Opinion ID: 1852637
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Amicus Curiae's Jurisdictional Claim

Text: [¶ 31.] The Court granted permission to Dakota Truck Underwriters (DTU) to file an amicus curiae brief with this Court. Rather than relying on the issues presented by the parties, its brief raised various issues and, among other things, argued that this Court lacks jurisdiction because the circuit court erred in granting a certificate under SDCL 15-6-54(b). [¶ 32.] DTU's assertion was the subject of a Motion to Strike Brief filed by Fund. We deferred ruling on the motion. We now reiterate our earlier holdings that it is improper for amicus to seek to widen the issues raised by the parties. Rapid City Educ. Ass'n v. Rapid City Sch. Dist. No. 51-4, 522 N.W.2d 494, 496 n. 5 (S.D.1994); Lyons v. Lederle Lab., 440 N.W.2d 769, 770 (S.D.1989). The issues raised in the amicus brief were not presented to the circuit court, therefore will not be considered in this appeal. However, jurisdictional deficiencies are addressed sua sponte, regardless of whether the parties raised the issue. Schmidt v. Royer, 1998 SD 5, ¶ 15, 574 N.W.2d 618, 622. We will address the issue of the 54(b) certificate, finding it to be a jurisdictional issue. [¶ 33.] Our jurisdiction, as a reviewing court, is limited to review of final judgments or orders, interlocutory orders by discretion of this Court, certain original proceedings and determination of questions certified by federal courts. S.D. Const. Art. V, § 5; SDCL 15-26A-3; 15-25-1; 15-24A-1; 21-27-18.1. [¶ 34.] DTU claims this action involves neither multiple parties nor claims, but only one claim with multiple theories and that the court abused its discretion in entering a judgment that included a 54(b) certificate. SDCL 15-6-54(b) provides: When multiple claims for relief or multiple parties are involved in an action, the court may direct the entry of a final judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or parties only upon an express determination that there is no just reason for delay and upon an express direction for the entry of judgment. In the absence of such determination and direction, any order or other form of decision, however designated, which adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties shall not terminate the action as to any of the claims or parties, and the order or other form of decision is subject to revision at any time before the entry of judgment adjudicating all the claims and the rights and liabilities of all the parties. (emphasis added). When multiple parties or claims are involved and a court determines issues involving only part of the claims or parties, the order or judgment lacks finality and is not appealable absent this express certification by the circuit court. Siefkes v. Watertown Title Co., 413 N.W.2d 377 (S.D. 1987); Brasel v. City of Pierre, 87 S.D. 561, 211 N.W.2d 846 (1973). [¶ 35.] Although judgment in this case is entitled Partial Summary Judgment and Declaratory Judgment, it is a final order addressing all of the issues raised before the circuit court and leaves no issues undetermined. The court gave Homestake every opportunity to explain at the hearing that it was narrowing its issues in the summary judgment motion and that it desired the court to rule on only two issues as compared with the multiple issues included in its complaint. In its bench decision at the close of the hearing the court declared that [t]he question today although entitled Motion for Summary Judgment is actually a motion for partial summary judgment. I say that because during the course of the argument today counsel and the Court have narrowed the issues to be decided. [4] The court's order declares that this Summary Judgment shall serve as final Declaratory Judgment as regards the issues raised by the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment[.] [¶ 36.] The 54(b) certificate language was likely included in the judgment due to the multiple issues Homestake originally pled in its complaint for declaratory judgment and the fact that those issues were narrowed throughout the proceedings by its motion for summary judgment and discussions with the court at the hearing. However, even if not necessary because there appear to be no claims left to be addressed, the 54(b) language would be surplusage. Such surplusage does not deprive this Court of jurisdiction to consider an appeal from that judgment. Western Bldg. Co. v. J.C. Penney Co., 60 S.D. 630, 245 N.W. 909 (1932). [5] [¶ 37.] We affirm. [¶ 38.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and KONENKAMP, Justice, and GORS, Acting Justice, concur.