Court Opinion

ID: 3171691
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-25 08:05:25.978904+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:59:59.775814
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                       COURT OF APPEALS

RICHARD T. BILDSTEIN and CONNIE M.              UNPUBLISHED
YUSKA,                                          January 21, 2016

           Plaintiffs-Appellees/Cross-
           Appellants,

v                                               No. 323094
                                                Van Buren Circuit Court
EARL F. HASLER, DIANNE HASLER,                  LC No. 11-060787-CH
WILLIAM F. BENNER, ARTHUR BENNER,
ELIZABETH BENNER, RYAN FLAGEL, APRIL
MONTEY, TINA REIDY, LORETTA REIDY,
JOHN MCNAUGHTON, DANIEL HUGHES,
JAMES V. MEERSMAN, JR., MATTHEW
THUNELL, MINDY THUNELL, WILLIAM
O’MEARA, TRUSTEE, ARTHUR O’MEARA,
JASON MCCROREY, MARJORIE BLAYLOCK,
WAYNE BLAYLOCK, BOBBY BLAYLOCK,
and MICHELLE BLAYLOCK,

           Defendants-Appellants/Cross-
           Appellees,
and

DANIEL VIDA, CATHERINE KUTCKA,
AUDREY J. SPERLING TRUST, JAMES R.
WRIGHT, WILLIAM MORACA, TERESA
MORACA, RONALD PAVLIK, ROSARIO
PICONE, JR., ROSARIO PICONE, SR., DANIEL
VIDA, SUSAN VIDA, JAMES WITTLING,
RONALD PAVLIK, KATHERINE PAVLIK,
THOMAS WICHLINSKI, PATRICA
WICHLINSKI, JEFFERY SCHMAL, AUDREY
HUGHES, GRACE HENDRICKSON, DANIEL
GREENE, FRANK CICCHETTI, GADO
ONGWELA, EDWIN LAMMEL, GIL SNYDER,
NANCY SNYDER, RUSSELL CROSS, JR.,
MARCUS TENNANT, KRISTINE TENNANT,
SHARON ROURKE, BARBARA BALDWIN,
RANDALL MCMANIGAL, RONALD

                                          -1-
MCMANIGAL, MICHAEL CONRAD JR.,
TRUSTEE, NICHOLAS MAROZSAN,
DELORES MAROZSAN, THOMAS FOSTER,
JANET FOSTER, IRENE MESTACH, DEREK
NESTICH, JODI MANEKE, EAA PROPERTIES,
L.L.C., STEVE LAVELLE, LYNN LAVELLE,
TERRENCE SALS, THOMAS GANGAS,
GEORGE GANGAS, STEPHEN KERESZTESI,
MICHAEL BURRAFATO, ALISON
BURRAFATO, BIRNEY VANDERBOEGH,
JACQUELINE JONKER, MARILYN HERALD,
SISTER LAKES, L.L.C., THOMAS HUGHES,
HELEN HUGHES, HARRY KOWALSKI,
ANGELA KOWALSKI, KAREN
KAZMIERZAK, ROGER SOUCY, ELIZABETH
SOUCY, and JAMES HOGAN,

               Defendants.

Before: BECKERING, P.J., and GLEICHER and M. J. KELLY, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

         The parties own lots in the Woodland Beach No. 1 subdivision bordering Crooked Lake
in Van Buren County. Plaintiffs are a married couple who own a lakefront lot that abuts
“Woodland Court,” a strip of land that culminates at the lake. Disgruntled by the “partying” of
certain backlot owners around a dock extending from Woodland Court, plaintiffs filed suit
seeking a declaration of everyone’s interests and an injunction to prevent undesirable activities.
Upon competing motions for summary disposition, the circuit court ruled that plaintiffs had
littoral rights in their lot,1 but that a dedication in the plat map gave all backlot owners the right
to enjoy Woodland Court and the platted beach along the lakefront. The backlot owners’ rights
included the right to erect a nonexclusive dock for the temporary mooring of boats and to use the
beach at Woodland Court for normal beach activity.

        Both sides have appealed. The backlot owners contend that the circuit court improperly
resolved the matter without the addition of all necessary parties, i.e., the complete roster of the
subdivision property owners. They also challenge the court’s decision to reach certain issues at
all, as well as the propriety of the restrictions on their use of Woodland Court. Plaintiffs, on the

1
  Technically, land abutting a river includes riparian rights, while land abutting a lake includes
littoral rights. See 2000 Baum Family Trust v Babel, 488 Mich 136, 138 n 1; 793 NW2d 633
(2010). The parties and the circuit court referred to plaintiffs’ interests as riparian. We employ
the correct description of these rights in this opinion.

