Opinion
2011-09-27
In the Matter of TILCON NEW YORK, INC., appellant,v.TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE, et al., respondents.
Gilberti Stinziano Heintz & Smith, P.C., Syracuse, N.Y. (Patricia S. Naughton and Michael A. Fogel of counsel), for appellant.Van DeWater & Van DeWater, LLP, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (Audrey L. Friedrichsen Scott of counsel), for respondents.
Gilberti Stinziano Heintz & Smith, P.C., Syracuse, N.Y. (Patricia S. Naughton and Michael A. Fogel of counsel), for appellant.Van DeWater & Van DeWater, LLP, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (Audrey L. Friedrichsen Scott of counsel), for respondents.
In a hybrid proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the Town Board of the Town of Poughkeepsie dated May 20, 2009, resolving to adopt Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie, and action for a judgment declaring that Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie is preempted by State law and is unconstitutional, the petitioner/ plaintiff appeals, as limited by its brief, from so much of an order and judgment (one paper) of the Supreme Court, Dutchess County (Dolan, J.), entered January 27, 2010, as, upon denying the respondents/defendants' motion, inter alia, pursuant to CPLR 3211(a) to dismiss the petition/complaint, (1) declared that Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie is not preempted by or inconsistent with the Vehicle and Traffic Law, (2) declared that Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie is not preempted by or inconsistent with the Mined Land Reclamation Law (ECL 23–2701 et seq.), (3) declared that Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie does not violate the Equal Protection Clauses of the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., 14th Amend, § 1) or the New York Constitution (N.Y. Const., art. I, § 11), (4) declared that Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie does not violate the Due Process Clauses of the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., 14th Amend., § 1) or the New York Constitution (N.Y. Const., art. I, § 6, para 3), (5) declared that Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie does not violate the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., art. I, § 8, c1. 3), and (6) denied, as academic, the petitioner/ plaintiff's cross motion to preliminarily enjoin the Town of Poughkeepsie from enforcing Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie.
ORDERED that the order and judgment is modified, on the law, (1) by deleting the provision thereof declaring that Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of
Poughkeepsie is not preempted by or inconsistent with provisions of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, (2) by deleting the provision thereof declaring that Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie does not violate the Equal Protection Clauses of the United States or New York Constitutions, (3) by deleting the provision thereof declaring that Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie does not violate the Due Process Clauses of the United States or New York Constitutions, (4) by deleting the provision thereof declaring that Local Law No. 11 (2009) does not violate the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, and (5) by deleting the provision thereof denying, as academic, the petitioner/plaintiff's cross motion to preliminarily enjoin the Town of Poughkeepsie from enforcing Local Law No. 11 (2009) of Town of Poughkeepsie; as so modified, the order and judgment is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs to the petitioner/plaintiff, and the matter is remitted to the Supreme Court, Dutchess County, for a determination of the petitioner/plaintiff's cross motion on the merits, and for further proceedings in accordance herewith.
The petitioner/plaintiff, Tilcon New York, Inc. (hereinafter Tilcon), commenced this hybrid proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 seeking, inter alia, to annul Local Law No. 11 (2009) of the Town of Poughkeepsie (hereinafter Local Law 11–2009), and action for a judgment declaring that Local Law 11–2009 is preempted by State law, and is unconstitutional. Tilcon sought declarations that Local Law 11–2009 was (1) inconsistent with and preempted by the Vehicle and Traffic Law; (2) inconsistent with and preempted by the Mined Land Reclamation Law; (3) in violation of the Equal Protection Clauses of the United States and New York Constitutions; (4) in violation of the of the Due Process Clauses of the United States and New York Constitutions; and (5) in violation of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.
Prior to interposing an answer to the petition/complaint, the respondents/defendants Town of Poughkeepsie and the Town Board of the Town of Poughkeepsie (hereinafter together the Town) moved, inter alia, pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(7) to dismiss the second, third, fourth, and fifth causes of action on the ground that they failed to state a cause of action, and also pursuant to CPLR 3211(a)(3) to dismiss the first cause of action on the ground that the petitioner/plaintiff lacked standing to assert it. Tilcon cross-moved to preliminarily enjoin the Town from enforcing Local Law 11–2009.
The Supreme Court, inter alia, denied those branches of the Town's motion which were to dismiss the first five causes of action seeking declaratory relief, but nonetheless rendered a declaratory judgment in the Town's favor with respect to each of those five causes of action. The Supreme Court denied, as academic, Tilcon's cross motion for a preliminary injunction. We modify.
