Opinion ID: 1837237
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether Members of the Hale Family have Standing as Appellants to Appeal

Text: ¶ 5. Among those appealing the chancellor's decision to allow the annexation are members of the Hale family. The Hale family was not among the original objectors because they assert they never had notice of the hearing and, thus, were absent from the proceedings in chancery court. Though not parties to the original action, the Hales are still allowed to appeal the approval of annexation if their property rights were adjudicated by the chancellor's decision. See Sperry Rand Corp. v. City of Jackson, 245 So.2d 574, 575 (Miss.1971). ¶ 6. The City of Clinton asserts, however, that members of the Hale family lack the requisite standing necessary to properly perfect an appeal in this case because the Hale family listed themselves on their Notice of Appeal by their individual names followed by d/b/a Hale Fireworks, L.L.C., A Missouri Limited Liability Company. Because the trade name of Hale Fireworks was included after the names of individual members of the Hale family, the City argues the real party in interest is the company  which has no property in Mississippi and thus may lack standing to challenge the annexation decision of the chancery court. While it is true that the land has sometimes been used by the Hales to sell fireworks, members of the Hale family have presented affidavits and evidence, such as certified warranty deeds, that they, and not their business, are landowners in the part of the area approved for annexation by the chancery court and, thus, have standing to appeal the decision. Id; see also Harrison County v. City of Gulfport, 557 So.2d 780, 782-83 (Miss. 1990). Because the Hales have produced documentary proof of their interest in the chancery court's decision concerning the annexation in question, we find the City's contention that members of the Hale family are without standing to challenge the annexation without merit. ¶ 7. The Hale objectors also ask us to sanction the City for attempting to remove them from this appeal due to a lack of standing. The Hales argue that the City's motion to strike their brief was filed with no chance of success and, thus, was a frivolous motion appropriate for sanctions under Rule 46(d) of the Mississippi Rules of Appellate Procedure. The City's motion to strike was predicated on a theory that the Hales' business was the real party in interest. Being incorporated in Missouri, the City asked us to explore the possibility that standing was absent due to the out of state citizenship of the corporation. After reviewing the City's motion to strike, we find that, while the City's argument ultimately was not successful, it cannot be classified as frivolous and does not warrant sanctions under M.R.A.P. 46(d). The Hales' request for sanctions is denied.