Court Opinion

ID: 880193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-04 23:58:13.297029+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:07:35.217578
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
                                          Docket No. 38511

 STATEOFIDAHO,DEPARTMENTOT' )
 TRANSPORTATION,                                    )
                                                    )
       Plaintiff-Respondent,                        )   Coeur d'Alene, May 2012 Term
                                                    )
                                                    )   2012 OpinionNo. 85
                                                    )
 HJ GRATHOL, a California general                   )   Filed: June 1,2012
 partnership,                                       )
                                                    )   Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
       Defendant-Appellant,

 and

 STERLING SAVINGS BANK, A
 Washington corporation; and DOES          I
 through 5,

       Defendants.

        Appeal from the district court of the First Judicial District ofthe State ofldaho,
        Kootenai County. Hon. Lansing Haynes, District Judge.

        The decision of the district court is affrrmed. Neither party is awarded
        attorney's fees. Costs on appeal are awarded to Respondent.

        Ramsden & Lyons, LLP, Coeur d'Alene, for Appellant. Christopher D.
        Gabbert argued.

        Holland & Hart, Boise, for Respondent. Mary V. york argued.

W. JONES, Justice
                                    I.   NATURE oF THE CASE
      HJ Grathol ("Grathol") is a califomia general partnership that owns real estate in
Kootenai County, Idaho. Grathol purchased a parcel for commercial real estate development,
which is located at or near the northeast comer of US Highway 95 and state Highway 54 in
Kootenai county (hereinafter referred to as "Grathol's parcel" or ,,the parcel',). The Idaho
Transportation Board ("the Board") later sought to condemn sixteen acres of the parcel
(hereinafter the portion of Grathol's parcel that is subject to condemnation shall be referred to
                                                                                                  as
"the subject property") in order to realigr US Highway 95 and to construct an interchange with
State Highway      54. Grathol contends that   the Board failed to negotiate for the subject property   in
good faith because the Board's offer did not account for the extension ofSylvan Road to Roberts
Road ('the Sylvar/Roberts Extension"), which Grathol contends would front the subject property
and significantly increase its value. Grathol fi.rther asserts that the Board failed to file its
Complaint and Order of Condemnation in accordance with I.C. $ 7-707 before moving for early
possession of the subject property pursuant to the "quick-take" provisions of I.C. 5 7 -721.

                          II. FAcruAL   AND PRoCEDURAL BAcKcRoUND
           Grathol engages in the business of commercial real estate development in ldaho. It has
taken significant steps to corffnercially develop the parcel, u'hich      it originally purchased   as a
commercial real estate investment venture. To further the development of its parcel, Grathol
filed site plans, submitted a traffic impact study, and successfully secured commercial rezoning
from Kootenai County. Moreover, Grathol has marketed the parcel and engaged in negotiations
with potential tenants.
       As it currently exists, US Highway 95 is primarily a two-lane highway. In 2002, the
Board initiated a comprehensive study of US Highway 95 between the communities of Garwood
and Sagle to determine the feasibility of improving the highway to a fourJane divided highway
with Tlpe V Access Control. The study concluded that the highway should be improved in
order to increase safety and accommodate present and future traffic demands. The study was
eventually incorporated into the Garwood to Sagle Project which primarily sought to realign US
Highway 95 and to construct an interchange with State Highway 54. The Board approved the
Garwood       to   Sagle Project through   its   annual approval     of the federally firnded State
Transportation Improvement Plan ("the STIP"), which incorporated the Garwood                  to   Sagle
Project. Due to the size of the Garwood to Sagle Project, the Board divided it into                seven
segments. Grathol's parcel is located within the Athol Segment.
       The Board has the power of eminent domain pursuant to I.C. $ 40-311(l). The Board
contends that the subject property is needed for the Garwood to Sagle Project, Athol Segment,
       it authorized the condemnation ofthe subject property through its annual approval ofthe
and that

