Court Opinion

ID: 9686987
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 16:13:13.299114+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:23.561481
License: Public Domain

D. E. Holbrook, J.
(dissenting). This writer must respectfully disagree with the majority’s thorough and well-written opinions. The vast number of problems herein, some of which are even unforeseeable, should preclude maintenance of this ac*224tion as it presently stands as a class action pursuant to GCR 1963, 208.1. The complex law and fact issues herein require clarification, amendment of the pleadings, and division of this action before resort to the spurious class action device may be proper. Review of the facts herein is essential.
This action was filed on July 31, 1972, by 20 named individual plaintiffs and the Oakwood Homeowners Association, a Michigan nonprofit corporation, purportedly on behalf of a class consisting of all members of the association and other persons similarly situated. The individual plaintiffs live in a rectangular-shaped area described as "both sides of Oakwood Avenue, bounded by Schaefer Highway, Dix Road, South Fort Street and the Rouge River”, an area slightly less than a square mile. This action is against four separate and distinct corporate entities, each individually conducting substantially different industrial operations in Wayne County.
The defendants, Ford Motor Company, Marathon Oil Company, Edward Levy Company and International Salt Company, each independently, operate separate and distinct types of industrial facilities in the area of southeastern Detroit and western Wayne County in close proximity to the plaintiffs’ neighborhood. Defendant International Salt operates a salt mine facility and related processing storage and transportation operations. Defendant Marathon Oil Company operates a petroleum refinery. Defendant Ford Motor Company operates diverse manufacturing and industrial facilities at its River Rouge complex in the City of Dearborn. Defendant Levy operates the Detroit Lime Company, a lime processing plant and related facilities. The defendants’ facilities are at diverse and separate locations. The distance be*225tween defendant Ford’s complex north of the described neighborhood to defendant Marathon’s facility at the far south end of the area is approximately two miles. Furthermore, the length of time , that each defendant has operated its facility varies from a few years to more than half a century. In addition to these defendants, numerous other industries and public utilities operate facilities within or in close proximity to the described area.
At the same time, numerous differences exist with regard to the nature of the plaintiffs and their claims herein. Claimants and their residences are located throughout the square mile area. Each named plaintiff has lived in the area for varying lengths of time, as little as two years and up to as many as 45 or 50 years. While some named plaintiffs blame no particular defendant or substance, other plaintiffs are very specific in naming a defendant or substance as the source of the nuisance. Usually this alleged nuisance and the claimed resulting injuries are attributed to the specific defendant where the facility is closest to the plaintiff’s residence.
Most plaintiffs do not allege personal injury claims. However, several do claim damages for personal injuries caused by air pollution. Many of those claiming personal injury do not allege any facts as to the source or kind of pollutant causing their injury. However, the nature of the alleged health problems relates largely to the respiratory tract.
Numerous separate and distinct property claims are made by the individually named plaintiffs. The nature of the damages claimed must be noted. One plaintiff contends that a tool shed was damaged by air pollution. Another maintains that vibrations caused chimney cracks. Another says his outdoor *226furniture was damaged, while another maintains that his indoor furniture was damaged. One plaintiff claims damages to his fence, another maintains his roof was discolored, while several contend their automobiles’ finishes were damaged. Other plaintiffs claim damages to their garden plants, blame sagging doors and wall cracks on vibrations which were allegedly caused by one or more of the defendants, and several plaintiffs claimed pollution damaged their swimming pools.
GCR 1963, 208.11 describes three types of class actions: (1) true class actions, GCR 208.1(1); (2) hybrid class actions, GCR 208.1(2); and (3) spurious class actions, GCR 208.1(3). Regardless of nomenclature, if a case falls within one of the three situations described above, it is an appropriate subject for a class action provided certain prerequisites common to all class actions are satisfied.2 The basic issue we are concerned within the instant case is whether "a common question of law or fact affecting the several rights” is present so as to allow the plaintiffs to proceed by way of a *227spurious class action. GCR 1963, 208.1(3). Herein the plaintiffs allege that the defendants’ liability is a common question which would permit bringing of this lawsuit as a class action.
