Court Opinion

ID: 9566642
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:41:37.711792+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:38:49.186229
License: Public Domain

Hamley, C. J.
(concurring in part and dissenting in part) —In doing, or threatening to do, the acts which have been enjoined pendente lite, appellant commission purports to act under authority of chapter 281, Laws of 1953, p. 743. I agree with the majority that the authority conferred by this act may not be exercised in a manner which violates the provisions of § 10 thereof (RCW 43.52.450). I also agree that an injunction pendente lite is warranted to the extent, if any, such injunction is needed to stop an actual or threatened violation of that section.
Section 10 reads as follows:
“The provisions of this act shall be cumulative and shall not impair or supersede the powers or rights of any person, firm or corporation or political subdivision of the state of Washington under any other law. . . .” (Italics mine.)
What are the “powers or rights” of respondent district “under any other law,” with respect to the Priest Rapids hydroelectric project? For the purpose of passing upon the validity of this temporary injunction, and without undertaking to foreclose a judicial examination of such matters in this or other proceedings, I would enumerate such powers or rights as follows: (1) to conduct studies, acquire property, and incur expense in developing data in support of its application before the Federal power commission for a license to construct the Priest Rapids hydroelectric project; (2) to apply to the Federal power commission for such a license; and (3) to proceed in the foregoing matters without the necessity of complying with any provision of chapter 281, Laws of 1953, or of participating in any proceedings instituted by appellant commission thereunder.
I do not understand that appellants are interfering with, or threatening to interfere with, any of these rights or pow*238ers. However, if it is considered that there is any such interference or threat, I would favor entry of an injunction pendente lite to protect respondent in the exercise of these powers or rights.
In my opinion, respondent district does not have the power or right “under any other law” to pursue its application before the Federal power commission free of competing applications filed by other persons, firms, corporations, or political subdivisions. As in the case of any other applicant before the Federal power commission, respondent had to take its chances in competition with every other applicant. The fact that respondent has preceded others in applying for such a license and has expended money in perfecting the same gives it no legally-recognized “power or right” under “any other law” to a free field in pursuing such application. It is for the Federal power commission to determine whether respondent is entitled to any consideration because of its priority of effort. Chapter 281, Laws of 1953, gave respondent no additional powers or rights—it only reserved the powers or rights respondent already had “under any other law.”
It follows, I believe, that § 10, quoted above, provides no basis for enjoining appellant commission from pursuing its competing application before the Federal power commission. In pursuing such application, and as a preliminary step thereto, an administrative proceeding must be held in accordance with § 7, chapter 281, Laws of 1953 (RCW 43.52.320). Such administrative proceeding is for the protection of respondent and those similarly situated. It is designed to restrict the power of appellant commission to' proceed with projects in which public utility districts and others are interested.
I would accordingly reverse and remand the order under review, with directions to modify the injunction pendente lite by adding the provisions suggested earlier in this opinion, and striking the present provision restraining appellant commission from pursuing its application to the Federal power commission for a license to ■ construct the Priest *239Rapids hydroelectric project, and the provision restraining appellant commission from proceeding in accordance with the administrative provisions of § 7 of the act. The inclusion of the suggested new provisions would give assurance that respondent need not itself participate in such administrative proceeding.
Appellants and respondent raise some constitutional questions. These need not now be decided. This is an action for a declaratory judgment. The temporary restraining order and injunction pendente lite were entered only to maintain the status quo pending disposition of the declaratory judgment action. The main action has not yet come to trial. Hence, it seems to me our present review should be limited to those questions necessary for a determination of the validity of the injunction pendente lite.
Weaver and Hill, JJ., concur with Hamley, C. J.