“A motion to dismiss a declaratory judgment action prior to the service of an answer presents for consideration only the issue of whether a cause of action for declaratory relief is set forth, not the question of whether the plaintiff is entitled to a favorable declaration” ( Staver Co. v. Skrobisch, 144 A.D.2d 449, 450, 533 N.Y.S.2d 967; see Rockland Light & Power Co. v. City of New York, 289 N.Y. 45, 51, 43 N.E.2d 803; Law Research Serv. v. Honeywell, Inc., 31 A.D.2d 900, 901, 298 N.Y.S.2d 1; Verity v. Larkin, 18 A.D.2d 842, 238 N.Y.S.2d 248; see also Weinstein–Korn–Miller, N.Y. Civ. Prac. ¶ 3001.13 [2d ed.] ). Accordingly, where a cause of action is sufficient to invoke the court's power to “render a declaratory judgment ...
as to the rights and other legal relations of the parties to a justiciable controversy” (CPLR 3001; see CPLR 3017[b] ), a motion to dismiss that cause of action should be denied ( see St. Lawrence Univ. v. Trustees of Theol. School of St. Lawrence Univ., 20 N.Y.2d 317, 325, 282 N.Y.S.2d 746, 229 N.E.2d 431; Rockland Light & Power Co. v. City of New York, 289 N.Y. at 51, 43 N.E.2d 803; Staver Co. v. Skrobisch, 144 A.D.2d at 450, 533 N.Y.S.2d 967; Ackert v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., 4 A.D.2d 819, 821, 165 N.Y.S.2d 330; Derby v. Gayvert & Co., 286 App.Div. 1150, 1150, 146 N.Y.S.2d 11; Strauss v. University of State of N.Y., 282 App.Div. 593, 595, 125 N.Y.S.2d 821; see also Weinstein–Korn–Miller, N.Y. Civ. Prac. ¶ 3001.13 [2d ed.] ).
However, courts have, on occasion, reached the merits of a properly pleaded cause of action for a declaratory judgment upon a motion to dismiss for failure to state a cause of action where “no questions of fact are presented [by the controversy]” ( Hoffman v. City of Syracuse, 2 N.Y.2d 484, 487, 161 N.Y.S.2d 111, 141 N.E.2d 605; see Lanza v. Wagner, 11 N.Y.2d 317, 334, 229 N.Y.S.2d 380, 183 N.E.2d 670, appeal dismissed 371 U.S. 74, 83 S.Ct. 177, 9 L.Ed.2d 163, cert. denied 371 U.S. 901, 83 S.Ct. 205, 9 L.Ed.2d 164; German Masonic Temple Assn. v. City of New York, 279 N.Y. 452, 457, 18 N.E.2d 657; Washington County Sewer Dist. No. 2 v. White, 177 A.D.2d 204, 206, 581 N.Y.S.2d 485; Fillman v. Axel, 63 A.D.2d 876, 405 N.Y.S.2d 471; Garcia v. Motor Veh. Acc. Indem. Corp., 18 A.D.2d 62, 62–63, 238 N.Y.S.2d 195; Civil Serv. Forum v. New York City Tr. Auth., 4 A.D.2d 117, 129–130, 163 N.Y.S.2d 476, affd. 4 N.Y.2d 866, 174 N.Y.S.2d 234, 150 N.E.2d 705). Under such circumstances, the “motion [to dismiss for failure to state a cause of action] should be taken as a motion for a declaration in the defendant's favor and treated accordingly” (Siegel, N.Y. Prac. § 440, at 745 [4th ed.]; see Lanza v. Wagner, 11 N.Y.2d at 334, 229 N.Y.S.2d 380, 183 N.E.2d 670; Hoffman v. City of Syracuse, 2 N.Y.2d at 487, 161 N.Y.S.2d 111, 141 N.E.2d 605; German Masonic Temple Assn. v. City of New York, 279 N.Y. at 457, 18 N.E.2d 657; Washington County Sewer Dist. No. 2 v. White, 177 A.D.2d at 206, 581 N.Y.S.2d 485; Fillman v. Axel, 63 A.D.2d 876, 405 N.Y.S.2d 471; Garcia v. Motor Veh. Acc. Indem. Corp., 18 A.D.2d at 62–63, 238 N.Y.S.2d 195; Civil Serv. Forum v. New York City Tr. Auth., 4 A.D.2d at 129–130, 163 N.Y.S.2d 476).
However, if the record before the motion court is insufficient to resolve all factual issues such that the rights of the parties cannot be determined as a matter of law, a declaration upon a motion to dismiss is not permissible ( see Rockland Light & Power Co. v. City of New York, 289 N.Y. at 51, 43 N.E.2d 803; Nadel v. Costa, 91 A.D.2d 976, 976, 457 N.Y.S.2d 345; Verity v. Larkin, 18 A.D.2d 842, 238 N.Y.S.2d 248; see also La Lanterna, Inc. v. Fareri Enters., Inc., 37 A.D.3d 420, 422–423, 831 N.Y.S.2d 190; Law Research Serv. v. Honeywell, Inc., 31 A.D.2d 900, 901, 298 N.Y.S.2d 1).
Here, the Supreme Court denied those branches of the Town's motion which were to dismiss the second, third, fourth, and fifth causes of action for failure to state a cause of action, upon concluding that those causes of action were sufficiently pleaded such that declaratory relief in some form was appropriate ( see CPLR 3001, 3017[b]; Rockland Light & Power Co. v. City of New York, 289 N.Y. at 51, 43 N.E.2d 803; Staver Co. v. Skrobisch, 144 A.D.2d at 450, 533 N.Y.S.2d 967). Tilcon contends on appeal, however, that the Supreme Court erred in proceeding to render a declaratory judgment in the Town's favor with respect to those causes of action in the context
of deciding the motion to dismiss the petition/complaint. Since the Town did not cross-appeal from the determination denying those branches of its motion, we must now address whether judgment was properly rendered in connection with those causes of action.
