Court Opinion

ID: 4028360
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-25 07:09:02.793015+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:05.529845
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

ARMADA TOWNSHIP,                                                   UNPUBLISHED
                                                                   August 23, 2016
                Plaintiff-Appellant,

v                                                                  No. 325135
                                                                   Macomb Circuit Court
KEN HAMPSON and JACK MEDLEY,                                       LC No. 2013-004563-CZ

                Defendants-Appellees,
and

MICHIGAN TOWNSHIPS ASSOCIATION,

                Amicus Curiae.

Before: MURRAY, P.J., and STEPHENS and RIORDAN, JJ.

PER CURIAM

        In November 2013, Armada filed a complaint against defendants Ken Hampson and Jack
Medley alleging that defendants’ growing of medical marijuana1 outdoors in greenhouses, that
were accessory to the single-family residence on the property and constructed without permits in
violation of Armada’s zoning2 and building3 ordinances, was a nuisance per se. The parties filed
cross-motions for summary disposition. The trial court held that Armada’s ordinance confining
the growing of marijuana to accessory structures was preempted by section MCL 333.26423(d)
of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA), MCL 333.26421 et seq. The court also held
that the greenhouses’ construction without permits was a nuisance per se, but granted defendants
additional time to file for the particular permits and comply with Armada’s building code.
Armada appealed as of right the opinion and order partially denying and partially granting, under

1
  “Although the statutory provisions at issue refer to ‘marihuana,’ by convention this Court uses
the more common spelling ‘marijuana’ in its opinions.” People v Jones, 301 Mich App 566,
569; 837 NW2d 7 (2013), lv den 498 Mich 957 (2015).
2
    Armada Township Zoning Ordinance 114, Art. II, § 2.43.
3
    Armada Township Building Ordinance 151, § 107.

                                               -1-
MCR 2.116(C)(10) (no genuine issue as to any material fact), its cross-motion for summary
disposition.4 On appeal, Armada asks this Court to conclude that its zoning ordinance was not
preempted by the MMMA; that a proper abatement of the nuisance per se was to order the
greenhouses removed from the property; and that the trial court erred in not definitively ruling
whether the Right to Farm Act (RTFA), MCL 286.471 et seq. was a valid affirmative defense.
These issues are now moot. The Court was informed at oral argument that defendants ceased
their medical marijuana growing operation and that the greenhouses were no longer in violation
of Armada’s ordinances. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal as moot.5

       Dismissed as moot.

                                                           /s/ Christopher M. Murray
                                                           /s/ Cynthia Diane Stephens
                                                           /s/ Michael J. Riordan

4
 The Michigan Townships Association was permitted to participate as amicus curiae. Armada
Township v Ken Hampson, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered June 25, 2015
(Docket No. 325135). Defendants later sought and were granted leave to file a response to the
amicus brief. Armada Township v Ken Hampson, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals,
entered September 25, 2015 (Docket No. 325135).
5
  “An issue becomes moot when a subsequent event renders it impossible for the appellate court
to fashion a remedy.” Kieta v Thomas M Cooley Law Sch, 290 Mich App 144, 147; 799 NW2d
579 (2010).

                                              -2-