Court Opinion

ID: 3214533
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-20 07:09:06.524608+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:39:36.823929
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                           COURT OF APPEALS

CARL BERRY,                                                        FOR PUBLICATION
                                                                   June 17, 2016
              Plaintiff-Appellant,                                 9:00 a.m.

v                                                                  No. 333225
                                                                   Wayne Circuit Court
CATHY M. GARRETT, WAYNE COUNTY                                     LC No. 16-006147-AW
ELECTION COMMISSION, PLYMOUTH
TOWNSHIP CLERK, and PLYMOUTH
TOWNSHIP ELECTION COMMISSION,

              Defendants-Appellees,

and

DONALD F. SCHNETTLER, and KURT L.
HEISE,

              Intervening Defendants-Appellees.

Before: WILDER, P.J., and K.F. KELLY and FORT HOOD, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

     Plaintiff appeals as of right from the circuit court’s order denying his requested writ of
mandamus against defendants. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

        This case arises out of affidavits of identity filed by intervening defendants Donald F.
Schnettler and Kurt L. Heise regarding the August 2, 2016 primary election in Plymouth
Township (Plymouth). Schnettler and Heise sought, respectively, the positions of township
trustee and township supervisor. It is undisputed that, in their affidavits of identity, neither
Schnettler nor Heise provided a precinct number as required by MCL 168.558, nor did either
timely cure that defect.

       Plaintiff is a registered voter and a resident of Plymouth. He instituted this action on
May 13, 2016, by filing a three-count complaint. In relevant part, the complaint sought a writ of
mandamus against defendants. Plaintiff also filed an ex parte motion to show cause why a writ
of mandamus should not issue. Plaintiff alleged that, because of the defect in Schnettler and
Heise’s affidavits of identity, defendants had a clear legal duty not to place Schnettler and

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Heise’s names on the ballot for the August 2, 2016 primary election. Plaintiff further alleged
that he had a clear legal right to performance of defendants’ statutory duties regarding the
primary election. Defendants responded, arguing that they had no clear legal duty to
“investigate” the accuracy of the information in the affidavits at issue. Defendants further
argued that, in any event, the relief sought by plaintiff was inappropriate because (1) even
assuming that he could demonstrate the existence of a clear legal duty on behalf of defendants,
plaintiff had no clear legal right to performance of that duty; (2) plaintiff was barred from
seeking mandamus because he had an adequate remedy at law in quo warranto; and (3) plaintiff
lacked standing. Ultimately, the trial court agreed with defendants that plaintiff had “not shown
he has a clear legal right to the performance of the alleged duty[.]” Thus, the trial court denied
plaintiff’s request for a writ of mandamus and dismissed the case.

       On appeal, plaintiff argues that the trial court erred by so ruling. We agree.

        We review de novo, as questions of law, whether defendants have a clear legal duty to
perform and whether plaintiff has a clear legal right to performance of any such duty. Rental
Props Owners Ass’n of Kent Co v Kent Co Treasurer, 308 Mich. App. 498, 518; 866 NW2d 817
829 (2014). Related issues of statutory interpretation are also reviewed de novo. Beach v Lima
Twp, 489 Mich. 99, 105; 802 NW2d 1 (2011). Contrastingly, because mandamus is a
“discretionary writ,” Coalition for a Safer Detroit v Detroit City Clerk, 295 Mich. App. 362, 375;
820 NW2d 208 (2012), we review for an abuse of discretion a trial court’s decision whether to
grant mandamus relief, Rental Props, 308 Mich. App. at 518.

               To obtain the extraordinary remedy of a writ of mandamus, the plaintiff
       must show that: (1) the plaintiff has a clear, legal right to performance of the
       specific duty sought, (2) the defendant has a clear legal duty to perform, (3) the
       act is ministerial, and (4) no other adequate legal or equitable remedy exists that
       might achieve the same result. In relation to a request for mandamus, a clear,
       legal right is one clearly founded in, or granted by, law; a right which is inferable
       as a matter of law from uncontroverted facts regardless of the difficulty of the
       legal question to be decided. [Id. at 518-519 (quotation marks and citations
       omitted).]

