Court Opinion

ID: 4148420
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-27 08:07:17.708044+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:25.811659
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                             COURT OF APPEALS

MJ DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, INC.,                                         UNPUBLISHED
                                                                      February 23, 2017
               Plaintiff-Appellant,

v                                                                     No. 330496
                                                                      Emmet Circuit Court
INN AT BAY HARBOR ASSOCIATION,                                        LC No. 15-104943-CZ

               Defendant-Appellee,
and

LORI JODAR, JANE HOURANI, and JEANENE
CALABRESE,

               Defendants.

Before: HOEKSTRA, P.J., and SAAD and RIORDAN, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        In this breach of contract action, plaintiff appeals the order of the trial court that granted
defendants’ motion for summary disposition. Plaintiff challenged management decisions made
by appellee, the Inn at Bay Harbor Association (defendant Association). The Inn at Bay Harbor
(the Inn) is a condominium project located in northwest Michigan.1 We affirm.

         Plaintiff’s breach of contract claim is predicated on actions taken by defendant
Association with respect to work done on gutters and downspouts, installation of a gas fireplace,
and the handling of a special assessment for the addition of a service elevator. Plaintiff argues
that in each of these circumstances, defendant Association violated the terms of its bylaws. As to
the question of whether such bylaws constitute a contract, this Court has made the following
relevant observations:

1
  Previously, the trial court granted defendants’ motion for summary disposition on plaintiff’s
claims brought under MCL 450.2489 (illegal or fraudulent acts by person in control of
corporation, MCL 600.3605 (compel accounting), and MCR 2.605 (declaratory judgment).
However, that ruling and those claims are not at issue on appeal.

                                                 -1-
       When validly promulgated, an entity’s bylaws or similar governing instrument
       will constitute a binding contractual agreement between the entity and its
       members. See Mayo v Great Lakes Greyhound Lines, 333 Mich 205, 214; 52
       NW2d 665 (1952) (providing that the members of a voluntary association are
       bound by the association’s constitution and general laws); Kauffman v The
       Chicago Corp, 187 Mich App 284, 287; 466 NW2d 726 (1991) (stating that the
       constitutions, rules, and bylaws of the entity at issue “constitute[d] a contract by
       all members” of the entity “with each other and with the [entity] itself”); Allied
       Supermarkets, Inc v Grocer’s Dairy Co, 45 Mich App 310, 315; 206 NW2d 490
       (1973) (“The bylaws of a corporation, so long as adopted in conformity with state
       law, constitute a binding contract between the corporation and its shareholders.”).
       In this case, the parties do not dispute that the [defendant Association] had the
       authority to adopt bylaws and that the bylaws were adopted by a majority of the
       Association’s members. Thus, to the extent that they do not conflict with the
       Association’s articles of incorporation or this state’s law, the bylaws would
       constitute a binding contractual agreement between the Association and its
       various members. [Colin v Upton, 313 Mich App 243, 255; 881 NW2d 511
       (2015).]

Because there is no dispute about the validity of the bylaws, they constitute a binding contract.

        Defendants brought their motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8)
(failure to state a claim) and (C)(10) (no genuine issue of material fact). Although the court did
not indicate which subrule it relied on in granting summary disposition, because it looked
beyond the pleadings, we treat it as having been granted under MCR 2.116(C)(10). Krass v Tri-
County Security, Inc, 233 Mich App 661, 664-665; 593 NW2d 578 (1999). The standard of
review for challenges to a trial court’s granting of summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(10)
is de novo, Johnson v Recca, 492 Mich 169, 173; 821 NW2d 520 (2012), as are issues of
contract interpretation, AFT Mich v Michigan, 497 Mich 197, 208; 866 NW2d 782 (2015).

       A motion for summary disposition brought under MCR 2.116(C)(10) tests the factual
support for a claim. Maiden v Rozwood, 461 Mich 109, 120; 597 NW2d 817 (1999). To succeed
under MCR 2.116(C)(10), the moving party must first “specifically identify the issues as to
which [it] believes there is no genuine issue as to any material fact,” MCR 2.116(G)(4), and must
support its position with “affidavits, depositions, admissions, or other documentary evidence,”
MCR 2.116(G)(3)(b). All factual disputes must be resolved in favor of the nonmoving party.
Foreman v Foreman, 266 Mich App 132, 135-136; 701 NW2d 167 (2005). The motion is
properly granted if there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. Odom v Wayne Co, 482 Mich 459, 467; 760 NW2d 217 (2008).

