Opinion ID: 2656738
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Superior Court’s Orders

Text: In August 2008 the Municipality filed an action in the superior court for abatement, injunctive relief, and civil penalties totaling $226,000, as well as “$250 per day for each day from June 28, 2008 until the violations are abated.” The Szabos, proceeding pro se, answered and denied all of the Municipality’s allegations. They also counterclaimed, alleging among other things: (1) the “Municipal Code is unconstitutional”; (2) they “have not had the financial resources to comply”; and -3- 6873 (3) “[t]he ‘fine’ of $250 per day is unreasonable to the point of ‘cruel and unusual punishment.’ ” The Szabos requested that the court issue an order dismissing all fines and fees, contingent on their compliance by September 30, 2009. The Municipality moved for summary judgment, arguing that the Szabos’ ongoing code violations were irrefutable and that the Szabos had ample opportunity to appeal the original enforcement order and comply. The Szabos did not dispute that the property was not in compliance with code requirements, but reiterated that the fines were “illegally excessive” and that the zoning ordinance and compliance procedures were constitutionally deficient. On June 3, 2009, the superior court granted the Municipality’s motion for summary judgment and ordered the Szabos to clean up the property within 20 days. The court withheld judgment on the issue of fines, signaling its intent to address the issue after abatement was completed. The court found that there were no genuine issues of material fact that the Szabos “have a long history of storing junk, vehicles, equipment and other materials on their property” in violation of the zoning ordinance and “there [had] been no apparent change in uses and condition of the property since September 8, 2003.” The court held an evidentiary hearing on January 25, 2010, to address the Municipality’s motion for imposition of penalties. The Szabos objected to the hearing on the grounds that they were not prepared because they believed the hearing was going to be a status hearing rather than an evidentiary hearing. At the hearing the parties disagreed about how much of the junk had been removed; the Szabos contended it was around 50%, and the Municipality contended that it was around 10%. In February 2010 the superior court issued its supplemental order and final judgment requiring the Szabos to pay the Municipality $226,000 in fines for the period of noncompliance ending June 27, 2008, and $85,000 for the period of noncompliance -4- 6873 from June 28, 2008, through June 3, 2009. The Szabos did not appeal the final judgment.