“A ministerial act is one in which the law prescribes and defines the duty to be performed with such
precision and certainty as to leave nothing to the exercise of discretion or judgment.” Hillsdale Co
Senior Services, Inc v Hillsdale Co, 494 Mich. 46, 63 n 11; 832 NW2d 728 (2013) (quotation marks
and citation omitted).

      Several provisions of Michigan election law are at issue here. In pertinent part, MCL
168.558 provides:

               (1) When filing a[n] . . . affidavit of candidacy for a . . . township . . .
       office in any election, a candidate shall file with the officer with whom the
       petitions, fee, or affidavit is filed 2 copies of an affidavit of identity.

                                              * * *

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             (2) An affidavit of identity shall contain the candidate’s name, address,
       and ward and precinct where registered, if qualified to vote at that election . . . .

                                              * * *

               (4) An affidavit of identity shall include a statement that as of the date of
       the affidavit, all statements, reports, late filing fees, and fines required of the
       candidate or any candidate committee organized to support the candidate’s
       election under the Michigan campaign finance act, 1976 PA 388, MCL 169.201 to
       169.282, have been filed or paid; and a statement that the candidate acknowledges
       that making a false statement in the affidavit is perjury, punishable by a fine up to
       $1,000.00 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both. If a candidate files the
       affidavit of identity with an officer other than the county clerk or secretary of
       state, the officer shall immediately forward to the county clerk 1 copy of the
       affidavit of identity by first-class mail. The county clerk shall immediately
       forward 1 copy of the affidavit of identity for state and federal candidates to the
       secretary of state by first-class mail. An officer shall not certify to the board of
       election commissioners the name of a candidate who fails to comply with this
       section [i.e., § 558]. [Emphasis added.]

Thereafter, as stated in MCL 168.349(2):

       Within 4 days after the last day for filing nominating petitions, the township clerk
       shall deliver to the county clerk a list setting forth the name, address, and political
       affiliation and office sought of each candidate who has qualified for a position on
       the primary ballot.

The county clerk then certifies to the proper board(s) of election the name and address “of each
party candidate whose petitions meet the requirements of this act, together with the name of the
political party and the office for which he or she is a candidate.” MCL 168.552(1). Section 552
includes detailed procedures for investigating and resolving complaints about nominating
petitions, but the resolution of challenges to affidavits of identity is not addressed.

        Pursuant to MCL 168.559, the county election commission prepares and furnishes the
official primary ballots. Notably, MCL 168.550 provides:

               No candidate shall have his name printed upon any official primary
       election ballot of any political party in any voting precinct in this state unless he
       shall have filed nominating petitions according to the provisions of this act, and
       all other requirements of this act have been complied with in his behalf, except in
       those counties qualifying candidates upon the payment of fees.

Further, MCL 168.567 provides:

       The boards of election commissioners shall correct such errors as may be found in
       said ballots, and a copy of such corrected ballots shall be sent to the secretary of
       state by the county clerk.

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        Here, contrary to defendants’ arguments both below and on appeal, we conclude that the
pertinent statutory provisions create a clear legal duty on behalf of the Wayne County
defendants.1 Under § 558(4), those defendants had a clear legal duty to “not certify to the board
of election commissioners the name of a candidate who [had] fail[ed] to comply” with the
requirement, under § 558(2), of duly including the precinct number where the candidate was
registered to vote.2 It is undisputed that Schnettler and Heise failed to comply with § 558(2).
Hence, the Wayne County defendants had a clear legal duty not to certify Schnettler and Heise’s
names. The language in § 550—“[n]o candidate shall have his name printed upon any official
primary election ballot . . . unless he shall have filed nominating petitions according to the
provisions of this act”—underscores the existence of such a clear legal duty on behalf of the
Wayne County defendants. Finally, § 567 demonstrates that, because the Wayne County
defendants failed to perform their clear legal duty under § 558(4), they now have a clear legal
duty to “correct” such errors as may be found in the resulting, improper ballots. Thus, the “clear
legal duty” element for mandamus is plainly met.

        Moreover, the action that plaintiff now seeks to compel is decidedly “ministerial” in
nature. The duty to correct the ballots under § 567 is set forth “with such precision and certainty
as to leave nothing to the exercise of discretion or judgment.” See Hillsdale, 494 Mich. at 63 n
11. Because the affidavits of identity, filed with the Plymouth defendants and delivered by the
Plymouth defendants to the Wayne County defendants,3 were defective on their face, defendants’
assertion that they had no authority to review the affidavits is misplaced. Rather, by doing
nothing more than the ministerial task of completing a facial review of the affidavits, defendants
would undertake to perform their clear legal duty under § 558(4) to “not certify to the board of
election commissioners the name of a candidate who [had] fail[ed] to comply” with § 558(2).

