Court Opinion

ID: 4389698
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-23 16:04:08.711255+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:44.117611
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),                                           FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
                                                                          Apr 23 2019, 9:21 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing                                     CLERK
                                                                           Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral                                       Court of Appeals
                                                                                and Tax Court

estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT                                   ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Laura Nirenberg                                           Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
E. Anne Benaroya                                          Attorney General of Indiana
Center for Wildlife Ethics, Inc.                          Frances Barrow
La Porte, Indiana                                         Deputy Attorney General
                                                          Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Center for Wildlife Ethics, Inc.,                         April 23, 2019
Appellant,                                                Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                          18A-PL-2500
        v.                                                Appeal from the La Porte Superior
                                                          Court
Cameron F. Clark, in his official                         The Honorable Michael S.
capacity as Director of the                               Bergerson, Judge
Indiana Department of Natural                             Trial Court Cause No.
Resources,                                                46D01-1711-PL-1931
Appellee.

Brown, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019                     Page 1 of 12
[1]   Center for Wildlife Ethics, Inc., (the “Center”) appeals the dismissal of its

      action against Cameron F. Clark in his capacity as Director of the Indiana

      Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”). We affirm.

                                           Facts and Procedural History

[2]   On November 16, 2017, the Center filed a Complaint for Declaratory

      Judgment, Emergency and Other Injunctive Relief. The complaint alleged that

      DNR published LSA Document #17-486(E) on November 8, 2017, as an

      emergency rule; that deer hunting seasons were from November 18, 2017 to

      December 3, 2017, and December 26, 2017 to January 7, 2018; and that DNR

      exceeded its authority when it used an emergency rule to permit rifle hunting of

      deer on public lands. LSA Document #17-486(E) indicated that it was an

      emergency rule and that the document expired on February 1, 2018, and it

      provided in part that 312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-3-3(c)(6) was superseded to

      include language that “A rifle, with the use of cartridges described in SECTION

      2(b) of this document, [may be used] on publicly owned land.” 1 Appellant’s

      Appendix Volume 2 at 27. On November 21, 2017, the court denied the

      Center’s request for emergency injunctive relief. On December 15, 2017, the

      1
          312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-3-3, titled “Equipment for deer hunting,” provides:

                 (c) During the firearms season established in section 4(e) of this rule and the special
                 antlerless season established in section 4(h) of this rule, an individual must hunt deer only
                 with any of the following equipment:
                                                           *****
                          (6) A rifle, with the use of cartridges described in subsection (d)(4) only.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019                        Page 2 of 12
      Center filed a motion for preliminary injunction and for temporary restraining

      order alleging that DNR refused to allow a member of its organization to enter

      Potato Creek State Park on November 27, 2017, because it allowed rifle hunting

      on the premises that day and the next day. On December 29, 2017, the court

      issued an order denying the Center’s request for injunctive relief. On January

      10, 2018, DNR filed a motion to dismiss arguing that LSA Document #17-

      486(E) would expire on February 1, 2018, and the matter was moot. The

      Center filed a response arguing the harm at issue is capable of repetition.

[3]   On April 19, 2018, the Center filed a First Amended Verified Complaint for

      Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief. The amended complaint states

      that the legislature made significant changes to Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 in 2018

      and abolished the private property limitation, 2 and that DNR lacks authority to

      use the emergency rule process in Ind. Code § 4-22-2-37.1 3 to implement Ind.

      Code § 14-22-2-8. An exhibit attached to the amended complaint includes LSA

      Document #18-279(E), which was an emergency rule effective July 2, 2018,

      and expiring January 1, 2019, and which indicated in part that, notwithstanding

      312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-2-11 and 312 Ind. Admin. Code 8-2 and any other

      2
        Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 governs the use of a rifle to hunt deer and, as amended by Pub. L. No. 195-2017, § 7
      (eff. July 1, 2017), and Pub. L. No. 39-2018, § 6 (eff. July 1, 2017), provides that DNR may adopt rules under
      Ind. Code §§ 4-22-2 to authorize the use of rifles on public property.
      3
          Ind. Code § 4-22-2-37.1 governs the adoption of emergency rules.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019                   Page 3 of 12
      provision governing hunting a wild animal within a state park, 4 individuals

      qualified under the emergency rule may hunt white-tailed deer on November

      12, 13, 26, and 27, 2018, at nineteen sites and restricting access to the sites on

      those dates. On May 9, 2018, DNR filed a notice indicating that it had filed a

      notice of removal in the United States District Court for the Northern District

      of Indiana, South Bend Division. On July 12, 2018, the district court issued an

      order finding that the Center disclaimed any potential federal questions by

      representing that the amended complaint does not allege any violations of the

      federal constitution or federal law and remanding the case to the La Porte

      Superior Court.

