Genesee County Drain Commissioner v. Genesee County

908 N.W.2d 313, 321 Mich. App. 74

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: August 22, 2017
• Docket: 331023
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

*75 We are asked in this appeal to determine whether a claim based on a theory of unjust enrichment is barred by the doctrine of governmental immunity. We conclude that it is not.

This is the second time that this case is before us. See Genesee Co. Drain Comm'r v. Genesee Co. , 309 Mich.App. 317 , 869 N.W.2d 635 (2015). That opinion fully sets out the relevant facts of this case. Briefly, plaintiff Jeffrey Wright is the Genesee County Drain Commissioner and, along with other plaintiffs who are no *76 longer parties in the case, he participated in a county health plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield. Premiums were paid both by the county and the participants. Those premiums were set annually and were based on an estimate of the amount that the claims would be for the upcoming year along with the administrative costs of the plan. Unbeknownst to plaintiffs, at the end of each year, Blue Cross would refund to the county the amount by which the premiums exceeded the amount necessary to pay the claims and costs. The instant suit was instituted to recover the portion of the refunds that represented the participants' share of the premiums paid.

In the original appeal, we held that plaintiffs' claims alleging intentional torts were barred by governmental immunity and that plaintiffs could not recover under a breach-of-contract claim for any damages that accrued before October 24, 2005 (6 years before the filing of this action). Thereafter, following remand, in addition to the continuation of the drain commissioner's breach-of-contract claim against Genesee County, the trial court permitted the complaint to be amended to add an unjust-enrichment claim. Defendant again moved for partial summary disposition, arguing that governmental immunity barred the unjust-enrichment claim and that plaintiff failed to state a claim for unjust enrichment. The trial court concluded that governmental immunity did not bar the *315 unjust-enrichment claim. The trial court allowed the matter to continue, though without explicitly ruling on whether plaintiff properly stated a claim for unjust enrichment. Defendant now appeals.

We review de novo both the grant of summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(7) and questions of statutory interpretation.

*77 In re Bradley Estate , 494 Mich. 367 , 376-377, 835 N.W.2d. 545 (2013). And we look first to Bradley for assistance in answering the question whether a claim based on unjust enrichment constitutes one for "tort liability" that comes under the governmental tort liability act (GTLA), MCL 691.1401 et seq . Bradley does not directly answer this question as it involved a claim based upon civil contempt rather than unjust enrichment. But it does provide guidance in determining whether a particular claim falls under the GTLA.

Plaintiff's claim based on unjust enrichment is barred only if unjust enrichment imposes "tort liability." 1 The Court in Bradley , 494 Mich. at 384-385 , 835 N.W.2d 545 , summarized the analysis as follows:

Given the foregoing, it is clear that our common law has defined "tort" to be a civil wrong, other than a breach of contract, for which the court will provide a remedy in the form of compensatory damages. Accordingly, because the word "tort" has "acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning" in our common law, and because the Legislature is presumed to be aware of the common law when enacting legislation, we conclude that the term "tort" as used in MCL 691.1407(1) is a noncontractual civil wrong for which a remedy may be obtained in the form of compensatory damages.

Our analysis, however, requires more. MCL 691.1407(1) refers not merely to a "tort," nor to a "tort claim" nor to a "tort action," but to "tort liability. " The term "tort," therefore, describes the type of liability from which a governmental agency is immune. As commonly understood, the word "liability," refers to liableness, i.e., "the state or quality of being liable." To be "liable" means to be "legally responsible[.]" Construing the term "liability"

*78 along with the term "tort," it becomes apparent that the Legislature intended "tort liability" to encompass legal responsibility arising from a tort. We therefore hold that "tort liability" as used in MCL 691.1407(1) means all legal responsibility arising from a noncontractual civil wrong for which a remedy may be obtained in the form of compensatory damages. [Citations omitted; alteration in original.]

Unjust enrichment is an equitable doctrine. Morris Pumps v. Centerline Piping, Inc. , 273 Mich.App. 187 , 193, 729 N.W.2d 898 (2006). Under this doctrine, "the law will imply a contract to prevent unjust enrichment only if the defendant has been unjustly or inequitably enriched at the plaintiff's expense." Id. at 195, 729 N.W.2d 898 (emphasis added). But "a contract will be implied only if there is no express contract covering the same subject matter." Barber v. SMH (US), Inc. , 202 Mich.App. 366 , 375, 509 N.W.2d 791 (1993) (emphasis added). In other words, "the law implies a contract to prevent unjust enrichment, which occurs when one party receives a benefit from another the retention of which would be inequitable." Martin v. East Lansing Sch. Dist , 193 Mich.App. 166 , 177, 483 N.W.2d 656 (1992) (emphasis *316 added). See also Dumas v. Auto Club Ins. Ass'n , 437 Mich. 521 , 546, 473 N.W.2d 652 (1991). Further, our Supreme Court has specifically held that an action for breach of implied contract is not barred by the GTLA. Bradley , 494 Mich. at 386 , 835 N.W.2d 545 .

We conclude that a claim based on the equitable doctrine of unjust enrichment ultimately involves contract liability, not tort liability. It merely involves a situation in which the contract is an implied one imposed by the court in the interests of equity rather than an express contract entered into by the parties. Accordingly, the claim is not barred by the GTLA.

*79 Defendant also argues that plaintiff has failed to state a claim under an unjust-enrichment theory. It does not appear that the trial court addressed this issue. Accordingly, we decline to do so on appeal. Defendant is, however, free on remand to renew its motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8) based on a failure to state a claim for unjust enrichment so that the trial court may address it in the first instance.

Affirmed and remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction. Plaintiff may tax costs.

SAWYER, P.J., and SERVITTO and RIORDAN, JJ., concurred.

1 It is not argued that the claim based upon a breach of contract theory is barred by the GTLA. Nor do plaintiffs argue that any of the exceptions to the GTLA for tort liability apply here to the unjust enrichment claim.