Opinion ID: 2195444
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: butler county landfill standing

Text: The city contends that Butler County Landfill lacks standing to bring the present appeal. We disagree. Standing is the legal or equitable right, title, or interest in the subject matter of the controversy. County of Sarpy v. City of Gretna, 267 Neb. 943, 678 N.W.2d 740 (2004). It is a jurisdictional component of a party's case because only a party who has standing may invoke the jurisdiction of a court. Id. Either a litigant or a court before which a case is pending can raise the question of standing at any time during the proceeding. In re Trust Created by Del Castillo, 268 Neb. 671, 686 N.W.2d 900 (2004). In order to have standing, a litigant must assert the litigant's own legal rights and interests and cannot rest his or her claim on the legal rights or interests of third parties. County of Sarpy v. City of Gretna, supra . In order for a party to establish standing to bring suit, it is necessary to show that the party is in danger of sustaining direct injury as a result of anticipated action, and it is not sufficient that one has merely a general interest common to all members of the public. Governor's Policy Research Office v. KN Energy, 264 Neb. 924, 652 N.W.2d 865 (2002). The ordinance imposes an occupation tax of $7 on each ton of refuse collected by a refuse hauler within the corporate limits of the city. The appellants allege that the imposition of this tax makes it financially unfeasible for Waste Connections to continue dumping its refuse at the Butler County Landfill, thereby reducing Butler County Landfill's revenues. We conclude that the appellants have alleged an injury sufficient to give Butler County Landfill standing in the present action. See South Dakota Farm Bureau, Inc. v. Hazeltine, 340 F.3d 583 (8th Cir.2003) (holding that imminent loss of business as result of enforcement of contested state constitutional amendment satisfied injury-in-fact requirement of standing).