Opinion ID: 2447676
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Alternate Argument for Summary Judgment

Text: The District argues that this court should affirm the trial court's judgment on a ground upon which it did not rely. Specifically, the District contends that the record shows that in authorizing the taking of the Skyland site, the District of Columbia Council had a substantial public purpose which Franco cannot overcome by a pretext claim and that the stated public purposes were not pretextual. Franco argues that the case is not in a posture for disposition by summary judgment. He contends that he should have been afforded an opportunity to complete discovery and file a supplemental opposition to the District's pending summary judgment motion. An appellate court has discretion to uphold a summary judgment under a legal theory different from that applied by the trial court, and rest affirmance on any ground that finds support in the record, provided it proceeds cautiously so as to avoid denying the opposing party a fair opportunity to dispute the facts material to the new theory. Wagner v. Georgetown Univ. Med. Ctr., 768 A.2d 546, 559-60 (D.C.2001) (quoting United States v. General Motors Corp., 171 U.S.App.D.C. 27, 48, 518 F.2d 420, 441 (1975) (internal quotation marks omitted)). That course presupposes that there will be no procedural unfairness, that is that the opposing party had notice of the ground upon which affirmance is proposed, as well as an opportunity to make an appropriate factual and legal presentation with respect thereto. National Ass'n of Postmasters of the United States v. Hyatt Regency Washington, 894 A.2d 471, 474 (D.C.2006) (quoting In re Walker, 856 A.2d 579, 586 (D.C.2004)). We have cautioned that it usually will be neither prudent nor appropriate for this court to affirm summary judgment on a ground different from that relied upon by the trial court. Wagner, 768 A.2d at 560. Among the reasons cited for this proposition are that the issues are not ripe for consideration, not clearly presented by the record or simply because it would be better to leave to the trial court the task of sifting through the summary judgment record. Id. (citing 15B CHARLES ALAN WRIGHT, ARTHUR R. MILLER & EDWARD H. COOPER, Federal Practice and Procedure: Jurisdiction 2d § 3914.28, at 213-15 (2d ed. 1991)). In the trial court, the District moved to dismiss Franco's complaint pursuant to Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12(b)(6) (failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted). The District attached to its motion to dismiss a copy of its motion for partial summary judgment filed in the Franco Condemnation case and various exhibits. In opposing the District's motion in this case, Franco submitted copies of his preliminary opposition to the partial summary judgment motion and a Rule 56(f) affidavit supporting his request for deferral of a ruling on the motion pending further discovery. [3] He also submitted a Statement of Material Facts in Genuine Dispute provided for under Super. Ct. Civ. R. 12-I(k). Franco sought an opportunity to complete discovery in this case and to submit a further opposition to the District's motion. The trial court treated the District's motion to dismiss as one for summary judgment because it was presented with and considered matters outside of the pleadings in resolving it. [4] The District's partial summary judgment motion in the Franco Condemnation case remained unresolved, and discovery remained ongoing in that case. Essentially, Franco was seeking the same opportunity to complete discovery related to his pretext claim that he had been granted in the Franco Condemnation case on virtually the same question, i.e., his pretext defense. No doubt, in light of its ruling, the trial court did not rule on Franco's request for additional time for discovery and for filing supplemental material. The trial court could have, but did not give Franco an opportunity to present any other material pertinent to consideration of the motion as one under Rule 56 instead of Rule 12(b)(6). Further, there have been new developments in the Franco Condemnation case that may affect the outcome of this case upon remand. Specifically, the District informs the court that the trial court has granted the District's motion for partial summary judgment in the Franco Condemnation case, concluding that the taking was for a public purpose and not for pretextual reasons. [5] It does not appear from the information provided that a final judgment has been entered in that case. Considering all of the circumstances, we conclude that it would be prudent to leave to the trial court consideration of the various issues affecting the final disposition of this case on the merits. See Wagner, supra, 768 A.2d at 560. For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. So ordered.