Court Opinion

ID: 9578615
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:46:47.175957+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:54.429126
License: Public Domain

CROCKETT, Chief Justice
(concurring with comments):
The Court’s decision impresses me as being correct and justifiable under the particular facts. But I am impelled to express some reservation as to the application of the doctrine of estoppel against the state or its agencies. See reasoning and citation of authority in Breitling Bros. v. Utah Golden Spikers, Inc., Utah, 597 P.2d 869 (1979).
As noted therein, those charged with the responsibility of handling the business of the state should deal with others with fairness and good conscience. For that reason, I agree that in rare exigencies, where the interests of the public are not severely and adversely affected, and where otherwise some grave injustice may result, that the principle of estoppel may be applied.
To be considered in conjunction with the foregoing is the proposition that statutes should be given a sensible and practical application in accordance with their purpose. In this instance, that purpose seems to be to protect school students from possible improper influences that may emanate from a club which serves liquor. If the measurement were made from the school, and the area actually frequented by the students, to the area of the petitioner’s property involved in the sale and drinking of liquor, there would be no violation of the 600-foot restriction. This is even more true if measured by the circuitous street travel necessary to get from one to the other, rather than taking the cross-fence crow-fly route. I think the position first taken by the Commission, that there would be no violation of the statute by petitioner, was sensible and practical; and that there should be involved no serious hazard to public welfare or morals because of a discrepancy of a few feet, depending upon how the measurement is made.