Housing Authority of Milwaukee v. Mosby

192 N.W.2d 913, 53 Wis. 2d 275
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 4, 1972
DocketNo. 162
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 192 N.W.2d 913 (Housing Authority of Milwaukee v. Mosby) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Housing Authority of Milwaukee v. Mosby, 192 N.W.2d 913, 53 Wis. 2d 275 (Wis. 1972).

Opinions

Beilfuss, J.

The appellant, Harriett Mosby, has raised several issues in her brief filed in support of her appeal, namely: (1) The court applied the wrong standard, (2) the evidence is insufficient to support the findings, and (3) the tenant was denied due process because she was not given a pre-eviction administrative hearing. The appellant also asserts an additional issue has arisen after the appeal was taken because of a HUD administrative order dated February 22, 1971, which regulation' provides for an administrative hearing. She claims the regulation must be applied retroactively.

Because we believe the questions of due process and the retroactivity of the February 22, 1971, regulation are controlling, we will only discuss briefly the first two issues.

The respondent housing authority, through the city attorney, concedes that a public housing tenant is entitled to a due process hearing as to the reasons for eviction in unlawful detainer proceedings consistent with governmental regulations concerning public housing. Our unlawful detainer statute, sec. 291.07, Stats. 1967, provides in part:

“Proceedings and pleadings. After the return of the summons served as above provided, and at the time and place named therein, if the defendant appear he may answer the complaint; and all matters in excuse, justification or avoidance of the allegations of the complaint must be answered specifically; ...”

[281]*281This section, together with the rationale expressed in Dickhut v. Norton (1970), 45 Wis. 2d 389, 173 N. W. 2d 297, of allowing defenses based upon public policy, is broad enough to accommodate a defense based upon a federal public housing regulation.

The appellant Mosby contends the court did not apply the right standard to the conduct of Harriett Mosby in the de novo trial. The trial court’s memorandum decision of May 22, 1970, did state the issues to be determined at the trial were (1) whether Harriett Mosby failed to maintain her apartment in a reasonable and clean condition, and (2) whether the housing authority acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner in terminating the tenancy.

Appellant contends that by virtue of a HUD circular dated December 17, 1968, the standard should have been “. . . whether the conduct of such tenants does or would be likely to interfere with other tenants in such a manner as to materially diminish their enjoyment of the premises.”

We think the record clearly reveals that the trial judge did apply the standard the appellant Mosby contends was required. In the findings of fact given after the trial, the trial judge stated: “. . . Now, the Court on those violations would have to find that these violations would constitute a failure to keep the standard of care set by the Housing Authority and that those violations were detrimental to other tenants . . . .”

The appellant Mosby also contends the evidence was insufficient to show conduct on her part in the cleanliness and maintenance of the apartment was detrimental to other tenants. The credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the testimony are for the trier of the facts and if there is any credible evidence to sustain the findings of fact we will not disturb them upon appeal.

[282]*282We have reviewed the record. We do not intend to discuss the evidence nor the findings, except to state our cqnelusions that there is ample credible evidence to sustain the findings that the premises were not kept as clean as they reasonably should have been, nor were they maintained in such a condition as reasonably required by the rental agreement; that the authority did not act in an arbitrary or capricious manner; and that the conduct of the appellant Mosby in the care and maintenance of the apartment was detrimental to other tenants.

The appellant Mosby further contends she was denied due process of law because she was not afforded a pre-eviction administrative due-process-type hearing with notice, statement, of charges and right to counsel. The trial judge, in an able and helpful memorandum decision, concluded that a public housing tenant was entitled to an adversary type of hearing with notice, reasons for eviction, and right to counsel, and that such a hearing could be afforded the appellant in the trial de novo which was granted to her.

Judge Foley concluded that under the HUD circular of February 7, 1967, the appellant was entitled to notice of the reasons for eviction and an opportunity to reply in. private conference, and that this requirement was mandatory by virtue of a decision of the United States Supreme Court in Thorpe v. Homing Authority (1969), 393 U. S. 268, 89 Sup. Ct. 518, 21 L. Ed. 2d 474. Judge Foley further concluded that the informal conference provided for in the HUD circular of February 7, 1967, did not meet the requirements of due process (see Goldberg v. Kelly (1970), 397 U. S. 254, 90 Sup. Ct. 1011, 25 L. Ed. 2d 287), and for that reason conducted a trial de novo wherein the due process requirements of notice of reasons for eviction and adversary hearing were extended to the appellant. The housing authority, in addition to proving notice of termination, was required to show its reasons for evictipn and the violations of the rental agreement; [283]*283that she was given notice of reasons and an opportunity to discuss the matter with the housing manager and that his action was not arbitrary or capricious; and that the conduct of the appellant did have a detrimental effect upon other tenants in the housing project. The appellant, Harriett Mosby, was afforded due process.

If we were not required to consider the retroactive effect of another HUD circular issued February 25, 1971, we would affirm the judgment appealed from without hesitation. (The judgment was entered June 26, 1970, and the appeal record was filed in this court September 3, 1970, both several months before the February, 1971, circular. The case was argued in this court on November 1, 1971, and the decision is announced on this day, January 4,1972.)

A question as to the effect of a HUD circular was raised at oral argument. We conclude it is a valid enforceable rule that has the force of law. In Thorpe, supra, the United States Supreme Court, in reaffirming the HUD circular of February 7, 1967, referred to above, states at pages 274, 275:

“Pursuant to its general rule-making power under sec. 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, HUD has issued a Low-Rent Management Manual, which contains requirements that supplement the provisions of the annual contributions contract applicable to project management. According to HUD, these requirements ‘are the TniniTmrm considered consistent with fulfilling Federal responsibilities’ under the Act. Changes in the manual are initially promulgated as circulars. These circulars, which have not yet been physically incorporated into the manual, are temporary additions or modifications of the manual’s requirements and ‘have the same effect.’ . . .”

The HUD circular of February 22, 1971, contains the following provision:

“3. Requirements. Each local housing authority shall adopt procedures or revise existing grievance procedures [284]*284to embody, as a minimum, the following standards and criteria:

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Related

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CITY OF MILWAUKEE v. Mosby
192 N.W.2d 913 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1972)

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192 N.W.2d 913, 53 Wis. 2d 275, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/housing-authority-of-milwaukee-v-mosby-wis-1972.