[4]   On July 24, 2018, DNR filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint under

      Ind. Trial Rule 12(B)(6). DNR argued, citing Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6(d), 5 that it

      may use an emergency rule to effectuate a limited modification or suspension of

      its rules related to the taking of animals. It also argued that a temporary

      prohibition on entrance for safety reasons does not violate Indiana law.

      Following a hearing, the court entered an order on October 5, 2018, providing:

      “Given the adoption by the Indiana State Legislature of House Enrolled Act

      1292/P.L. 195-2017 (made retroactive to July 1, 2017), [DNR’s] Motion to

      4
        312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-2-11 states in part that “[a]n individual must not take or chase a wild animal, other
      than a fish, in a state park or a state historic site.” 312 Ind. Admin. Code 8-2 provides general restrictions on
      the use of DNR properties.
      5
       Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6 governs the adoption of rules to establish the length of seasons, the methods, means,
      and time of taking wild animals, and other necessary rules. Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6(d) provides: “The director
      may modify or suspend a rule for a time not to exceed one (1) year under IC 4-22-2-37.1.”

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019                      Page 4 of 12
      Dismiss pursuant to Trial Rule 12(B)(6) should be GRANTED.” Appellant’s

      Appendix Volume 2 at 12.

                                                   Discussion

[5]   The issue is whether the trial court erred in dismissing the Center’s action. A

      motion to dismiss pursuant to Ind. Trial Rule 12(B)(6) tests the legal sufficiency

      of the complaint. Price v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 80 N.E.3d 170, 173 (Ind.

      2017). The rule requires that we accept as true the facts alleged in the

      complaint. Id. We review 12(B)(6) motions de novo and will affirm a dismissal

      if the allegations are incapable of supporting relief under any set of

      circumstances. Id. We will also affirm a dismissal if the decision is sustainable

      on any basis in the record. Id.

[6]   The Center argues that DNR does not have legislative authority to adopt an

      emergency rule to permit rifle hunting of deer on state park and other public

      premises. The Center contends that, while Ind. Code § 14-2-22-8 as amended

      may authorize DNR to permit rifle hunting on public property, it does not

      allow DNR to “to exercise its newly-minted authority in the dark or to

      circumvent the public by failing to provide notice, opportunity to comment, and

      public hearings.” Appellant’s Brief at 19-20. In support of its position, the

      Center cites Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 and argues that DNR’s authorization to use

      emergency rules “expressly excludes the Controlled Hunts Statute and the Rifle-

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019   Page 5 of 12
      Hunting Statute.” 6 Id. at 20. In its reply brief, the Center states “[t]here is no

      question that [DNR] has authority to limit public access to state parks and

      historic sites when the activity that justifies denying access is one the agency has

      authority to permit on the premises and access is limited or denied for

      legitimate public safety reasons.” Appellant’s Reply Brief at 15-16 n.36.

[7]   DNR maintains that, with the amendment of Ind. Code § 14-2-22-8, the

      Center’s original complaint became moot as it could no longer claim that DNR

      lacked authority to allow rifle hunting on public property. DNR argues that the

      claim in the Center’s amended complaint fails because Indiana law permits it to

      adopt emergency rules to authorize the use of rifles on public property for deer

      hunting. DNR further contends, citing Ind. Code § 14-22-6-13, that its

      authorization of a controlled hunt must be under rules adopted under Ind. Code

      §§ 4-22-2; that Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8(e) permits it to adopt rules under Ind.

      Code §§ 4-22-2 to authorize the use of rifles on public property; and, citing Ind.