The second cause of action alleged that Local Law 11–2009 is inconsistent with and preempted by the Mined Land Reclamation Law ( see Environmental Conservation Law § 23–2701, et seq.). Since there are no factual issues that would prevent determination on the merits as a matter of law with respect to these issues, it was appropriate to make a declaration with respect to this cause of action. In this regard, the Supreme Court properly declared that Local Law 11–2009 is not inconsistent with or preempted by the Mined Land Reclamation Law ( see Matter of Gernatt Asphalt Prods. v. Town of Sardinia, 87 N.Y.2d 668, 681–683, 642 N.Y.S.2d 164, 664 N.E.2d 1226; Town of Riverhead v. T.S. Haulers, 275 A.D.2d 774, 775, 713 N.Y.S.2d 740; Preble Aggregate v. Town of Preble, 263 A.D.2d 849, 850, 694 N.Y.S.2d 788; see also Environmental Conservation Law § 23–2703[2][a] ).
The third and fourth causes of action alleged that Local Law 11–2009 violates the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the United States and New York Constitutions. The fifth cause of action alleged that Local Law 11–2009 violates the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. Contrary to the Town's contention, it failed to demonstrate the absence of all factual issues such that a determination as to those three causes of action could be determined as a matter of law ( see White Plains Automotive Supply Co. v. City of Peekskill, 98 A.D.2d 776, 469 N.Y.S.2d 487, affd. 68 N.Y.2d 933, 510 N.Y.S.2d 91, 502 N.E.2d 1006; Matter of King Rd. Materials v. Town Bd. of Town of Rotterdam, 37 A.D.2d 357, 360, 325 N.Y.S.2d 664, affd. 32 N.Y.2d 890, 346 N.Y.S.2d 813, 300 N.E.2d 154; see also Quaglia v. Incorporated Vil. of Munsey Park, 44 N.Y.2d 772, 774, 406 N.Y.S.2d 30, 377 N.E.2d 473). Accordingly, the Supreme Court erred when it declared, at this stage of the proceedings, that Local Law 11–2009 does not violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the United States and New York Constitutions, and also does not violate the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution ( see Rockland Light & Power Co. v. City of New York, 289 N.Y. at 51, 43 N.E.2d 803; Nadel v. Costa, 91 A.D.2d at 976, 457 N.Y.S.2d 345; Verity v. Larkin, 18 A.D.2d 842, 238 N.Y.S.2d 248; see also La Lanterna, Inc. v. Fareri Enters., Inc., 37 A.D.3d at 422–423, 831 N.Y.S.2d 190; Law Research Serv. v. Honeywell, Inc., 31 A.D.2d at 901, 298 N.Y.S.2d 1).
We note that the branch of the Town's motion which was directed to the first cause of action sought the dismissal thereof solely on the ground that Tilcon lacked standing to assert it. After determining that Tilcon had standing, the Supreme Court erred, under the circumstances, when it considered grounds not raised in the Town's motion in order to reach and determine the merits of the first cause of action ( see Matter of Dental Socy. of State of N.Y. v. Carey, 92 A.D.2d 263, 264, 461 N.Y.S.2d 77, affd. 61 N.Y.2d 330, 474 N.Y.S.2d 262, 462 N.E.2d 362; Matter of Unger v. Joy, 78 A.D.2d 680, 681, 432 N.Y.S.2d 397; Mulonet v. Lasky, 39 A.D.2d 922, 923, 332 N.Y.S.2d 907; Matter of Hassett v. Barnes, 11 A.D.2d 1089, 1090, 206 N.Y.S.2d 606; cf. Greene v. Davidson, 210 A.D.2d 108, 109, 620 N.Y.S.2d 48). Accordingly, the Supreme Court erred when it declared, at this stage of the proceedings, that Local Law 11–2009 is not inconsistent with or superseded by certain
provisions of the Vehicle and Traffic Law ( see Rockland Light & Power Co. v. City of New York, 289 N.Y. at 51, 43 N.E.2d 803; Nadel v. Costa, 91 A.D.2d at 976, 457 N.Y.S.2d 345; Verity v. Larkin, 18 A.D.2d 842, 238 N.Y.S.2d 248; see also La Lanterna, Inc. v. Fareri Enters., Inc., 37 A.D.3d at 422–423, 831 N.Y.S.2d 190; Law Research Serv. v. Honeywell, Inc., 31 A.D.2d at 901, 298 N.Y.S.2d 1).
Finally, in light of the foregoing, Tilcon's cross motion for a preliminary injunction is no longer academic and must be determined on the merits. Accordingly, we remit the matter to the Supreme Court, Dutchess County, for a determination of the petitioner/plaintiff's cross motion on the merits, and for further proceedings on the first, third, fourth, and fifth causes of action.