This suit was initiated as a "spurious” class ’action pursuant to GCR 1963, 208.1(3).3 This writer at this time cannot agree with the majority’s conclusion that this does not require that common class questions of law or fact must be predominant. At this time this issue is not ripe for appellate resolution. See Northview Construction Co v City of St Clair Shores, 395 Mich 497; 236 NW2d 396 (1975), Northview Construction Co v St Clair Shores (On rehearing), 399 Mich 184; 249 NW2d 290 (1976) (equally divided Court affirmed the opinion of the Court of Appeals, 44 Mich App 614; 205 NW2d 895 [1973], which the Court had originally reversed). This issue has not been fully considered or presented by the parties to this appeal, nor is resolution of this issue necessary for our decision.
As Judge Riley properly points out, Michigan law does not absorb in toto the present Federal rule (FR Civ P 23),4 Judge. Riley’s opinion at *228209. See Kass v H B Shaine & Co, Inc, 71 Mich App 101, 105; 246 NW2d 396 (1976), Grigg v Michigan National Bank, 72 Mich App 358; 249 NW2d 701 (1976). However, this writer disagrees with the majority and feels that there is value in looking to Federal decisions to aid in interpretation of our own rules. Again, it is emphasized that we are not bound by Federal decisions regarding FR Civ P 23. Nevertheless, those decisions can serve as guidance to discovery of the proper meaning of our own rules.
In Michigan, the trial court has discretion in determining whether an action shall proceed as a class action. Northview, supra, 44 Mich App at 618-619. The instant case illustrates the propriety and wisdom of such an approach. However, this does not mean common questions of law or fact need not "predominate”. Whether such questions do indeed predominate may well determine whether the trial court abused its discretion. At *229this time, we need not finally decide if this is so. In fact, we need not decide what "predominate” means in this context and, if it does apply, we need not bind or sever ourselves from Federal decisions resolving this question in light of FR Civ P 23. Although the strict technical requirement of a "predominant question of law and fact” might not exist under GCR 1963, 208.1(3), as it does under FR Civ P 23, in reality such a requirement may well exist as a measure of trial court discretion. At this point in time, this writer believes that this may well be so. However, it may also be true that the true requirement of a "predominant” question of law and fact exists in GCR 1963, 208.1(3) as in FR Civ P 23.
Is there a common question involved in the instant action? No decision has been discovered in this jurisdiction which interprets GCR 1963, 208.1(3) so as to control the resolution of this issue.
Prior to the adoption of GCR 208, class actions were governed by Rule 16 of the Michigan Court Rules of 1945. When the general court rules were adopted the requirements of former Rule 16 were incorporated into GCR 208. In essence, the former and present rules are largely the same. See 1 Honigman & Hawkins, Michigan Court Rules Annotated (2d ed), pp 600-601. Therefore, a brief review of decisions interpreting Rule 16 may aid in the resolution of the instant problem.
Palmer Park Theatre Co v City of Highland Park, 362 Mich 326; 106 NW2d 845 (1961), involved a class action brought under former Rule 16. There, three named plaintiffs brought a class action on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated asking the court to declare a particular section of a city ordinance invalid. On appeal the Supreme Court had to decide whether *230the trial court erred in dismissing the action as a class action.' The trial court had held that the case was not a proper class action on the theory that the members were not similarly situated. In affirming the lower court’s ruling to dismiss the class action, the Supreme Court stated:
"The trial court in the instant case had before it separate rather than joint actions and would have needed proofs with particular reference to the effects the ordinance would have upon each of the members of the class. No such proofs were offered. Therefore, he correctly decided this was an improper class action.” 362 at 344.
In this opinion the Supreme Court cited at length excerpts of their previous opinion in Bajorek v Kurtz, 335 Mich 58; 55 NW2d 727 (1952). The Court did note that although Bajorek, supra, dealt with reference to the statutory provision dealing with permissive joinder (1948 CL 608.1) rather than GCR 16, the same rules of law would apply.