       We further conclude that plaintiff lacks an adequate legal or equitable remedy that might
achieve the same result as mandamus. Although a writ of quo warranto might have been an
appropriate remedy to seek in this action, before seeking such a writ plaintiff would have been
forced to seek “special leave of the court.” See Hanlin v Saugatuck Twp, 299 Mich. App. 233,
240; 829 NW2d 335 (2013). Given the time constraints and procedural limitations, we cannot
conclude that quo warranto was an adequate remedy to achieve the same result that plaintiff
could achieve by utilizing mandamus.

1
  We agree with the Plymouth defendants that a writ of mandamus cannot now issue against
them because, since the affidavits of identity have already been submitted to Garrett, the
Plymouth defendants now lack authority to take any action regarding the ballots. Mandamus is
not directed at ascertaining whether an error occurred in the past. In other words, even if the
Plymouth defendants mishandled the affidavits of identity, their role in the matter has ended;
ergo, mandamus will not lie against them.
2
  Because it is entirely inconsistent with the plain language of the statute, we reject defendants’
argument that the Legislature intended the final sentence of § 558(4) to apply only to that
subsection rather than the entire “section.”
3
    See MCL 168.558(4).

                                                -4-
         Having concluded that the other three elements for mandamus are satisfied, we turn to the
first element, i.e., whether plaintiff has a clear legal right to performance of the Wayne County
defendants’ statutory duties. We conclude that he does.

         Although our courts will generally “deny the writ of mandamus to compel the
performance of public duties by public officials unless the specific right involved is not
possessed by citizens generally,” Rental Props, 308 Mich. App. at 519, quoting Univ Med
Affiliates, PC v Wayne Co Executive, 142 Mich. App. 135, 143; 369 NW2d 277 (1985), citing
Inglis v Pub Sch Employees Retirement Bd, 374 Mich. 10, 13; 131 NW2d 54 (1964), “[i]t is
generally held, in the absence of a statute to the contrary, that a private person as relator may
enforce by mandamus a public right or duty relating to elections without showing a special
interest distinct from the interest of the public,” Helmkamp v Livonia City Council, 160 Mich
App 442; 408 NW2d 470 (1987), quoting 26 Am Jur 2d, Elections, § 367. Whether a private
person should be permitted to do so under the facts of a given case “is a matter within the
discretion of the court.” Amberg v Welsh, 325 Mich. 285, 291; 38 NW2d 304 (1949), overruled
in part on other grounds by Wallace v Tripp, 358 Mich. 668; 101 NW2d 312 (1960). See also
Thompson v Vaughan, 192 Mich. 512, 522; 159 N.W. 65 (1916) (noting that whether electors have
“such interest as entitles them to institute [mandamus] proceedings . . . is a matter of discretion
on the part of the court, and not of law,“ and holding, “The relators are electors of this state
interested in the proper administration of the law; and, under the circumstances of this case and
the public importance of the questions raised, the objection to their instituting these proceedings
will not be sustained.”). As discussed in People ex rel Ayres v Bd of State Auditors, 42 Mich.
422, 429-430; 4 N.W. 274 (1880),

                The rule which rejects the intervention of private complainants against
       public grievances is one of discretion and not of law. There are serious objections
       against allowing mere interlopers to meddle with the affairs of the state, and it is
       not usually allowed, unless under circumstances where the public injury, by its
       refusal, will be serious. In the case of People ex rel Drake v Regents of the
       University, 4 Mich. 98 [(1856)], and People ex rel Russell v Inspectors of the State
       Prison, [4 Mich] 187 [(1856)], the court took pains to guard against any decision
       that would prevent complaint by a private relator, where the public interest
       requires prompt action, and where the public prosecutors will not interfere. There
       is, as there shown, more liberality in some states than in others. But we find no
       reason to consider the matter as one lying outside of judicial discretion, which is
       always involved in mandamus cases concerning the relief as well as other
       questions.