                               I. BUSINESS JUDGMENT RULE

      At various times, the trial court relied, either implicitly or explicitly, on the business
judgment rule. The applicability of the business judgment rule to decisions made by
condominium association boards is discussed in 15B Am Jur 2d, Condominiums, § 23:

                                                -2-
               Ordinarily, the decisions made by a condominium association board
       should be reviewed by a court using the same business judgment rule that governs
       decisions made by other types of corporate directors. The business judgment rule
       limits the judicial review of decisions made by a condominium’s board of
       managers to whether the board’s actions are authorized, and whether the actions
       were taken in good faith and in furtherance of the legitimate interests of the
       condominium. It can be gleaned from the case law that so long as a condominium
       board acts for the purposes of the condominium, within the scope of its authority
       and in good faith, the courts will not substitute their judgment for that of the
       board’s. [Id. at p 591 (emphasis added; citations omitted).]

        In this case, plaintiff alleges that defendant Association breached the bylaws by acting
outside its authority when it added a fireplace to the facility that cost over $10,000 without
getting approval via a special assessment. If true, the business judgment rule would not shield
defendant Association. Id.; see also 9 ALR7th, Art 5 (stating that deference is afforded to an
association under the business judgment rule so long as the association’s acts are authorized).
Thus, to the extent that the trial court implied that the business judgment rule insulated the
Association board’s decision on what constitutes a replacement as opposed to an addition, the
trial court erred. When the underlying facts are not disputed, whether the Association exceeded
its authority is a matter law to be decided by the courts. However, for the reasons provided
below, any error is harmless, as the trial court ultimately found that the defendant Association’s
actions were authorized, and we agree.

                       II. ACTIONS OF DEFENDANT ASSOCIATION

       Article II of the Inn’s bylaws provide as follows:

       Section 2. Determination of Assessments. Assessments shall be determined in
       accordance with the following provisions:

               (a) Budget: Regular Assessments. . . . Should the Association at any time
       decide, in its sole discretion: (1) that the assessments levied are or may prove to
       be insufficient (a) to pay the costs of operation and management of the
       Condominium, (b) to provide replacements of existing Common Elements, (c) to
       provide additions to the Common Elements not exceeding $10,000 annually for
       the entire Condominium Project, or (2) that an emergency exists, the Association
       shall have the authority to increase the general assessment . . . .

              (b) Special Assessments. Special assessments, in addition to those
       required in subparagraph (a) above, may be made by the Association from time to
       time and approved by the Co-owners as hereinafter provided to meet other
       requirements of the Association, including, but not limited to: (1) assessments for
       additions to the Common Elements of a cost exceeding $10,000 for the entire
       Condominium Project per year.

        “The primary goal in the construction or interpretation of any contract is to honor the
intent of the parties.” Rasheed v Chrysler Corp, 445 Mich 109, 127 n 28; 517 NW2d 19 (1994).

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“[T]he intent of the contracting parties is best discerned by the language actually used in the
contract.” Rory v Continental Ins Co, 473 Mich 457, 469 n 21; 703 NW2d 23 (2005). “Unless
otherwise defined, contractual language is given its plain and ordinary meaning.” Cole v Auto-
Owners Ins Co, 272 Mich App 50, 53; 723 NW2d 922 (2006).

                                          A. FIREPLACE

        At issue is whether the defendant Association’s construction of a new fireplace in its
lobby is an “addition” or a “replacement” under the bylaws. If the fireplace is a replacement,
then the Association was within its power to authorize the associated expenses, regardless of the
amount. On the other hand, if the fireplace is an addition, whose costs exceeds $10,000, then the
Association was required to obtain the co-owners’ approval. The bylaws, however, do not define
the terms “addition” or “replacement.” As such, resort to a dictionary is appropriate. Vushaj v
Farm Bureau Gen Ins Co of Mich, 284 Mich App 513, 515; 773 NW2d 758 (2009).

        Random House Webster’s College Dictionary (2d ed) defines “replacement” as “1. the
act of replacing. 2. a person or thing that replaces another. . . . .” In turn, “replace” is defined as
“1. to assume the function of; substitute for: to replace gas lights with electric lights. 2. to
provide a substitute for: to replace a broken dish.” Id. “Addition” is defined, in relevant part, as
“something added” and, alternatively, “a wing, room, etc., added to a building.” Id.