In Bajorek the Michigan Supreme Court was concerned with the substantive law relative to claims for damages for nuisance and the context of the proper procedural means for adjudicating the claims. Therein, multiple plaintiffs sought damages for alleged nuisance caused by the conduct of a cement and concrete factory. The Court explained at 64:
"We have a situation presented in which a number of persons assert that they have been injured severally in their property rights because of improper and unlawful acts on the part of defendants. It cannot be said with certainty that the same issues will be presented in all of the 25 cases alleged in the declaration and covered by the bill of particulars. Proofs may show damage in some cases but not in others, and defenses may exist *231against the rights of certain plaintiffs that are not available against other plaintiffs.”
Moreover, the Court stated earlier at 63:
"Each of the plaintiffs is asserting the right to recover damages from the defendants because of alleged improper conduct on their part. Reference to the bill of particulars filed indicates that some plaintiffs are seeking to recover for items of damage not asserted by other plaintiffs. Clearly the plaintiffs are not seeking the same relief, but each is interested solely in the recovery of damages to him and his property that he asserts have resulted proximately from the acts charged against the defendants.”
This authority would appear to suggest that there is an absence of á common question in the instant case. In addition, since the plaintiffs here are seeking to recover money damages as to themselves individually they are not all seeking the same relief. Both variables are necessary prerequisites before a class action may proceed under GCR 1963, 208.1(3). Two foreign jurisdictions recently considered the problem of nuisance actions and the propriety of class action relief. The courts in both cases stressed the need for individual adjudication of liability for each claim asserted. Boring v Medusa Portland Cement Co, 63 FRD 78 (MD Pa, 1974), appeal dismissed 505 F2d 729 (CA 3, 1974), City of San Jose v Superior Court of Santa Clara County, 12 Cal 3d 447; 115 Cal Rptr 797; 525 P2d 701 (1974). See also, Anno, Maintainability in state court of class action for relief against air or water pollution, 47 ALR3d 769.5
*232The Boring decision is particularly fitting to the resolution of the instant appeal. There the court denied plaintiffs’ motion to proceed as a class action in a lawsuit involving a nuisance action for damages allegedly caused by air pollution. The court noted at 84-85:
"The size of the proposed class is at least 1,000 persons and likely many more residents of York, Pennsylvania. The air pollution involved is allegedly from two sources releasing similar compounds in such a fashion as to raise considerable evidentiary problems. Such problems of proof are greatly increased because each resident, motorist or business is in a different proximity to the plants than the other class members. In effect, each plaintiff would have to separately establish what mixture of pollution caused him damage depending on the wind, location of the factories, etc. It is inconceivable that a single ratio of pollution by the two defendants could apply uniformly throughout the class. The plaintiffs would have to individually establish the liability of each defendant, then the respective roles of the defendants vis-a-vis each other.
"The proposed class not only consists of wholly distinct degrees of damage, but wholly different types of damage. The only common fact is the allegation that their damages are caused by the same sources. The nature of the differing injuries runs the gamut from damage to fee simple and leasehold interests in real estate to damaged personalty, unpleasant surroundings and an unsightly environment. Moreover, many of the named plaintiffs claim to have suffered compensable personal injury.
"The plaintiffs contend that the overriding common fact is the liability of the defendants. Once that is established, the plaintiffs argue, the class members merely need line up to put in their specific claims. However, the very nature of the claims makes á single, finding of liability impossible. At best, liability would have to be established as to several already apparent *233sub-classes. The showing of excessive quantities of pollutants hardly establishes liability as to home damage and personal injury. The very experts needed would be totally distinct. Furthermore, the class members are geographically dispersed in such a fashion that it is unlikely that any large group suffered the same quantity of 'fall-out’. Liability cannot be established in a single mass proceeding. Perhaps the output and chemical composition of the pollution is subject to a single answer in that experts might establish the degree of pollution