Opinion
No. 399-80
Opinion Filed November 3, 1981
1. Courts — Assistant Judges — Equity
In an equitable action, assistant judges should not and cannot participate therein. 4 V.S.A. § 219.
2. Courts — Assistant Judges — Equity
In an equitable action, where a motion was heard and an order dismissing the action signed not only by the presiding judge, but also by the assistant judges, but no claim of error was predicated upon the issue, and the decision was a unanimous one, the error would be treated as harmless on appeal, absent a showing that the assistant judges actually participated in the hearing and the making of findings of fact. 4 V.S.A. § 219.
3. Pleading — Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings — Tests and Standards
A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted challenges the sufficiency of the complaint and admits all factual allegations well pleaded by the nonmoving party. V.R.C.P. 12(b)(6).
4. Pleading — Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings — Tests and Standards
In ruling upon a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, all reasonable inferences that can be drawn from the complaint are assumed to be true and all contravening assertions in the movant's pleadings are assumed to be false. V.R.C.P. 12(b)(6).
5. Pleading — Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings — Reliance Upon Affirmative Defenses
The affirmative defenses of estoppel and statute of limitations, which must be specially pleaded, are unavailable for consideration on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted. V.R.C.P. 8(c), 12(b)(6).
6. Pleading — Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings — Reliance Upon Affirmative Defenses
Where the complaint clearly stated a cause of action for damages or restitution or both for the taking of a flowage easement without proper condemnation proceedings, it was error for the trial court to grant defendant's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim based upon the affirmative defenses of estoppel and statute of limitations. V.R.C.P. 8(c), 12(b)(6).
Appeal from dismissal of complaint for restitution of easement for failure to state a cause of action. Windsor Superior Court, Dier, J., presiding. Reversed and remanded.
Roger W. Lamson, North Hartland, for Plaintiff.
John J. Easton, Jr., Attorney General, and Richard M. Finn, Assistant Attorney General, Montpelier, for Defendant.
Present: Barney, C.J., Billings, Hill and Underwood, JJ., and Larrow, J. (Ret.), Specially Assigned
The plaintiff-appellant, White Current Corporation, filed a complaint in the Windsor Superior Court against the defendant-appellee, State of Vermont, Agency of Transportation, seeking restitution of a flowage easement allegedly taken by the defendant without a proper highway condemnation proceeding. In its answer, the defendant asserted the affirmative defenses of estoppel and the statute of limitations. Simultaneously, the defendant moved to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a cause of action, pursuant to V.R.C.P. 12(b)(6), on the ground of estoppel. The trial court dismissed the complaint on the basis of the pleadings and arguments of counsel reasoning that "plaintiff is estopped from now asserting the claim." The motion was heard and the order signed, not only by the presiding judge but also by the two assistant judges. Plaintiff appeals this order.
It should be noted again this was an equitable action and the assistant judges should not and cannot participate therein. 4 V.S.A. § 219; Pockette v. LaDuke, 139 Vt. 625, 627, 432 A.2d 1191, 1192 (1981); Nugent v. Shambor, 138 Vt. 194, 199, 413 A.2d 1210, 1213 (1980) (Billings, J., concurring). No claim of error is predicated upon this issue, and the decision was a unanimous one so it is harmless here, Travelers Insurance Co. v. Blanchard, 139 Vt. 559, 559, 433 A.2d 296, 296 (1981), absent a showing that the assistant judges actually participated in the hearing and the making of findings of fact. Maskell v. Beaulieu, 140 Vt. 75, 76, 435 A.2d 699, 700 (1981).
A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, V.R.C.P. 12(b)(6), challenges the sufficiency of the complaint and admits all factual allegations well pleaded by the nonmoving party. Bennett Estate v. Travelers Insurance Co., 138 Vt. 189, 190-91, 413 A.2d 1208, 1209 (1980). All reasonable inferences that can be drawn therefrom are assumed to be true and all contravening assertions in the movant's pleadings are assumed to be false. Reynolds v. Sullivan, 136 Vt. 1, 3, 383 A.2d 609, 611 (1978). The affirmative defenses of estoppel and statute of limitations which must be specially pleaded, V.R.C.P. 8(c), are unavailable for consideration on a motion to dismiss pursuant to V.R.C.P. 12(b)(6). The complaint here clearly states a cause of action for damages or restitution or both for the taking of a flowage easement without proper condemnation proceedings, and it was error for the trial court to grant defendant's motion to dismiss.
Reversed and remanded.