                                                 -2-
other hand, argue that the restrictions are not broad enough. We affirm the circuit court’s
decision to proceed with the matter despite the absence of several lot owners. We also affirm the
court’s rulings in regard to the parties’ rights to Woodland Court. The parties correctly assert
that the circuit court should not have defined the parameters of the beach easement along the
lakefront properties, however, and we vacate that part of the judgment.

                                        I. BACKGROUND

        In 1941, the four original owners of a block of land recorded a plat map for the Woodland
Beach subdivision on Crooked Lake. The plat dedicated “the streets and beaches as shown on
said plat . . . to the use of persons owning property in said plat, except the street designated as
‘county road,’ which [was] dedicated to the use of the public.” The 20-foot-wide Woodland
Court, which is perpendicular to and ends at Crooked Lake, borders plaintiffs’ lot. On the plat,
when Woodland Court reaches Crooked Lake, it turns and becomes a “beach (private)” (the
Beach). The Beach sits between a row of six lots, including plaintiffs’, and Crooked Lake.

         Plaintiffs initially filed suit only against Earl and Dianne Hasler, challenging their
activities on Woodland Court. The Haslers constructed a long F-shaped dock into Crooked Lake
extending from Woodland Court. They moored a boat at the dock for extended periods. And the
Haslers, along with a bevy of guests, spent the summer lounging and picnicking on the dock,
engaging in water activities, and generally “partying” according to plaintiffs. In their March 25,
2011 “complaint to determine interest in land,” plaintiffs described Woodland Court and the
Beach and indicated that these were dedicated to the use of all lot owners. Plaintiffs asserted,
however, that the Haslers’ “activities in front of Plaintiffs’ lot and on Woodland Court exceed
the scope of their dedicated rights,” and that this overreaching had impaired the use and
enjoyment of plaintiffs’ littoral rights. Plaintiffs sought a declaration that the dedication did not
include the right to erect a pier or to moor watercraft at the end of Woodland Court and that as
littoral owners, plaintiffs possessed the rights accompanying that interest. Plaintiffs also sought
an injunction preventing the Haslers from exceeding the scope of the dedication in the future.

        The Haslers retorted that all lot owners within the subdivision were necessary parties to
the action because plaintiffs sought to define the rights of all. After some negotiation, plaintiffs
agreed to amend their complaint and began the Herculean effort of serving every lot owner.
Ultimately, service could not be accomplished as to approximately 20 lot owners and the court
dismissed plaintiffs’ claims against those parties. Many other defendants declined to respond
and default judgments were entered against them. Only the small group of defendants-appellants
remained. The Haslers again sought to dismiss the suit based on the dismissal of certain
defendants for lack of service, but the court denied the request. As plaintiffs were seeking to
enjoin certain individuals from engaging in uses beyond the scope of the dedication, rather than
to amend the plat or exert title over the dedicated areas, the court determined that those parties
who were actually necessary were then before the court.

        Plaintiffs and remaining defendants subsequently filed competing motions for summary
disposition, each believing the law was on their side in defining the scope of their interests. In a
confusing and sometimes contradictory order, the circuit court denied the motions on March 5,
2014. Following the transfer of the matter to a different judge, plaintiffs sought reconsideration
and the court decided to rehear the matter. The circuit court partially granted each side’s motion

                                                -3-
on July 17, 2014. The circuit court held that all subdivision owners had the following rights to
Woodland Court and the beach at its terminus: (1) to install one nonexclusive dock; (2) to
temporarily moor boats to the dock, but not overnight; (3) to use Woodland Court as it extends
into Crooked Lake for fishing, swimming, boating, and other incidental purposes; and (4) to use
the beach on Woodland Court for regular beach activities. The court also held that plaintiffs’ lot
was littoral and that the lot owners had an easement to use the Beach in front of plaintiffs’ lot for
ingress and egress to Crooked Lake.

                                   II. NECESSARY PARTIES

        Defendants continue to argue that the circuit court should have dismissed the action in its
entirety because plaintiffs failed to effectuate service on each lot owner within the subdivision.
We review a circuit court’s decision regarding joinder for an abuse of discretion. Mason Co v
Dep’t of Community Health, 293 Mich App 462, 489; 820 NW2d 192 (2011).

        MCR 2.205(A) provides that “persons having such interests in the subject matter of an
action that their presence in the action is essential to permit the court to render complete relief
must be made parties and aligned as plaintiffs or defendants[.]” When such persons have not
been made parties and are subject to the jurisdiction of the court, the court shall order a summons
for their appearance. MCR 2.205(B). The purpose of MCR 2.205(A) is “to prevent the splitting
of causes of action and to ensure that all parties having a real interest in the litigation are
present.” Mason Co, 293 Mich App at 489.

