Opinion ID: 1268681
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The Trial Court Properly Quashed the Subpoenas for County Council Members

Text: Platinum Plus and Heartbreakers sought to take depositions of those who were members of County Council when the Ordinance was passed. The trial court granted the County's request to quash the subpoenas. Platinum Plus and Heartbreakers argue this was error because they were entitled to discover from the Council members whether the Ordinance was designed to prevent harmful secondary effects. We disagree. [13] In Bear Enterprises v. County of Greenville, 319 S.C. 137, 459 S.E.2d 883 (Ct.App.1995), the Court of Appeals commented on the propriety of using Council members' deposition testimony regarding their decisions: We note that Bear deposed Council members and presented their testimony as evidence to support Bear's argument that Council's decision [against rezoning] was arbitrary. We are aware of no authority allowing someone challenging action by Council to interrogate members individually to impeach Council's decision. The governing body of a municipality acts as a collective body, not as individuals, and decisions made in this fashion are the product of debate and compromise. If individuals are not satisfied with decisions made by members of a municipal government within the limits of the law, their remedy is at the polls, not the courts. Although we feel it was inappropriate to examine Council members in this manner, the County did not object to the procedure in this case. Bear Enterprises v. County of Greenville, 319 S.C. 137, 139 n. 1, 459 S.E.2d 883, 885 n. 1 (Ct.App.1995). Moreover, the Supreme Court in Renton made clear that an alleged illicit legislative motive to suppress protected speech is not a proper basis for finding a statute unconstitutional. 475 U.S. at 47-48, 106 S.Ct. 925 (citation omitted); see also United States v. O'Brien, 391 U.S. 367, 383, 88 S.Ct. 1673, 20 L.Ed.2d 672 (1968) (Inquiries into congressional motives or purposes are a hazardous matter.). What County Council members' motivations were for passing the Ordinance simply is not a proper inquiry. Id.; Bear Enterprises, supra . Accordingly, the trial court did not err in quashing the subpoenas.