STIP. According to MAI appraiser Stanley Moe, the fair market value of the subject property is
$571,000. In an effort to avoid a condemnation action, the Board offered Grathol an additional
ten percent above the appraised fair market value for a total offer of $628,100. Grathol
countered the Board's offer with a demand for $3 million to $3.5 million on June 28,2010,
contending that the appraisal does not account for the subject propefty' s frontage, which would
result from the Sylvar/Roberts Extension.
       The Board contends that it is not seeking to condemn any portion of the parcel in order to
construct the Sylvan/Roberts Extension. It points out that neither the Complaint nor tlle Order     of
Condemnation references the condemnation of any portion of the parcel for construction of the
Sylvar/Roberts Extension. In this regard, Jason Minzghor, Project Development Engineer with
the Board, contends that Grathol is under the mistaken belief that the Board intends to condemn
a portion   of its parcel for the Sylvan/Roberts Extension because of a meeting held on August I,
2010. During that meeting, two property owners, Jameson Mortgage and Frederick Krasnick,
approached the Board with a proposal to extend Sylvan Road to Roberts Road through their
respective properties. Minzghor asserts that the proposal was contingent upon Mortgage,
Krasnick and Grathol dedicating a portion of their properties for the Sylvar/Roberts Extension in
exchange for the resulting frontages that would run through their properties. Minzghor claims
that after Grathol rejected the proposal, there have been no further plans in this regard.
       On November 19, 2010, the Board filed its Complaint with an attached Order of
Condemnation, which was dated November 17, 2010, and was signed by the Director of the
Idaho Transportation Department ("the Director") on behalf of the Board. On December 21,
2010, the Board filed its Motion for an Order Granting Possession of Real Property pursuant to
the "quick-take" provisions of I.C. $ 7-721. Gruthol filed its Response to the Board's Motion for
an Order Granting Possession of Real Property on January 10,2011, contending, among other
things, that the Complaint and the Order          of   Condemnation failed   to meet the     statutory
requirements of I.C. $ 7-707 and that the Board failed to negotiate in good       faith. The district
court filed its Order Granting Possession of Real Property on January 27, 2011, holding that the
requirements    of I.C. $ 7-721 werc    satisfied and that the amount of just compensation was
$571,000. The district court then filed a Rule 54(b) Certificate on January 27,2011, holding that
there was no just reason for delay of the entry of final judgment because the Board established
the "quick-take" provisions of I.C. g 7-721. On February     l, 201l, Grathol timely frled its Notice
ofAppeal. Thereafter, the district court entered Final Judgment on March 4,2011.
                                      III.   IssUEs oN APPEAL
1.          Whether the Complaint and Order of Condemnation were filed in accordance with I.C. $
            7-707?
2.          Whether the Board failed to negotiate in good faith pursuant to I.C. 5 7-721(2)(d)?
3.          Whether Grathol is entitled to attomey's fees on appeal pursuant to I.C. $           l2-l l7?
4.          Whether the Board is entitled to attomey's fees on appeal pursuant to I.C. $ 12-121?
                                        IV.     STANDARD oF          REvIEw
            The "quick+ake" provisions of I.C. $ 7-721(2) allow state entities that possess the power
of eminent domain to "obtain property . . . for a public purpose without the delay of a lengthy
tial;'      Payette Lakes ll'ater and Sewer Dist. v. Hays, 103 Idaho 717,718, 653 P.2d 438, 439
(1982). After commencing an action for condemnation, the state entity may deposit with the
court the amount initially determined as'Just compensation" for the property.                        Id.    After a
hearing is held, the court can then enter an order enabling the state entity to take possession                    of
and use the property pending a       full   turial.   Id.   Subsection (2) of I.C. $ 7-721 states that the court

