Michael Blizman v. Michigan State Housing Development Authority

CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 18, 2017
Docket330184
StatusUnpublished

This text of Michael Blizman v. Michigan State Housing Development Authority (Michael Blizman v. Michigan State Housing Development Authority) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Michael Blizman v. Michigan State Housing Development Authority, (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).

Opinion

STATE OF MICHIGAN

COURT OF APPEALS

MICHAEL BLIZMAN, UNPUBLISHED July 18, 2017 Petitioner-Appellee,

v No. 330184; 334484 Wayne Circuit Court MICHIGAN STATE HOUSING LC No. 15-012182-AA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,

Respondent-Appellant.

Before: MURPHY, P.J., and TALBOT, C.J., and O’CONNELL, J.

PER CURIAM.

This matter concerns respondent Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)’s decision to terminate petitioner Michael Blizman’s housing voucher. Blizman appealed to the trial court. The trial court entered an order staying the termination until it could reach a final decision on the merits. In Docket No. 330184, we granted MSHDA leave to appeal.1 While the appeal was pending, the trial court reversed MSHDA’s decision on the merits. In Docket No. 334484, we granted MSHDA leave to appeal and also consolidated the appeals.2 We now vacate the trial court’s order and remand to the MSHDA for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Michael was born with cerebral palsy. He testified that as a result, he cannot walk, has weakness on the left side of his body, has slight mental deficits, has slight hearing deficits, requires assistance with day-to-day activities, and relies on social security benefits for income.

The MSHDA accepts and administers federal funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in accordance with federal law to subsidize rent for

1 Blizman v Mich State Housing Dev Auth, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered January 8, 2016 (Docket No. 330184). 2 Blizman v Mich State Housing Dev Auth, unpublished order of the Court of Appeals, entered September 30, 2016 (Docket No. 334484).

-1- individuals with low income, which includes persons with disabilities. 42 USC 1437f(o); 24 CFR 982.1(a); MCL 125.1422(c). Regulations further require the MSHDA to “adopt a written administrative plan that establishes local policies for administration of the program in accordance with HUD requirements.” 24 CFR 982.54.3 Michael’s mother received a housing choice voucher from this funding. Michael testified that his mother died in 2003. When she died, her voucher passed to Michael.

Federal regulations state that a voucher participant must meet several obligations to receive and maintain a voucher. See 24 CFR 982.551. A live-in-aide may live with a voucher holder if approved by the MSHDA. See 24 CFR 982.551(h)(4). Angela Blizman, Michael’s sister, testified that paperwork filed with MSHDA listed her as Michael’s live-in aid. However, Angela was not listed as Michael’s live-in aid after 2004. Nonetheless, she testified that she lived in Michael’s home, at times, and provided Michael services until 2012. Michael testified that his girlfriend, Shannon Sloan, then took over some of Angela’s tasks, and ultimately moved into his home in 2014.

In 2015, an anonymous individual called MSHDA’s fraud hotline and reported that persons were improperly living with Michael and paying rent. If the participant fails to meet program requirements and obligations, the MSHDA can terminate the voucher. See 24 CFR 982.552. MSHDA investigated the claim, determined that Michael no longer qualified for a voucher, and notified Michael that it would terminate his voucher effective April 30, 2015.

Michael requested a hearing to address MSHDA’s decision. Michael then requested a reasonable accommodation, seeking a live-in aide to provide his personal care.

The parties had a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). The ALJ found that Sloan was a member of Michael’s household and that Angela, Michael’s friend Brian Douglas, and Michael’s cousin, Michelle Blizman, reported Michael’s address as their own. Therefore, the ALJ concluded that Michael violated federal program regulations because he failed to report the persons living in his home and he failed “to report all income that came to the assisted unit.” Further, the ALJ concluded that Michael’s request for a reasonable accommodation was irrelevant and untimely. Thus, the ALJ recommended that MSHDA affirm the termination of Michael’s voucher. MSHDA entered a final decision and order terminating Michael’s voucher, citing the ALJ’s conclusions that Michael had unauthorized persons residing in his home and failed to accurately report his household income.4

3 MSHDA directs us to find its plan at MSHDA, HCV Administrative Plan (accessed July 7, 2017) [hereinafter Plan]. This site contains only a 2017 version that was not in effect when the MSHDA entered its final order terminating Michael’s voucher. The record provides copies of older plans. No older plan in the record reviewed by this Court contains any relevant difference. 4 Although the MSHDA listed other reasons for termination on its program termination notice, it did not list any other bases for termination in its final decision and order.

-2- Michael appealed to the trial court and moved for a stay of the termination of his voucher. The trial court granted Michael’s motion for a stay, ordered MSHDA to retroactively reinstate Michael’s voucher, and ordered MSHDA to reinstate his voucher until the trial court could make a final ruling.

When the trial court made a final ruling,5 it determined that the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), MCL 24.201 et seq., governed Michael’s appeal and that the trial court had jurisdiction to resolve his appeal. The trial court concluded that the ALJ’s findings were not supported by competent, material, and substantial evidence and that the ALJ abused its discretion by failing to consider mitigating factors, such as Michael’s disability, for Michael’s alleged violations of the voucher program. Therefore, the trial court entered an order reversing MSHDA’s final decision and order terminating Michael’s voucher.

II. TRIAL COURT JURISDICTION

MSHDA argues that the trial court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to hear Michael’s appeal because the appeal was governed by the Revised Judicature Act (RJA), MCL 600.101 et seq., and Michael did not timely file an appeal under the act. We disagree.

A party may challenge a court’s subject-matter jurisdiction at any time. Smith v Smith, 218 Mich App 727, 729-730; 555 NW2d 271 (1996). We review a court’s conclusion that it has subject-matter jurisdiction de novo. Harris v Vernier, 242 Mich App 306, 309; 617 NW2d 764 (2000). Likewise, we review de novo matters of statutory interpretation and the interpretation of Michigan Court Rules. Bint v Doe, 274 Mich App 232, 234; 732 NW2d 156 (2007).

Generally, one of three statutory schemes governs judicial review of an administrative decision: (1) “the review process prescribed in the statute applicable to the particular agency,” (2) the RJA, MCL 600.631, and corresponding Michigan Court Rules, or (3) the APA. Preserve The Dunes, Inc v Dep’t of Environmental Quality, 471 Mich 508, 519; 684 NW2d 847 (2004). The RJA’s scheme has a jurisdictional time limit: an appellant has 21 days to challenge an agency’s decision. See MCL 600.631; MCR 7.123(B)(1); MCR 7.104(A)(1). In this case, Michael filed his claim of appeal in the trial court 23 days after MSHDA’s final decision.

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Bluebook (online)
Michael Blizman v. Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/michael-blizman-v-michigan-state-housing-development-authority-michctapp-2017.