiff argued on appeal that the actions taken by the committee pursuant to provisions in the 1982 act were illegal because they stemmed from an improper delegation of article 10 judicial power to a private entity. R.I. Const., art. 10. As noted ante, the key requisites for our review are whether plaintiff raised his improper delegation argument in a manner that provided the trial justice with a reasonable opportunity to consider it, and if so, whether plaintiff briefed his improper delegation argument for review by this Court. We are of the opinion that plaintiff properly presented his claim that there was an unconstitutional delegation of power to a private entity. Although plaintiff failed to outline this argument in his complaint, he repeatedly raised the issue at trial without any objection that this claim exceeded the scope of the complaint. In his opening statement, plaintiff argued at lengthagain without objectionthat the 1982 act allowed an unconstitutional delegation of police power to the committee, a private entity. At closing argument, plaintiff presented the trial justice with a New Jersey Superior Court case in support of his argument that the power to impose fines is strictly a governmental  power. The plaintiff delivered this case, along with two others, to the trial justice for her perusal. It is therefore apparent from our review of the record that plaintiff did present this issue to the trial justice in a manner that would have allowed the trial justice to pass upon it and that it was not objected to or excluded as beyond the scope of the complaint. The trial justice, however, subsequently issued a bench decision and judgment that failed to rule on plaintiffs argument that the 1982 act unconstitutionally delegated judicial power. Consequently, we remand this case to the Superior Court with our instruction that the trial justice consider and rule on whether in this case the 1982 act represents an unconstitutional delegation of judicial or police power to the condominium association, a private entity. If the trial justice finds that the delegation is unconstitutional, then within the time permitted for appeals, the defendants may seek appellate review of the trial justice's ruling; alternatively, as a consequence of the trial justice's ruling, the defendants may bring an action to recover sums due for damages or injunctive relief or both in accordance with the condominium association's bylaws. If the delegation is found to be constitutional, the trial justice must then find whether any conflicts between the provisions of the 1982 act significantly modify the relation between an owner and an association where, as here, the bylaws provided for a judicial procedure prior to foreclosure. If the trial justice finds no conflict and affirms the previous judgment, the plaintiff may seek review of the ruling. If the trial justice finds such a conflict, the defendants may appeal pursuant to the rules of appellate procedure.