         In their amended complaint, plaintiffs alleged that “[s]ome or all defendants” had
“constructed piers that extend into Crooked Lake from Woodland Court and from the beach area
on or near” their lot. They also alleged that “[s]ome or all defendants” had moored boats to the
piers and “engaged in sunbathing, partying, swimming, picnicking, and other beach activities at
the end of Woodland Court and on or near” their lot. According to plaintiffs, these activities
exceeded the scope of the dedication for Woodland Court. In their amended complaint, plaintiffs
asked the court to declare the rights of defendants regarding Woodland Court, including that
defendants did not have a right to erect a pier and moor watercraft at the end of Woodland Court,
and to grant injunctive relief, including requiring defendants to remove the dock and forbidding
defendants from placing additional docks into Crooked Lake and from mooring boats.
Essentially, plaintiffs wanted a judgment that prohibited defendants from engaging in activities
that they believed were beyond the scope of the dedication. There is no claim that any of the
dismissed defendants engaged in any of the alleged prohibited activities. The individuals who
had purportedly engaged in the subject activities had been served with process, submitted to the
circuit court’s jurisdiction, and would be subject to any judgment of the court. See MCR
3.114(H). Therefore, the circuit court could render complete relief to plaintiffs, and acted within
its discretion in denying defendants’ motion to dismiss.

                     III. LITTORAL RIGHTS AND BEACH DEDICATION

       Defendants assert that the circuit court should not have resolved whether plaintiffs
possessed littoral rights or determined the scope of the dedication of the Beach as those issues
had no bearing on the use of Woodland Court, the only real issue in the case according to
defendants. Plaintiffs concede in their responsive brief to defendants’ appeal that the circuit

                                                -4-
court should not have defined the scope of the Beach easement. Indeed, beyond the cursory
allegations regarding the Beach in plaintiffs’ complaint, plaintiffs made no argument in this
regard. Absent an “actual controversy” over the use of the Beach, MCR 2.605(A)(1), we vacate
that portion of the circuit court order.2

        However, we discern no reversible error in the circuit court’s decision to elucidate
plaintiffs’ property interest. In order to define the parties’ interests in Woodland Court, the
circuit court was first required to identify the parties’ interests in their own lots and the
subdivision. Moreover, plaintiffs are littoral owners. Plaintiffs own a lot separated from the
lake only by a strip of land dedicated to all lot owners as a beach. Michigan courts have
repeatedly held that such dedications and easements do not cut off the waterfront owner’s littoral
rights. See Thies v Howland, 424 Mich 282, 293; 380 NW2d 463 (1986). See also 2000 Baum
Family Trust, 488 Mich at 167-168. Accordingly, we discern no error meriting relief.

                     IV. SCOPE OF WOODLAND COURT DEDICATION

       Neither party was satisfied with the circuit court’s description of defendants’ rights to use
and enjoy Woodland Court. Defendants argue that the circuit court improperly limited the length
of time they may moor boats to the nonexclusive dock. Plaintiffs complain that defendants
should have no right to install, maintain, or use any dock.

       Plaintiffs sought summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(9) and (10), and defendants
under MCR 2.116(I)(2). As a motion based on MCR 2.116(C)(9) (failure to present a viable
defense) is dependent on the pleadings alone, Glass v Goeckel, 473 Mich 667, 677; 703 NW2d
58 (2005), and the court considered the evidence presented by the parties, we consider the
motion as granted under MCR 2.116(C)(10).

               We review a trial court’s decision on a motion for summary disposition de
       novo. . . .

               A motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10) tests the factual support of a plaintiff’s
       claim. Summary disposition is appropriate under MCR 2.116(C)(10) if there is no
       genuine issue regarding any material fact and the moving party is entitled to
       judgment as a matter of law. In reviewing a motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10),
       this Court considers the pleadings, admissions, affidavits, and other relevant
       documentary evidence of record in the light most favorable to the nonmoving
       party to determine whether any genuine issue of material fact exists to warrant a
       trial. A genuine issue of material fact exists when the record, giving benefit of
       reasonable doubt to the opposing party, leaves open an issue upon which
       reasonable minds might differ. [Zaher v Miotke, 300 Mich App 132, 139-140;
       832 NW2d 266 (2013) (quotation marks and citations omitted).]

2
  As the circuit court should not have reached this issue, we need not consider defendants’
alternate challenges to the substance of the order.