from the sources in concentric circles outward. In such a fashion each plaintiff might then need only indicate the zone in which he worked or lived and thereby establish the quantity of pollution to which each was subject. Such a timesavings of a common question is illusory in view of Blonder-Tongue [Laboratories, Inc v University of Illinois Foundation, 402 US 313; 91 S Ct 1434; 28 L Ed 2d 788 (1971)], supra, and Katz [v Carte Blanche Corp, 496 F2d 747 (CA 3, 1974) (Civ No. 72-1054, March 15, 1974)], supra. More important, far too many completely uncommon questions of fact would thereafter require resolution on a case by case basis. Superimposed on the entire matter is the fact that two defendants are facing liability with each exhibiting competing interests.” (Emphasis in original.)
This case fully illustrates the problems involved in allowing a nuisance case to proceed as a class action. This is particularly so in the case at bar where there are four defendants, each of which presumably produces similar and dissimilar emissions. In Boring, supra, the factual setting involved two sources of air pollution and both sources emitted similar compounds. Even with this similarity of emissions or possible sources of pollution the court therein held that the mere fact that two sources were involved increased the lack of common or controlling questions. In the case at bar where four sources are involved, which presumably emit disimilar emissions, there are more com*234pelling reasons to disallow a class action than there were in Boring.
Similarly, the California Supreme Court in City of San Jose, supra, disallowed class action treatment to a nuisance action brought by landowners for damages caused by overflights of airplanes approaching an airport. The Court ruled that there were not sufficient common issues of law and fact to allow the action to be treated as a class action because liability could be established only on a case by case basis. No one factor was deemed to be determinative of all property loss because of the relative location of adjacent railroad tracks, industrial facilities and highways.
Moreover, in rejecting the possibility of categorizing the plaintiffs in sub-classes for trial purposes the Court explained:
"Given the many recognized factors combining to make up the uniqueness of each parcel of land, the number of subclassifications into which the class would be required” to be divided to yield any meaningful result would be substantial. Then, because liability is here predicated on variables like the degree of noise, vapor, and vibration, the problem is compounded by the factors of distance and direction affecting these variables. The result becomes a statistical permutation, and the requisite number of subclassifications quickly approaches the total number of parcels in the class. Under such circumstances, there is little or not [sic] benefit in maintaining the action as a class.
"Conversely, these uniqueness factors weigh heavily in favor of requiring independent litigation of the liability to each parcel and its owner. Because liability here is predicated on the impact of certain activities on a particular piece of land, the factors determinative of the close issue of liability are the specific characteristics of that parcel. The grouping and treating of a number of different parcels together, however, necessarily di*235minishes the ability to evaluate the merits of each parcel. The superficial adjudications which class treatment here would entail could deprive either the defendant or the members of the class — or both — of a fair trial. Reason and the constitutional mandates of due process compel us to deny sanction to such a proceeding.” (Emphasis in original.) City of San Jose, supra, 12 Cal 3d at 462; 525 P2d at 711.
The Court in San Jose found an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court in allowing this case to proceed as a class action.
The California case of Diamond v General Motors Corp, 20 Cal App 3d 374; 97 Cal Rptr 639 (1971), again affirmed the dismissal of an action commenced on behalf of residents of Los Angeles County against a number of industrial corporations and municipalities for injunctive relief and for damages caused by alleged pollution. Part of the Court’s decision was based on the fact that the size of the class rendered the action unmanageable.6 However, the! greater part of the Court’s decision was based on the nature of the claims for damages by the individual claimants. The Court stated that the right of each claimant to recover, as well as the amount of his damages recovered, would necessarily depend upon issues required to be litigated between individual plaintiffs and individual defendants. The Court stated:
*236"Whether an individual has been specially injured in his person will depend largely upon proof relating to him alone — going to such matters as his general health, his occupation, place of residence, and activities.” 20 Cal App 3d at 379.
