State ex rel. Montana State University v. District Court

317 P.2d 309, 132 Mont. 262, 1957 Mont. LEXIS 40
CourtMontana Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 31, 1957
DocketNo. 9850
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 317 P.2d 309 (State ex rel. Montana State University v. District Court) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Montana State University v. District Court, 317 P.2d 309, 132 Mont. 262, 1957 Mont. LEXIS 40 (Mo. 1957).

Opinions

MR. JUSTICE CASTLES:

Upon petition of the relators, this court issued an alternative writ of prohibition returnable on September 9, 1957, at 2:00 p. m. Upon the return day the respondent district court and its judge, the Honorable C. E. Comer, filed its response to the alternative writ of prohibition and through counsel filed a motion to quash the alternative writ of prohibition.

The petition of relators complained that the respondent judge, the Honorable C. E. Comer, proceeded to hear and decide certain motions in an action in the respondent court, after he had been disqualified for imputed bias and prejudice.

[263]*263An action had been instituted by Edna Virginia Bulen, Plaintiff v. The City of Missoula, Montana, a municipal corporation, and the commissioners thereof, Defendants, the object and purpose of which was to vacate and set aside a municipal ordinance enacted July 8, 1957, which closed a portion of a city street located in the City of Missoula, and which passes through the campus of Montana State University. The action also had as its object the restraining and enjoining of carrying into effect the ordinance and by subsequent motion to enjoin “all other persons trespassing, or who may be damaging or injuring, from in any way disturbing the present condition of said public highway, excepting proper use of such street by persons for normal traffic.” This latter object obviously, as will appear hereinafter, included the relators herein.

The plaintiff Bulen filed an affidavit of disqualification against the Honorable William F. Shallenberger, the district judge, before whom the case was filed. The Honorable C. E. Comer was called in to hear the matter. Judge Comer issued a show cause order which was returnable on August 21, 1957. The attorney for the defendant City filed a motion to strike, which was argued and overruled on the date set for the show cause hearing. At the hearing, the plaintiff Bulen filed a motion for the issuance of a restraining order which the court took under advisement. During the course of the hearing, it was called to the attention of the respondent court, that under the provisions of R.C.M. 1947, section 93-2828, interveners in a previous action, namely Montana State University, Carl McFarland, as its president, and the local executive board could and should be joined as parties defendants in this suit. After some discussion concerning this matter, a motion was made by the attorney for the defendant City of Missoula for the joinder of the relators herein as parties defendants. Over objection of the plaintiff, the respondent court then directed that Montana State University, Carl McFarland as its president, and the local executive board thereof, be made parties defendants.

Thereafter Mr. Boone, attorney for the relators herein, who [264]*264appeared in the respondent court, moved the respondent court that Montana State University and the other relators herein have an opportunity to be heard before any court order was made and further requested that the plaintiff serve him with all instruments previously filed in the cause.

That same day, Carl McFarland as president of Montana State University and Theodore Jacobs, Alex Stepanzoff, and Olive Mulroney, as the members of the local executive board filed an affidavit disqualifying Judge Comer on the grounds of imputed bias and prejudice.

Thereafter, on August 22, 1956, the plaintiff Bulen filed motions to strike the newly joined parties defendants to the suit and to void the affidavit of disqualification, and also requested the court to issue the temporary restraining order against the defendant City of Missoula and all other persons. After hearing before the court, the motions of plaintiff were granted, and the respondent court herein revoked his previous order, ordering the joinder of the Montana State University and the other relators herein as parties defendants and struck from the record the affidavit of disqualification filed therein, and issued a restraining order against the defendant City of Missoula, and all other persons.

The relators herein then filed their petition for an alternative writ of prohibition as previously stated. As appears from the petition of the relators and the response of the respondent judge in this cause, it may be helpful to recite some of the history of the litigation between the same parties concerning the same issues before the same judge. Some two years ago, on August 1, 1955, the same Edna Virginia Bulen filed a complaint and petition in which the City of Missoula and the commission thereof were made defendants. The petition contained allegations that the defendant had advertised that it was about to close Maurice Avenue, between Keith and Connell Avenues in the City of Missoula without showing public necessity and to the great and irreparable damage to the plaintiff as a property owner. On August 15, that same year, the city attorney filed a [265]*265motion to strike, which was overruled on March 30, 1956. On August 4, 1956, a restraining order was issued against the defendant city and all other persons from vacating, closing, or in any other manner passing or enacting any resolution which would close, vacate, or interfere Avith the existing status of Maurice Avenue as it was then available for the use of the public. On August 23, 1956, the defendant City of Missoula filed its answer. On September 13, 1956, Montana State Uni-A^ersity, Carl McFarland, its president thereof, and its local executive board thereof, the same executive board who are relators in the instant litigation, filed a petition for leave to inter-A^ene in the cause and to be joined as parties defendants. The court issued an order granting leave to intervene and file a complaint in intervention, including an answer to the petition and complaint of the plaintiff Bulen. Thereafter upon petition duly made by the defendants the court entered a temporary order on October 6, 1956, modifying the restraining order previously issued, so as to permit the barricading of Maurice Avenue during the pendency of the action. Plaintiff Bulen filed a motion to strike the petition in intervention defendants filed a memorandum in defense, thereof, and the plaintiff Bulen on February 7, 1957, secured an order permitting additional time in which to file a brief in opposition. The opposition brief was filed and on February 18, 1957, the court issued an order denying the plaintiff’s motion to strike. In that order the court stated:

“Herein, in the petition, it is alleged that the Montana State-University has an interest in this litigation, and that the university is the owner of lands involved. In paragraph two of the said petition the allegation is, in effect, that the Montana State University owns lands on both sides of the avenue, Maurice Avenue, between Keith and Connell Avenues, and only university buildings used for the housing and instruction of students are thereon situate. It is apparent, therefore, that the Montana State University has an interest in this litigation, and under the provisions of said Sec. 75-408, and other sections cited, that [266]*266the said president and said board has the immediate direction, management and control of the institution. The opinion of the court [the respondent court and the same judge] is that the said president and said board have the legal- right to intervene herein. ’ ’

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Bluebook (online)
317 P.2d 309, 132 Mont. 262, 1957 Mont. LEXIS 40, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-montana-state-university-v-district-court-mont-1957.