Court Opinion

ID: 9628034
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:05:24.916564+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:56.360526
License: Public Domain

Stafford, J.
(concurring) — I agree with the majority opinion that the writ was timely filed and that owners of rezoned parcels are indispensable parties in actions to set aside those rezones. Twenty-One Oaks Associates was such an owner and thus should have been named and served. Since it was not, dismissal was required.
I do not agree with the majority, however, that the "sheer magnitude of . . . this case" requires or allows us to render what amounts to an advisory opinion. The majority attempts to justify its action by way of analogy to moot cases. The rule governing review of moot cases allows a court, in limited circumstances, to determine the merits of what amounts to abstract questions of law. See Grays Harbor Paper Co. v. Grays Harbor County, 74 Wn.2d 70, 73, 442 P.2d 967 (1968); National Elec. Contractors Ass'n v. Seattle School Dist. 1, 66 Wn.2d 14, 400 P.2d 778 (1965). In the moot cases relied upon, however, the court still had jurisdiction over the parties, a factor which has heretofore been considered a prerequisite to court action. Rosling v. Seattle Bldg. & Constr. Trades Council, 62 Wn.2d 905, *214910-11, 385 P.2d 29 (1963).2
The court has no such jurisdiction in the instant case. Also, in moot cases, review does not affect the substantive rights of the parties — obviously. If it did, the cases would not be moot. This is to be distinguished from an active controversy wherein review can affect the substantive rights of either party therein. In the usual case, whether active or moot, we have been able to approach the issue objectively without the result being preordained.
In the instant case, however, since the court has no jurisdiction over indispensable parties a determination on the merits could only be made one way (i.e., in such a way as to not prejudice the respondents who succeeded in having the suit dismissed). For example, given the posture of this case and the holding that dismissal was necessary, it is inconceivable to me that this court could have thereafter opined that the Environmental Impact Statement was inadequate, or the County acted arbitrarily and capriciously by spot zoning. A rule that allows advisory opinions to be rendered when the result can go only one way but does not leave the court free to consider other alternatives is illogical and unjust.
I would abide by what was said in Grays Harbor County v. Williamson, 96 Wn.2d 147, 154, 634 P.2d 296 (1981).
Having declared that it was beyond the jurisdiction of the trial court to grant certiorari, we need not reach other issues raised by the parties. Having once decided that the relief sought was beyond the jurisdiction of the trial court to grant, we will not inject ourselves into the dispute by suggesting which of several types of relief might have been pursued or what the result might have been. Those issues are not before us and should be left to future contestants.
*215There being no jurisdiction over all necessary parties in this case, the opinion of the majority regarding the merits can have no force or effect. Cf. Dike v. Dike, 75 Wn.2d 1, 7-8, 448 P.2d 490 (1968) (order entered by court which lacked jurisdiction of parties or subject matter is void); Wesley v. Schneckloth, 55 Wn.2d 90, 93-94, 346 P.2d 658 (1959) (same). This court should refrain from voicing opinions in such cases.
Brachtenbach, C.J., and Dore and Dimmick, JJ., concur with Stafford, J.

 We are aware of State v. Douty, 92 Wn.2d 930, 932-33, 603 P.2d 373 (1979). Although so denominated, Douty was not moot in the correct legal sense of the term. Thus, in effect, Douty was an advisory opinion rendered contrary to our usual view on that subject. To that extent, while Douty is of interest, it actually stands alone because it proceeds from "lack of jurisdiction" rather than from "mootness" in the true legal sense.