Opinion ID: 886741
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Plain, speedy and adequate remedy

Text: ¶ 20 As stated above, once a petitioner for a writ of mandate establishes a clear legal duty, the writ must be granted if no speedy and adequate remedy exists. See § 27-26-102(2), MCA; Smith, ¶ 28. Here, the District Court determined that Shane and the Association had a plain, speedy and adequate remedy because they could seek redress of the grievance through an available legal method or forum other than arbitration. Shane and the Association assert error because they have no remedy for the School District's refusal to honor the election to arbitrate. The School District contends the District Court correctly determined that the underlying issue of longevity pay could be pursued by other means, including a lawsuit in district court. The School District misperceives the nature of the plain, speedy and adequate remedy at issue here. ¶ 21 The application by Shane and the Association did not request that a writ of mandate issue to compel the School District to compensate Shane for longevity pay; rather, the request was to compel arbitration. Initiating a civil action requesting longevity pay in district court would not remedy the School District's refusal to arbitrate and would not provide the relief sought in the application. Therefore, we conclude the criterion of § 27-26-102(2), MCA, requiring the absence of a plain, speedy and adequate remedy, is satisfied here. Having determined that both subsections of § 27-26-102, MCA, are satisfied, we further conclude that a writ of mandate must issue to compel the School District to arbitrate the grievance. ¶ 22 We hold that the District Court erred in denying the application for a writ of mandate and granting the motion to quash it. ¶ 23 Reversed and remanded. JOHN WARNER, JAMES C. NELSON, W. WILLIAM LEAPHART and PATRICIA O. COTTER, JJ., concur.