                                                -5-
       The Woodland Beach subdivision was platted before the Land Division Act, MCL
560.101 et seq., took effect in 1968. Martin v Beldean, 469 Mich 541, 547; 677 NW2d 312
(2004). “[D]edications of land for private use in plats before [the Land Division Act] took effect
convey at least an irrevocable easement in the dedicated land.” Little v Hirschman, 469 Mich
553, 564; 677 NW2d 319 (2004). “[A] purchaser of platted lands receives not only the interest
described in the deed, but also whatever rights are reserved to the lot owners in the plat.” Id. at
561. When interpreting a plat, this Court seeks to effectuate the intent of the plattor. Tomecek v
Bavas, 482 Mich 484, 490-491; 759 NW2d 178 (2008) (opinion by KELLY, J); id. at 499
(CAVANAGH, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part). When the language of a legal
instrument is plain and unambiguous, it is to be enforced as written and no further inquiry is
permitted. Little v Kin, 468 Mich 699, 700; 664 NW2d 749 (2003); Dyball v Lennox, 260 Mich
App 698, 704; 680 NW2d 522 (2004). Only if the language is unambiguous may extrinsic
evidence be considered to determine the plattor’s intent. Little, 468 Mich at 700; Dyball, 260
Mich at 704.

        Here, the plat simply states: “[T]he streets and beaches as shown on [the] plat are hereby
dedicated to the use of persons owning property in said plat.” The plat does not define “use.”
The scope of the “use” can be determined, however, by looking to the legal understanding of that
term in relation to roadways terminating at the waterfront.

        First, caselaw supports the circuit court’s conclusion that defendants could install a
nonexclusive dock into Crooked Lake from Woodland Court. It was long settled before the
current plat was created that when a road that ends at the water is dedicated to public use, a
public agency may construct a dock for public use. See Backus v Detroit, 49 Mich 110, 120; 13
NW 380 (1882). As described in Thies, 424 Mich at 296, the right to construct a dock is not
dependent on the public owning the roadway in fee. “Rather, it is based upon the presumption
that the plattor intended to give access to the water and permit the building of structures to aid in
that access.” Id. The only limit is that “[a]ny dock which is constructed at the end of a common
way must be made available for the use of those to whom the way is dedicated.” Id. In Thies,
the Supreme Court noted that the result should be no different when the roadway (and therefore
the dock) are dedicated to the use of subdivision lot owners. Id. Accordingly, neither party’s
challenge to this portion of the court’s order has merit.

        Second, defendants complain that their right to moor boats should not be limited to
temporary use. One stick in the bundle of littoral and riparian rights is the right “to permanently
anchor boats off the shore.” 2000 Baum Family Trust, 488 Mich at 166. See also Thies, 424
Mich at 288; Hall v Wantz, 336 Mich 112, 117; 57 NW2d 462 (1953). However, “[a]n incident
of the public’s right of navigation is the right to anchor boats temporarily.” Thies, 424 Mich at
288 (emphasis added). See also Delaney v Pond, 350 Mich 685, 688; 86 NW2d 816 (1957).
Defendants are not littoral owners, they are backlot owners with a right to access the water
through land dedicated for that purpose on the plat map. Absent littoral rights, defendants have
no ground to assert a right to moor boats on the lake for any extended period of time. It was
within the circuit court’s purview to determine what constituted “temporary mooring” and we
discern no error in the overnight restriction defined by that court.

       Third, we also discern no error in the circuit court’s determination that defendants could
use the dock for fishing, swimming, and boating, and that portion of the beach on Woodland

                                                -6-
Court for regular beach activities. In Thies, 424 Mich at 288, the Supreme Court noted,
“Nonriparian owners and members of the public who gain access to a navigable waterbody have
a right to use the surface of the water in a reasonable manner for such activities as boating,
fishing and swimming.” We see no reason the same should not be true where a dedicated
roadway ends at the water. Compare Delaney, 350 Mich 686-687 (noting that where the backlot
owners enjoyed a 10-foot easement along a riverfront pier which was specifically limited as an
access point, the backlot owners could not use the pier for fishing and swimming without
committing a trespass). Here, there was no such specific limitation on the use of Woodland
Court or the water’s edge. Accordingly, within the confines of Woodland Court and the dock
extending from its terminus, the circuit court correctly determined that defendants could engage
in normal beach and dock activities.3

       We affirm in part and vacate in part. We do not retain jurisdiction.

                                                            /s/ Jane M. Beckering
                                                            /s/ Elizabeth L. Gleicher
                                                            /s/ Michael J. Kelly

3
 Given these conclusions, we need not address defendants’ alternate argument that they had
obtained a prescriptive easement to maintain a dock.

                                               -7-