        Here, the “old” fireplace was an electric fireplace that did not provide for an open fire
and was attached to the wall. The “new” fireplace that was installed consists of a framed
opening in a chimney that is designed to hold an open fire. While the functionality of the two
units is different, this fact is not controlling. As common sense dictates, replacements do not
have to be of the same specific character. Indeed, the dictionary example illustrates that one can
“replace gas lights with electric lights.” Here, the replacement is the converse: an electric
fireplace being replaced with a gas fireplace. Thus, we hold that the new fireplace was a
replacement under the bylaws. Clearly, the new fireplace “assume[d] the function” and was a
“substitute for” the prior fireplace. Therefore, according to the plain terms of the bylaws, the
defendant Association was authorized to fund and replace the old fireplace, though the cost
exceeded $10,000.

        We note that if the drafters of the bylaws desired to ensure more stringent requirements
for what constitutes a “replacement,” such as not exceeding the value of the thing being replaced,
then the drafters could have used such language. We decline to read any such limits into the
text’s language. And, indeed, if the co-owners want to more tightly define what constitutes a
replacement, then they can amend the bylaws. But under the bylaws at issue, the board was
authorized to make any and all replacements without obtaining any approval from the co-owners,
and the new fireplace undoubtedly took the place of—or replaced—the old fireplace.

                               B. GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS

       Plaintiff also argues that the work done on the gutters and downspouts violated the
bylaws regarding additions to the building. Plaintiff claims that the work cost in excess of
$38,000 and that the work cannot be categorized as a “replacement.”

                                                 -4-
        The bylaws specifically state, “An adequate reserve fund for maintenance, repairs and
replacement of those Common Elements that must be replaced on a periodic basis shall be
established in the budget and must be funded by regular payments as set forth in Section 2(c)
below rather than by special assessments.” Thus, the defendant Association is required to use
general funding, as opposed to special assessment for all of the following: (1) maintenance, (2)
repairs, and (3) replacement of “Common Elements that must be replaced on a periodic basis.”

        The applicable definition of “maintenance” is “the upkeep of property or equipment.”
Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (11th ed). And “upkeep” is defined as “the act of
maintaining in good condition.” Id. Here, it is clear that gutters and downspouts relate to the
“upkeep of property,” as they serve the vital role of diverting rain water away from buildings and
structures, which acts to keep the property “in good condition.” Therefore, because the gutters
and downspouts are considered maintenance of the common elements under the bylaws, the
Association’s actions pertaining to the gutters and downspouts are authorized.

                                    C. SERVICE ELEVATOR

         Plaintiff argues that defendant Association breached the bylaws in its handling of the
service elevator special assessment. Specifically, plaintiff argues that the bylaws were breached
because the 2015 budget included the special assessment for the elevator prior to the co-owner’s
vote. Plaintiff claims that it is immaterial that after the co-owners voted “no” on the special
assessment, the project did not advance because the members were assessed for the cost of
installing an elevator nonetheless.

        The bylaws provide, “The Association shall establish an annual budget in advance for
each fiscal year and such budget shall project all expenses for the forthcoming year which may
be required for the proper operation, management and maintenance of the Condominium
Project, including a reasonable allowance for contingencies and reserves.” (Emphasis added.)
Thus, because the board determined that an additional elevator was a high priority item for the
2015 year, the bylaws required that the expense of the elevator project should be projected in the
that annual budget.

       A little over one month after the co-owners were informed of the projected budget, they
were sent a letter explaining why the service elevator was needed. Defendants asked the co-
owners to approve the completion of the service elevator, with its estimated cost of $140,000.
Defendants also stated, “In anticipation of your support, the portion of the cost for this project to
be paid by the HOA has been budgeted for 2015. No additional funding will be necessary.”
When the special assessment failed, the money that was allocated for the elevator project was
simply used for other authorized projects. Thus, defendants were in compliance with Article II
of the bylaws because no monies were spent on constructing an elevator after the special
assessment failed. Accordingly, because the bylaws were complied with, the Association did not
breach the contract.

                                                -5-
     Affirmed. Defendant Association, as the prevailing party, may tax costs pursuant to
MCR 7.219.

                                                      /s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
                                                      /s/ Henry William Saad
                                                      /s/ Michael J. Riordan

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