Plaintiffs herein claim damages on the basis of nuisance. In an action for nuisance interference with plaintiffs’ use and enjoyment of their property must be sufficient to be definitely annoying and offensive to normal persons in the immediate locality. This interference must be continuous or recurring frequently and such as to cause harm to plaintiffs. Defendants’ conduct must be negligent or unreasonable and a proximate cause of plaintiffs’ injuries. Awad v McColgan, 357 Mich 386; 98 NW2d 571 (1959).7
Liability and damages can be established only in cases of private rather than public nuisance.8 Plassey v S Loewenstein & Son, 330 Mich 525; 48 NW2d 126 (1951). This has long been the law in Michigan. Board of Water Commissioners of Detroit v Detroit, 117 Mich 458, 461-462; 76 NW 70 (1898). See also, Morse v Liquor Control Commission, 319 Mich 52; 29 NW2d 316 (1947), McDonell v Brozo, 285 Mich 38; 280 NW 100 (1938), and Lepire v Klenk, 169 Mich 243; 134 NW 1119 (1912). A plaintiff seeking to establish liability against a defendant on the basis of nuisance must *237prove he was damaged. The Supreme Court has emphasized:
"Nothing in the law of nuisance is better settled than .this rule: that the locality and surroundings of the challenged operation or thing become an important factor in arriving at proper judicial decision of existence or nonexistence of an actionable nuisance. That which would be actionable or abatable in one place or locality might not be such in another.” Obrecht v National Gypsum Co, 361 Mich 399, 417; 105 NW2d 143 (1960).
The existence of nuisance depends on all of the attending and surrounding circumstances, and each case necessarily depends on its own facts.9 This is not to say that nuisance cannot ever be the basis for a class action. Nevertheless, it illustrates the problems inherent in such an action grounded in nuisance.
The instant case under present conditions displays such complexity of issues and facts as not to constitute a suitable case for class action resolution. The multiplicity of plaintiffs and their basis for suit, the nature of defendants’ operations and geographic locations, as well as of nuisance liability compel a finding that there is no common question of law or fact herein. To find, as the trial court did, that a common question exists, to wit: whether the discharge of pollutants into the air by defendants constitutes nuisance as to plaintiffs, is error. The observations of a sister court are particularly appropriate herein:
"Class actions are provided only as a means to enforce substantive law. Altering the substantive law to *238accommodate procedure would be to confuse the means with the ends — to sacrifice the goal for the going.” City of San Jose, supra, 12 Cal 3d at 462; 115 Cal Rptr at 711.
Count I of the complaint seeking declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act of 1970, MCLA 691.1201, et seq.; MSA 14.528(201), et seq., may survive. Defendants appear to concede the propriety of a class action as to this count. However, the maintenance of a class action asserting nuisance liability herein and damages to the individual plaintiffs was improper.
It may well be possible to divide this action into several class actions involving plaintiffs similarly situated and similarly affected by the actions of a particular defendant or combination of defendants. Possibly plaintiffs living in a particular area may well be damaged by the same actions to such an extent that there is a common question of fact sufficient to allow a class action to proceed. Certainly this would facilitate resolution of this dispute. Not only would this serve the convenience of the parties, it would also result in prompt efficient judicial administration. See Kass v H B Shaine & Co, supra, at 107. The class action device should be available to allow those who would otherwise go begging for justice to press their complaints. It is recognized that many of the plaintiffs herein may well be unable to economically assert their claims absent a class action. Nevertheless, some control over the nature of these actions should also be observed. This writer also commends those trial judges who are willing to grapple with difficult procedural questions. It is hoped that the problems present herein can be resolved by dividing this action into manageable actions, a matter which *239requires inspired thinking by both counsel and bench.
This writer would remand to allow plaintiffs an opportunity to amend their pleadings and hopefully divide this action into manageable actions characterized by common questions of law and fact sufficient to allow prompt and proper resolution of these matters.
This writer votes to reverse and remand to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