             "shall first determine whether or not plaintiff(a) has the right of eminent domain,
            (b) whether or not the use to which the property is to be applied is a use
            authorized by law, (c) whether or not the taking is necessary to such use, and (d)
            whether or not plaintiff has sought, in good faith, to purchase the lands sought to
            betaken...."
A.          The Complaint and the Order of Condemnation Were Filed in Accordance with I.C.
            s7-707
            Grathol contends that the Order of Condemnation was not filed in accordance with I.C. $
7   -707   (6) because the Director signed the Order of Condemnation and the Board never approved
the condemnation ofthe subject property through a formal board meeting, which Grathol asserts
is contrary to a strict construction of LC. $$ 40-308, 40-3l l(l), and 40-505, among others.
Grathol further asserts that because the Order of Condemnation, which Grathol claims contains
an express declaration that the Board is extending Sylvan Road to Roberts Road through
Grathol's parcel, conflicts with the Complaint, which Grathol asserts does not address the
Sylvan/Roberts Extension, both are invalid pursuant to I.C. $ 7 -707(6) because they do not
provide a clear description of the property rights acquired.
            l.   The   Director May Sign the Order of Condemnation on Behalf of the Board
            "The interpretation of a statute is a question of law over which this Court exercises free
review." Doe v. Boy Scouts of Am.,l48 Idaho 427,430,224P.3d494,497 (2009). Judicial
interpretation of a statute begins with an examination of the statute's literal words. State                       v.
Burnight, 132 Idaho 654, 659,978 P.2d,214, 219 (1999). "This Court interprets statutes
according to their plain, express meaning and resorts to judiciai construction only   if the statute is
ambiguous, incomplete, absurd, or arguably in conflict with other laws." Arel v. T & L Enter.,
Inc., 1 46 Idaho 29, 32, 1 89 P.3d I 149, 1 I 52 (2008).
        Idaho Code section 7-707(6) states:
        An order of condemnation, or resolution, or other official and binding document
        entered by the plaintiffwhich sets forth and clearly identifies all property rights to
        be acquired including rights to and from the public way, and permanent and
        temporary easements known or reasonably identifrable to the condemning
        autnodty.
According to the plain language of the statute, an order of condemnation must be "entered" by
the Board. Pursuant to LC. $ 40-505, the Director possesses "necessary incidental powers"           of
administration on behalf of the Board. Black's Law dictionary defines an "incidental power" as
"[a] power that, although not      expressly granted, must exist because     it is necessary to the
accomplishment     of an erpress purpose." Black's Law Dictionary 1288 (9th ed. 2009).
Therefore, according to LC. $ 40-505, the Director possesses broad powers to carry out the
express actions of the   Board. In this regard, the plain language of I.C. $ 40-505 states that the
Director acts as the administrative arm of the Board. The power of eminent domain is one of the
powers exclusively vested by law in the Board. See I.C. $ 40-311(l). As the record establishes,

the Director did not unilaterally condemn the subj ect property without the authority ofthe Board.
Instead, the Board approved      of the condemnation of the subject property through its annual
approval of the STIP.    &e I.C. $ 40-310. Although the Order of Condemnation         was signed by
the Director, it was filed in the name of the Board, not the Director, and expressly invoked the
Board's power of condemnation pursuant to I.C. $ 40-311(1). It is the Board, not the Director,
who is exercising the power of eminent domain in the Order of Condemnation. The Director is
merely acting in an administrative capacity on behalf of the Board pursuant to I.C. $ 40-314(3)
and Board Policy   8-{3-01 in order to carry out the Board's express power of condemnation.
        Grathol's assertion that the Board must hold a board meeting every time         it   condemns
private property for a public purpose is unsupported by the plain language of the statutes that
Grathol cites in its opening brief and impractical due to the sheer size of public roads projects
and the relative infrequency of board meetings. It is for these reasons that the Director typically
signs orders of condemnation on behalf of the Board. Furthermore, the cases that Grathol cites
in its opening brief are irrelevant and unconvincing because the Board never ceded its power to
condemn private property for public purposes to the Director. Grathol's assertion that the Board
violated ldaho's Open Meeting Act because it did not hold a formal board meeting to condemn
the subject property is similarly unconvincing.
           2.    The Complainl and Order of Condemnation Do Not Express Any Intention to
                 Condemn Any Portion of Grathol's Land for the Purpose of the SylvailRoberts
                 Extension
           Although the Order of Condemnation refers to the Sylvan/Roberts Extension, that section
deals with rights of access to and from the remaining non-condemned portions of Grathol's
parcel to various roads and highways. Furthermore, the Order of Condemnation specifically
identifies the subject property as being such "property [as] has been designated and shown as the
above parcel number on the plans           of   said project now on   file in the office of the Idaho
Transportation Department." The plans refer to the US-95, Garwood to Sagle, Athol Stage, and
map out the 16.314 acres            of the subject property, but they    make no reference       to   the

