Parker v. Doe Run Co.

553 S.W.3d 356
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 10, 2018
DocketNo. SD 34913
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 553 S.W.3d 356 (Parker v. Doe Run Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Parker v. Doe Run Co., 553 S.W.3d 356 (Mo. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Rick Parker, the Assessor for Reynolds County ("Assessor"), appeals from the findings of the State Tax Commission ("the Commission") regarding the valuation of real property in Reynolds County.1 The Commission found that the fair market value on January 1, 2011, of a part of Taxpayer's real property in Reynolds County was $105,600,000 for property tax purposes. Assessor brings five points claiming the Commission erred in determining the fair market value of the real property at issue before the Commission. We disagree, but first, we must address procedural issues.

Serious and unexcused deficiencies in all of Assessor's points warrant dismissal of this appeal. Assessor's disregard of Rule 84.04(d) seriously impedes our review of his complaints.2 Although blessed with talented *359and experienced counsel, Assessor made no attempt to comply with Rule 84.04(d)(2) in any of his points; offered no excuse, explanation, or remedy when Taxpayer properly cited these failings in its brief; and seemed not to fathom this Court's requests for clarification during oral argument.

"Failure to properly state the points relied on indicates a lack of understanding of the appellate function and process." Thummel v. King , 570 S.W.2d 679, 686 (Mo. banc 1978). Here, we do not evaluate evidence and make an original tax determination; rather, we consider assertions that the Commission erred so as to entitle Assessor to relief from the Commission's determination. See id. Thus, "[t]he requirement that the point relied on clearly state the contention on appeal is not simply a judicial word game or a matter of hypertechnicality on the part of appellate courts." Id.

Rule 84.04(d) compliance is particularly critical "in a case such as this where the facts are complex." Id. Because Assessor's briefs do not adequately advise this Court of the contentions asserted or merit thereof, we face the dilemma of deciding this case (and possibly establishing future precedent) on the basis of inadequate briefing and advocacy. Id. "In addition to being inherently unfair to the other party to the appeal, it is unfair to parties in other cases awaiting disposition because it takes from them appellate time and resources which should be devoted to expeditious resolution of their appeals." Id.

The violations here-every single point-are particularly egregious because Rule 84.04(d) includes specific point templates, so Assessor "simply ha[s] no excuse for failing to submit adequate points relied on." Scott v. King , 510 S.W.3d 887, 892 (Mo. App. E.D. 2017). "Insufficient points relied on preserve nothing for appellate review and constitute grounds for dismissal." Parker v. Action Contracting Corp ., 100 S.W.3d 168, 171 (Mo. App. W.D. 2003).

Assessor's serious and unexcused Rule 84.04(d) violations warrant dismissal. We decline to do so only because:

[t]his type of case is by its very nature impressed with a public interest; substantial business and private interests and investments are involved; and, this [C]ourt is reluctant to forgo its judicial function to decide the matter on the merits, because of a failure of counsel to obey the mandate of the Rule.

State ex rel. Oliver v. Pub. Serv. Comm'n , 542 S.W.2d 595, 597 (Mo. App. K.C.D. 1976).

Yet this grants Assessor only a fleeting reprieve because each of his points ostensibly challenges the sufficiency or weight of the evidence.3 No such challenge can succeed on appeal unless it substantially tracks the rubric first set out in Houston v. Crider , 317 S.W.3d 178, 186-87 (Mo. App. S.D. 2010), and followed in scores of reported opinions since.4 Assessor disregards *360the format for asserting such complaints, which renders all such arguments analytically and persuasively worthless.5 This means, in turn, that for this Court to grant any of Assessor's points, we would have to develop and support our own Houston argument in Assessor's favor, which "would thrust us into becoming an advocate on [Assessor's] behalf; a role we are prohibited from assuming." Id. at 189.

The foregoing, of necessity, would end our inquiry in most cases. But again, this case "is by its very nature impressed with a public interest." Oliver , 542 S.W.2d at 597. For that reason alone, this Court has attempted to overcome Assessor's otherwise-fatal deficiencies, address each of his points on appeal below, and determine whether any could properly merit relief.

Standard of Review

We can grant Assessor relief only if the Commission's decision:

(1) is in violation of constitutional provisions; (2) is in excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the agency; (3) is unsupported by competent and substantial evidence upon the whole record; (4) is, for any other reason, unauthorized by law; (5) is made upon unlawful procedure or without a fair trial; (6) is arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable; or (7) involves an abuse of discretion.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
553 S.W.3d 356, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/parker-v-doe-run-co-moctapp-2018.