Opinion ID: 1303484
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: whether the case should have been dismissed for failure to join the south dakota department of revenue as an indispensable party.

Text: Sully Buttes School District and the Sully County Treasurer and Auditor argue that the trial court should have dismissed the action for failure to join the Department of Revenue as an indispensable party. We reject this argument. The proper remedy for failure to join parties is joinder of the parties, and not dismissal of the lawsuit, so long as it is possible to join them. Johnson v. Adamski, 274 N.W.2d 267, 268 (S.D.1979) (citing SDCL 15-6-19(a); SDCL 15-6-19(b)). None of the parties have argued that it was not feasible to join the Department. Consequently, even if the Department were found to be a necessary party, the proper remedy would have been for the court to order joinder rather than to dismiss the action. Shangreaux v. Westby, 281 N.W.2d 590 (S.D.1979). Further, we do not find the Department to be a necessary party so that joinder is required. SDCL 15-6-19(a) governs joinder of necessary parties. This statute provides in relevant part: A person who is subject to service of process shall be joined as a party in the action if (1) in his absence complete relief cannot be accorded among those already parties, or (2) he claims an interest relating to the subject of the action and is so situated that the disposition of the action in his absence may (i) as a practical matter impair or impede his ability to protect that interest or (ii) leave any of the persons already parties subject to a substantial risk of incurring double, multiple, or otherwise inconsistent obligations by reason of his claimed interest. None of the enumerated prerequisites for joinder are satisfied as to the Department. First, complete relief can be granted in the absence of the Department. Even if Department suggested or endorsed a particular interpretation of a statute pertaining to taxation, that alone does not require that it be joined as a party. The trial court may issue a definitive interpretation of any statute without requiring the joinder of government agencies that favor particular statutory constructions. Second, there is no indication that the Department has a protectable interest in the outcome of this case or that the existing parties would be subject to additional liability in the absence of the Department.