        Moreover, our Supreme Court’s decision in Martin v Secretary of State, 482 Mich. 956
(2008) (Martin II), which reversed Martin v Secretary of State, 280 Mich. App. 417; 760 NW2d
726, 734 (2008) (Martin I), also supports our holding. In Martin I, a candidate for judicial
office, Martin, sought, inter alia, a writ of mandamus against the Board of State Canvassers and
the Secretary of State that would permit him to appear on the ballot. Id. at 421-422. Two
incumbent judges for the same office (i.e., the office Martin wished to win in the election) sought
and were denied leave to intervene in the circuit court. Id. Ultimately, the circuit court granted
Martin’s request, ordering the Secretary of State to take steps that permitted Martin to appear on
the ballot. Id. at 422-423. The Secretary of State did not appeal, but the incumbent judges did,

                                                -5-
arguing that they should have been granted leave to intervene in the circuit court. Id. at 418.
The Martin I majority affirmed the circuit court, reasoning that the incumbent judges were not
“aggrieved parties” with standing to challenge the circuit court’s ruling:

       [O]ur opinion must be narrowly construed and limited to the unique facts of this
       case. This narrow holding stands solely for the conclusion that pursuant to the
       dictates set forth by our Supreme Court in Federated Ins Co[ v Oakland Co Rd
       Comm, 475 Mich. 286; 715 NW2d 846 (2006)] and Nat’l Wildlife Federation[ v
       Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co, 471 Mich. 608; 684 NW2d 800 (2004), overruled
       Lansing Sch Ed Ass’n v Lansing Bd of Ed, 487 Mich. 349; 792 NW2d 686 (2010)
       (LSEA)], a candidate for judicial office has not suffered an injury and therefore is
       not an aggrieved party and does not have standing solely because the candidate is
       required to run in a contested judicial election. [Id. at 430.]

The Martin I majority “emphasize[d] that nothing [its] opinion should be construed to limit
citizens’ access to our courts to ensure that the election laws of this state are enforced.” Id. at
429-430. Judge O’Connell dissented:

       The majority concludes that appellants [the incumbent judges] are not aggrieved
       parties and, therefore, lack standing as Michigan citizens to intervene in the
       underlying election dispute in this case. I respectfully disagree. I believe that
       appellants were wrongfully denied their opportunity to intervene in this case, both
       in their capacities as private citizens and as candidates for public office. By
       concluding otherwise, the majority has essentially determined that Michigan
       citizens do not automatically have standing to ensure that the election laws of this
       state are properly enforced.

                                             * * *

       [T]he trial court incorrectly focused solely on appellants’ status as judicial
       candidates and completely disregarded their status as voters in the district with a
       direct interest in the proper application of the election laws being upheld.
       Plaintiffs argue that appellants’ status as voters is irrelevant because they have
       suffered no harm that the general public did not suffer. However, this Court has
       recognized that “[e]lection cases are special . . . because without the process of
       elections, citizens lack their ordinary recourse.” Deleeuw v Bd of State
       Canvassers, 263 Mich. App. 497, 505–506, 688 NW2d 847 (2004). Because the
       improper implementation of election laws affects the process by which citizens
       normally exercise their collective voice to uphold the status quo or effectuate
       change, “ordinary citizens have standing to enforce the law in election cases.” Id.
       at 506. See also Helmkamp[, 160 Mich. App. at 445] (holding that the plaintiffs in
       an election case “were not required to show a substantial injury distinct from that
       suffered by the public in general”). “[T]he right to vote is an implicit “
       ‘fundamental political right’ ” that is “ ‘preservative of all rights.” ’ ” In re
       Request for Advisory Opinion Regarding Constitutionality of 2005 PA 71, 479
Mich. 1, 16, 740 NW2d 444 (2007) (citation omitted). . . . Given that this case
       concerns a trial court’s application of equity to enter an injunction that permits an

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       end run around election laws, appellants, in their capacity as ordinary citizens and
       voters, have suffered an injury and have standing to bring their claim to remedy
       this injury. Helmkamp, supra at 445. Having suffered an injury as a result of the
       trial court’s actions, appellants are aggrieved parties. Manuel v Gill, 481 Mich.
637, 643–644, 753 NW2d 48 (2008). [Martin I, 280 Mich. App. at 430-433
       (O’Connell, P.J., dissenting) (footnotes omitted).]