 "Effective July 1, 1966, Federal Rule 23 governing class actions was completely revised. The former classification of 'true’, 'hybrid’, and 'spurious’ classes is abandoned. The amended rule uses a functional scheme of classification, in terms of the necessity to avoid the adverse effects of separate adjudication, or the advantages of permitting common adjudication. A preliminary determination must be made as to the adequacy of representation and the necessity of notice to absent members of the class. In certain circumstances, when the necessity for class action is least compelling, notified absentees may have the option to participate with the class, be individually represented, or withdraw and not be bound. The guiding purpose of the revision is apparently to make the results of all class actions binding on all members of the class, whenever a sufficient necessity for common adjudication is combined with adequacy of representation and sufficient notice to safeguard individuad interests. See Barron & Holtzoff, Wright Ed., § 562, 1966 Pocket Part.” 1 Honigman & Hawkins, Michigan Court Rules Annotated (2d ed), 1976 Pocket Part, p 226.

 1 Honigman & Hawkins, Michigan Court Rules Annotated (2d ed), pp 601-602.

 GCR 1963, 208.1(3) provides in full as follows:
"Representation. If persons constituting a class are so numerous as to make it impracticable to bring them all before the court, such of them, 1 or more, as will fairly insure the adequate representation of all may on behalf of all sue or be sued when the character of the right sought to be enforced for or against the class is * * *
"(3) several, and there is a common question of law or fact affecting the several rights and a common relief is sought.”

 FR Civ P 23 provides:
"(a) Prerequisites to a Class Action. One or more members of ,a class may sue or be sued as representative parties on behalf of all only if (1) the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable, (2) there are questions of law or fact common to the class, (3) the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class, and (4) the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.
"(b) Class Actions Maintainable. An action may be maintained as a, class action if the prerequisites of subdivision (a) are satisfied, and in addition:
*228“(1) the prosecution of separate actions by or against individual members of the class would create a risk of
"(A) inconsistent or varying adjudications with respect to individual members of the class which would establish incompatible standards of conduct for the party opposing the class, or
"(B) adjudications with respect to individual members of the class which would as a practical matter be dispositive of the interests of the other members not parties to the adjudications or substantially impair or impede their ability to protect their interests, or
"(2) the party opposing the class has acted or refused to act on grounds generally applicable to the class, thereby making appropriate final injunctive relief or corresponding declaratory relief with respect to the class as a whole, or
“(3) the court finds that the questions of law or fact common to the members of the class predominate over any questions affecting only individual members, and that a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy. The matters pertinent to the findings include: (A) the interest of members of the class in individually controlling the prosecution or defense of separate actions; (B) the extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy already commenced by or against members of the class; (C) the desirability or undesirability of concentrating the litigation of the claims in the particular forum; (D) the difficulties likely to be encountered in the management of a class action.”

 See also, Anno, Propriety, Under Rules 23(a) and 23(b) of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as Amended in 1966, of Class Action Seeking Relief Against Pollution of Environment, 7 ALR Fed 907 (1971).

 The facts in Diamond were extreme. The class action was brought on behalf of all residents of Los Angeles, California, against 293 named industrial corporations and municipalities and 1,000 additional unnamed defendants. See, however, Boring v Medusa Portland Cement, supra, where the size of the class seeking relief was at least 1,000, however, there were only two defendants. That court also found the action unmanageable. Boring, supra, 63 FRD at 84. See also, Reader v Magma-Superior Copper Co, 110 Ariz 115; 515 P2d 860 (1973), Harrell v Hess Oil & Chemical Corp, 287 So 2d 291 (Fla, 1973), Evans v St Regis Paper Co, 287 So 2d 296 (Fla, 1973); all of which found class action was not an appropriate device in suit for damages resulting from defendants’ alleged pollution of air or water.

 See, generally, Restatement of Torts, §§ 822-831, pp 226-265; 58 Am Jur 2d, Nuisances, §§ 19-40, pp 580-605.

 The distinction between these two forms of action has been succinctly stated as follows:
"The difference between public and private nuisances is that a public nuisance affects the public at large, and a private nuisance, an individual or a limited number of individuals only. * * * No doubt a nuisance is public if it affects the entire community or neighborhood, or any considerable number of persons, or if it occurs in a public place or where the public frequently congregate or where numbers of the public are likely to come within the range of its influence.” 58 Am Jur 2d, Nuisances, § 10, pp 565-566.

 See, 58 Am Jur 2d, Nuisances, § 141, pp 712-714. In Obrecht v National Gypsum Co, 361 Mich 399, 417; 105 NW2d 143 (1960), the Court observed that "nuisance may be merely a right thing in the wrong place — like a pig in the parlor instead of the barnyard”.