Sylvan/Roberts Extension. The Complaint makes reference to those plans as well when it
identifies the subject property, but it also makes no reference to the Sylvan/Roberts Extension.
Instead,    it   states that the Board seeks to condemn the subject property   in order to "widen[] and
improv[e] . . . U.S. Highway 95 south of State Highway 52 to north of the community of Sagle . .
.   ."   The Complaint further elaborates that "[t]he particular segrnent of the Project for which
Defendants' property is required is U.S. 95 Garwood to Sagle - Athol Stage, Kootenai County,
Idaho, ITD Project No. 4009(791), Key No. 9791 ."
           Thus, there is no basis for Grathol's assertion that the Order of Condemnation conllicts
with the Complaint. Grathol would like this Court to consider the possible extension of Sylvan
Road to Roberts Road through Grathol's property in the future in determining just compensation
and whether the Complaint conflicts with the Order of Condemnation.                 If   Sylvan Road is
extended to Roberts Road through Grathol's property in the future, then, at that time, the Board
will     be required to determine the just compensation due for that portion of Grathol's property
that is necessary for the project. At this time, this Court refuses to engage in such speculative
contemplation.
B.         The Board Negotiated in Good Faith for the Subject Property Pursuant to l.C. $ 7-
           72t(z)(d)
               Grathol contends that the Board did not negotiate in good faith to purchase the subject
property pursuant to I.C. g 7 -721(2)(d) because the appraisal did not include any consideration
for the extension of Sylvan Road to Roberts Road across Grathol's parcel.
               Idaho Code section 7-721 states that    "[i]n any proceeding under the provisions of this
chapter for the acquisition of real property, the plaintiff may take possession of and use such
property at any time after just compensation has been judicially determined and payment thereof
made into court." Judicial determination of just compensation                is   satisfied when the court
determines, among other requirements, that the
               plaintiff has sought, in good faith, to purchase the lands sought to be taken and the
               court shall enter ar order thereon which shall be a final order as to these issues
               and an appeal may be taken therefrom; provided, however, no appeal therefrom
               shall stay further proceedings.
l.C.   S   7   -721(2)(d). Just compensation is based on fair market value, which is the price for which
the property that is taken could be sold by an owner willing to sell to a willing purchaser on the
date of the taking. Ada Cnty. Highway Dist. v. Magwire, 104 Idaho              656,658-59,662P.2d237,
23940 (1983).
               Neither the Order of Condemnation nor the Complaint proposes condemnation of any
portion of Grathol's parcel for the purpose ofthe Sylvan/Roberts Extension. Though the Order
of Condemnation briefly mentions the Sylvan/Robens Extension, that section describes right of
access to and from the remaining property belonging to Grathol to the Sylvan/Roberts Extension.

The Affidavit of Jason Minzghor asserts that the Board has no intention of condemning any
portion of Grathol's parcel for the construction of the Sylvan/Roberts Extension. As mentioned
before, Grathol elected not to dedicate its property for the Sylvan/Roberts Extension, causing the
Board to abandon that proposal. Because the basis of Grathol's argument relies entirely on its
assertion that the Board's offer does not account for the Sylvan/Roberts Extension, this Court
holds that the Board negotiated in good faith for the subject property pursuant to LC. $ 7-
72r(2)(d).
C.             Grathol Is Not Entitled to Attorney's Fees on Appeal Pursuant to I.C. $ 12-1U
               Grathol requests attomey's fees on appeal pursuant to I-C. $ 12-117. Because Grathol is
not the prevailing party on appeal, it is not entitled to attomey's fees.
D.             The Board Is Not Entitled to Attorney's Fees on Appeal Pursuant to LC. S 12-121
         The Board contends that it is entitled to aftomey's fees on appeal pursuant to I.C. $ 12-
121 because Grathol acted without a reasonable basis in fact or law          in filing this   appeal.

Pursuant to I.C. $ 12-121, the prevailing pany may be awarded attomey's fees'Vhen this Court
is left with an abiding belief that the     appeal has been brought     or   defended frivolously,
unreasonably, or without foundation." Karlson v.    Harris,l40 Idaho 561,571,97 P.3d428,438
(2004). This Court denies the Board's request because I.C. $ 12-117 is the exclusive means for
awarding attomey's fees for actions involving state entities. See Potlatch Educ. Ass'n v. Potlatch
Sch.   Dist. No. 285,148 Idaho 630,635,226P.3d1277,1282 (2010).
                                         \.I. CoNcLUsroN
         Because the Board negotiated     in good faith for the subject property and filed        its
Complaint and Order of Condemnation in accordance with LC. S 7-707, this Court affirms the
district court's decision holding that the "quick-take" provisions of LC. g 7 -721(2'S were
satisfied. Neither party is entitled to aftomey's fees on appeal. Costs are awarded to the Board.
         Chief Justice BURDICK, Justices EISMANN. J. JONES and HORTON CONCUR,