      Code § 14-22-2-6(d), that it may use an emergency rule to effect a limited

      modification or suspension of rules regarding the taking of wild animals. DNR

      also asserts that the Center’s reliance on Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 is misplaced and

      that the list in the statute is not exclusive, as shown by Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6(d)

      which separately allows it to adopt emergency rules under Ind. Code § 4-22-2-

      6
       Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 provides: “The department may adopt emergency rules under IC 4-22-2-37.1 to carry
      out the duties of the department under the following: . . . (11) IC 14-22-3, IC 14-22-4, and IC 14-22-5. . . .”
      The Center refers to Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 as the rifle hunting statute and to Ind. Code § 14-22-6-13 as the
      controlled hunts statute.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019                     Page 6 of 12
      37.1. It states that it has authority to control admission to state parks, and that

      “[e]mergency rules for deer hunting are necessary given that deer populations

      fluctuate and DNR must make new determinations every year whether a

      controlled hunt is necessary” and “[s]uch a flexible system for addressing deer

      over-population would not be possible through the lengthy proceedings required

      for regular rulemaking.” Appellee’s Brief at 14.

[8]   To the extent we must interpret statutory language, if a statute is not susceptible

      to more than one interpretation, we must give the statute its clear and plain

      meaning. Cook v. Atlanta, Ind. Town Council, 956 N.E.2d 1176, 1178 (Ind. Ct.

      App. 2011), reh’g denied, trans. denied. If a statute is susceptible to multiple

      interpretations, we attempt to ascertain the legislature’s intent and interpret the

      statute so as to effectuate that intent. Id. We presume the legislature intended

      logical application of the language used in the statute, so as to avoid unjust or

      absurd results. Id. We will avoid an interpretation that renders any part of the

      statute meaningless or superfluous. Id. Where statutes address the same

      subject, we harmonize them if possible. Parsley v. MGA Family Grp., Inc., 103
N.E.3d 651, 655 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018), reh’g denied.

[9]   Ind. Code §§ 4-22-2 governs the adoption of administrative rules. Ind. Code §

      4-22-2-37.1 relates to the adoption of an emergency rule, and Ind. Code § 4-22-

      2-37.1(b) provides that “[a] rule may be adopted under this section if a statute

      delegating authority to an agency to adopt rules authorizes adoption of such a

      rule: (1) under this section; or (2) in the manner provided by this section.”

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019   Page 7 of 12
[10]   Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 provides: “The department[7] may adopt emergency rules

       under IC 4-22-2-37.1 to carry out the duties of the department under the

       following: . . . (11) IC 14-22-3, IC 14-22-4, and IC 14-22-5. . . .” Ind. Code §

       14-19-1-2 provides DNR may make available to the public “under rules adopted

       by the department public parks and other suitable places for recreation,

       conservation, and management of natural and cultural resources” and

       “[c]onstruct, rent, lease, license, or operate public service privileges and

       facilities in a state park.” 312 Ind. Admin. Code 8-5-3 provides that “[a]

       property manager or another authorized representative may require a person to

       leave a DNR property or may otherwise restrict a person’s use of a DNR

       property” and “[a]n ejection or restriction imposed under this section may be

       made applicable to all or a portion of particular DNR property, to multiple

       DNR properties, or to all DNR properties.”

[11]   Ind. Code §§ 14-22 governs fish and wildlife, and Ind. Code §§ 14-22-2 relate to

       the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Ind. Code § 14-22-2-3 states the director shall

       “[p]rovide for the protection, reproduction, care, management, survival, and

       regulation of wild animal populations regardless of whether the wild animals

       are present on public or private property in Indiana” and “[o]rganize and

       pursue a program of research and management of wild animals that will serve

       the best interests of the resources and the people of Indiana.” Ind. Code § 14-

       7
        Ind. Code § 14-8-2-67 provides: “‘Department’, except for purposes of IC 14-20-7 and IC 14-32, refers to the
       department of natural resources.”

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019                  Page 8 of 12
       22-2-4 states the director shall issue required licenses and permits. Ind. Code §

       14-22-2-5 provides the director or the director’s representative may enter into or

       upon private or public property for the purposes of managing and protecting a

       wild animal found upon or within the property and killing or removing a wild

       animal that is considered a nuisance or detrimental to overall populations.

[12]   Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6, titled “Adoption of rules,” provides:

               (a) The director shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to do the
               following:

                        (1) Establish, open, close, lengthen, suspend, or shorten
                        seasons.

                        (2) Establish bag, sex, and size limits.

                        (3) Establish limitations on the numbers of hunters and
                        fishermen.

