Court Opinion

ID: 9516534
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 23:44:44.435482+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:40:31.622927
License: Public Domain

Bronson, P.J.
(dissenting). Defendants appeal by right a determination that they acted in contempt of court. The trial court fined them $100.
In 1960, plaintiff sought to enjoin defendants from enlarging a nonconforming use. Defendants *554or their predecessors in interest had operated a small boat livery on that site for over 40 years. Defendants had advertised the availability of mooring space on Orchard Lake for sailboats and powerboats. They had also proceeded with plans to improve a small utility building used in connection with the livery. The trial judge summarized the position taken by plaintiff:
"The village says that the Connors, in attempting to rent increased dockage space and by increasing the size of their utility building, are extending and enlarging a non-conforming use of their property as established by their zoning ordinance.”
The trial judge rejected defendants’ claim that the village’s zoning ordinance was constitutionally invalid. After finding as fact that defendants had attempted to expand their prior use by renting dock space for more boats than had previously been moored on their property, the court held:
"Plaintiff village is entitled to injunctive relief. Such relief is equitable in character; it must be so directed as to be fair to the village and yet not destructive of the Connors’ right to continue the operation of a boat livery. The court is of the opinion that the rental of space for six boats, either power or sail, would not constitute an extension or enlargement of the use of the Connors’ land as a boat livery, and accordingly in Cause No. C-32291, an injunction may issue restraining the defendants from leasing more than six spaces for dock-age of either power or sail boats.”
The judge ordered preparation of a judgment encompassing the findings in his opinion. The judgment, which was entered in 1964, stated in part:
"Defendants are hereby permanently enjoined and restrained from enlarging or extending their noncon*555forming use on their real property, or on the waters of Orchard Lake adjacent thereto, by renting, leasing, storing, anchoring or otherwise permitting the storing or anchoring of power or sail boats in excess of six (6) at any one time.”
In 1980, plaintiff brought a motion to hold defendants in contempt for disobeying the 1964 order. The judge who entered the order having left the bench, the hearing on the motion was assigned to a circuit judge with no previous involvement in the matter.
A hearing on the court’s order to show cause was held. Defendant Michael Connor testified that defendants leased mooring space for one powerboat and five sailboats and that he kept about ten "windsurfers” (a surfboard equipped with a mast and sail) on his property. He rented the "windsurfers” and gave lessons on their use. The findings of the trial court and the contentions on appeal of both parties rest on the facts stated in Connor’s testimony. The trial judge held that defendants contemptuously violated the court’s order by keeping the "windsurfers” on their proerty, because that brought to more than six the number of powerboats and sailboats kept there.
On appeal, defendants argue that they acted in good faith and that the matters now in dispute were not considered or adjudicated in the 1960-1964 proceedings. Specifically, defendants claim that the 1960 action was brought only to insure that defendants did not engage in large-scale rental of mooring space. Defendants cite the statement, in the judge’s written opinion, that "an injunction may issue restraining the defendants from leasing more than six spaces for dockage of either power or sail boats”.
In response, plaintiff argues that a court speaks *556through its orders and judgments, not through its opinions. In light of defendants’ stipulation that "windsurfers” are sailboats, plaintiff claims, there is no question that defendants were in contempt of the 1964 order.
Despite plaintiff’s characterization of these proceedings, the relief (or sentence) ordered was punishment for an offense committed rather than a device to enforce the performance of an act. See People v Johns, 384 Mich 325, 330; 183 NW2d 216 (1971); State Bar of Michigan v Cramer, 399 Mich 116, 128; 249 NW2d 1 (1976). The fine defendants were ordered to pay must be considered punishment for criminal, not civil, contempt.
Criminal contempt penalties are used to punish misconduct which affronts the dignity of a court, State Bar, supra, p 127. Disobedience of a court’s orders may constitute criminal contempt where the disobedience is wilful. Enterprise Foundry Co v Iron Molders’ Union of North America, Local No 186, 149 Mich 31; 112 NW 685 (1907). The judiciary’s power to punish for contempt must be applied judiciously and may be used only when the contempt is clearly and unequivocally shown. People v Matish, 384 Mich 568, 572; 184 NW2d 915 (1971). An essential element of criminal contempt is culpable conduct in wilful disregard or disobedience of the authority or orders of the court. Matish, supra, p 572. This element has also been defined as the intent to defy the dignity and the authority of the court. People v Kurz, 35 Mich App 643, 652, fn 9; 192 NW2d 594 (1971). In a criminal contempt case, each element must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #98 v Kalamazoo County, 82 Mich App 312, 317; 266 NW2d 805 (1978).
Upon my review of the entire record, I am *557convinced that proof beyond a reasonable doubt of defendants’ wilful disobedience of the 1964 order was not shown. In contempt proceedings charging wilful violation of a court’s order, the order will not be expanded by implication beyond the meaning of its language when read in light of the issues raised and the purpose for which the suit which produced the order was brought. Terminal Railroad Ass’n of St Louis v United States, 266 US 17, 29; 45 S Ct 5; 69 L Ed 150 (1924). I reject plaintiffs claim that an examination of the proceedings resulting in a court order allows a party to attack the order collaterally. I agree with defendants that an examination of the proceedings resulting in a court order may disclose facts important to a determination of wilfulness in disobeying the order. The issue of defendants’ storage of "windsurfers” or similar small craft for rental to the public was neither decided nor anticipated.
I also find that the order allegedly violated was ambiguous on its face, requiring an examination of its history to determine the intent of the judge who entered the order. The relevant paragraph stated:
"Defendants are hereby permanently enjoined and restrained from enlarging or extending their non-conforming use on their real property, or on the waters of Orchard Lake adjacent thereto, by renting, leasing, storing, anchoring or otherwise permitting the storing or anchoring of power or sail boats in excess of six (6) at any one time.”
The use of the phrase I have emphasized strongly suggests that the order was intended only to cover cases in which defendants in some way permitted persons to store boats on their property, not cases in which defendants stored their own boats. This *558interpretation is supported by a review of the proceedings which led to the issuance of the order. Moreover, given the standard of proof to be applied, I believe that any ambiguity should be resolved in the defendants’ favor where there is no question of subterfuge. See Hipp v Buhl Optical Co, 282 Mich 128; 275 NW 793 (1937).
I would reverse.