The incumbent judges sought leave to appeal in our Supreme Court, which, in lieu of granting
leave to appeal, reversed “the judgments of the Court of Appeals and the [c]ircuit [c]ourt for the
reasons stated in [Judge O’Connell’s] dissenting opinion, but only as to the issues of candidate
standing and the trial court’s application of equity.” Martin II, 482 Mich. at 956.

        Although Martin II limited its decision “to the issues of candidate standing and the trial
court’s application of equity,” we do not conclude that the Supreme Court, through its one-
paragraph decision in Martin II, intended to tacitly overrule more than a century of settled
election-law precedent, including Helmkamp, Amberg, Thompson, Ayres, Deleeuw, Drake, and
Russell. Rather, by limiting its holding to candidate standing, we believe the Martin II Court
simply ruled on the narrowest issue by which that appeal could be fully resolved. See Kent Co
Prosecutor v Kent Co Sheriff, 428 Mich. 314, 325; 409 NW2d 202 (1987) (noting that our
Supreme Court will “adopt[] the most narrow holding in deciding the constitutional issues before
it.”).4

        Here, because the trial court failed to recognize that it had discretion, it abdicated its
discretion to decide whether plaintiff should be permitted, as an elector, to vindicate public
election rights by mandamus. Such abdication constitutes an abuse of discretion. Rieth v Keeler,
230 Mich. App. 346, 348; 583 NW2d 552 (1998).

        Having concluded that the trial court failed to exercise its discretion to decide this issue,
we would ordinarily remand this matter to the trial court for further proceedings. Given the
exigencies of this election matter, however, and the reality of the trial court’s docket, a remand
order at this time would likely render plaintiff’s action moot before the trial court would have an
opportunity to rule. Hence, we feel compelled to consider the substantive merits and render a
decision. See MCR 7.216(A)(7) (“The Court of Appeals may, at any time, in addition to its
general powers, in its discretion, and on the terms it deems just . . . enter any judgment or order
or grant further or different relief as the case may require[.]”).

         The situation before us is one where the public interest requires prompt action, and where
the public prosecutors will not interfere. As explained supra, defendants have neglected their
clear legal duty to ensure compliance with MCL 168.558. As a result, despite the fact that
Schnettler and Heise are legally unentitled to appear on the ballot, they will nevertheless do so
absent judicial intervention. Defendants suggest that the public right plaintiff seeks to vindicate
in this action is trivial. They contend that Schnettler and Heise’s noncompliance with § 558(2) is

4
 At the time Martin II was decided, standing was considered to be a constitutional question. See
LSEA, 487 Mich. at 359-361.

                                                -7-
a “small detail” that should be overlooked. That argument is misplaced. It is not our role to
make policy decisions regarding which of the Legislature’s mandates can be ignored as
insignificant. Stand Up for Democracy v Secretary of State, 492 Mich. 588, 602; 822 NW2d 159
(2012). In summary, we hold that the public has a clear legal right in the due enforcement of
MCL 168.558 against Schnettler and Heise. We further hold that, as an elector, plaintiff is
entitled in this case to vindicate the public’s clear legal right.

        Hence, we affirm the trial court’s ruling regarding the Plymouth defendants but reverse
its denial of plaintiff’s request for a writ of mandamus against the Wayne County defendants.5
The Wayne County defendants are hereby ordered to take whatever steps are necessary to
perform their duties as described in this opinion, particularly their duties under MCL 168.567.6
A public question being involved, no costs may be taxed under MCR 7.219. This opinion shall
have immediate effect pursuant to MCR 7.215(F)(2).

                                                           /s/ Kurtis T. Wilder
                                                           /s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly
                                                           /s/ Karen M. Fort Hood

5
  Given our decision that plaintiff has asserted a valid cause of action, we reject defendants’
argument that plaintiff lacked standing to institute this action. “[A] litigant has standing
whenever there is a legal cause of action.” LSEA, 487 Mich. at 372. Additionally, we deny, as
moot, the motion of Thomas Parrelly to intervene in this Court as an appellant.
6
  Those duties necessarily include taking the steps necessary to remove Schnettler and Heise
from the ballot for the August 2, 2016 primary election before that election occurs. See
Michigan v Wayne County Clerk, 466 Mich. 640; 648 NW2d 202 (2002).

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