                        (4) Establish the methods, means, and time of:

                                (A) taking, chasing, transporting, and selling; or

                                (B) attempting to take, transport, or sell;

                        wild animals or exotic mammals, with or without dogs, in
                        Indiana or in a designated part of Indiana.

                        (5) Establish other necessary rules to do the following:

                                (A) Administer this chapter.

                                (B) Properly manage wild animals or exotic mammals
                                in a designated water or land area of Indiana.

                        (6) Set aside and designate land or water or parts of the land
                        or water owned, controlled, or under contract or acquired by
                        the state for conservation purposes as a public hunting and

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019   Page 9 of 12
                        fishing ground under the restrictions, conditions, and
                        limitations that are determined to be appropriate.

                                                     *****

               (d) The director may modify or suspend a rule for a time not to exceed one
               (1) year under IC 4-22-2-37.1.

       (Emphasis added).

[13]   Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 provides in part:

               (b) A hunter may use a rifle to hunt deer on privately owned land
               subject to the following:

                        (1) The use of a rifle is permitted during hunting seasons
                        established by the department.

                        (2) The rifle must be chambered for a cartridge that fires a
                        bullet that is two hundred forty-three thousandths (.243) of
                        an inch in diameter or larger.

                        (3) The rifle must fire a cartridge that has a minimum case
                        length of one and sixteen-hundredths (1.16) inches, but is no
                        longer than three (3) inches.

                        (4) A hunter may not possess more than ten (10) cartridges
                        for the rifle while hunting deer under this section.

                        (5) The rifle must meet any other requirements established by
                        the department.

               (c) The use of a full metal jacketed bullet to hunt deer is unlawful.

               (d) The department shall report on the impact of the use of rifles to
               hunt deer under this section to the governor and . . . the general
               assembly before February 15, 2020.

               (e) The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to authorize the use of
               rifles on public property.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019       Page 10 of 12
               (f) This section expires June 30, 2020.

       (Emphasis added). See Pub. L. No. 39-2018, § 6 (eff. July 1, 2017) (amending

       Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 to insert current subsection (e)).

[14]   Further, Ind. Code § 14-22-6-13, titled “Controlled hunts within state parks and

       historic sites,” provides:

               If the director:

                        (1) determines that a species of wild animal present within a
                        state park or historic site poses an unusual hazard to the
                        health or safety of one (1) or more individuals;

                        (2) determines, based upon the opinion of a professional
                        biologist, that it is likely that:

                                (A) a species of wild animal present within a state
                                park or historic site will cause obvious and measurable
                                damage to the ecological balance within the state park
                                or historic site; and

                                (B) the ecological balance within the state park or
                                historic site will not be maintained unless action is
                                taken to control the population of the species within
                                the state park or historic site; or

                        (3) is required under a condition of a lease from the federal
                        government to manage a particular wild animal species;

               the director shall authorize the taking of a species within the state
               park or historic site under rules adopted under IC 4-22-2.

[15]   While Ind. Code § 14-22-2-8 related to use of a rifle to hunt deer and Ind. Code

       § 14-22-6-13 related to controlled hunts in a state park do not specifically

       reference Ind. Code § 4-22-2-37.1, both statutes authorize DNR to adopt rules
       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019   Page 11 of 12
       under Ind. Code §§ 4-22-2. Ind. Code § 14-10-2-5 does not state that its list of

       statutory provisions for which DNR may adopt emergency rules is an exclusive

       list. Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6(d) provides for the adoption of rules to establish,

       among other things, the methods and means of taking wild animals as well as to

       designate land controlled by the state as a public hunting ground under

       conditions determined to be appropriate, and the statute expressly authorizes

       DNR to temporarily modify or suspend a rule pursuant to Ind. Code § 4-22-2-

       37.1. LSA Document #17-486(E) temporarily superseded portions of 312 Ind.

       Admin. Code 9-3-3 governing equipment for deer hunting, and LSA Document

       #18-279(E) temporarily superseded 312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-2-11 to permit

       deer hunting on four days at certain sites. Both 312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-3-3

       and 312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-2-11 were authorized by Ind. Code § 14-22-2-6.

       Based upon the record, we conclude the trial court did not err in dismissing the

       Center’s amended complaint.

[16]   For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

[17]   Affirmed.

       Bailey, J., and Bradford, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-PL-2500 | April 23, 2019   Page 12 of 12