Strager v. Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney

159 N.W.2d 175, 10 Mich. App. 166, 1968 Mich. App. LEXIS 1394

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 25, 1968
• Docket: Docket 2,453
• Status: Published

Opinion

Levin, J.

The plaintiff, Nathan Strager, doing business as Best Home Modernization Company, appeals the trial judge’s order dismissing his complaint. The complaint sought a judgment declaring 1 that certain provisions of the home improvement finance act 2 exceed “the purpose and entitlement of the act” and being “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable” are contrary to provisions of both the Federal and State Constitutions. The complaint also sought injunctive relief.

On February 2, 1966, the "Wayne county prosecutor’s office wrote to the plaintiff, 3 advising that an informal complaint had been received charging him with violation of the statute. This letter requested plaintiff to call at the prosecutor’s office on February 16, 1966, and to bring with him certain records.

The plaintiff’s complaint was filed in the circuit court on February 7, 1966. The plaintiff admitted in his complaint that he had operated his business in violation of provisions 4 of the statute since its effective date, January 1,1966. The statute declares that willful violation of any of its provisions is a misdemeanor for which punishment may be by fine or imprisonment or both, MCLA § 445.1421 (Stat Ann 1968 Cnm Snpp § 19.417 [421]).

The defendant moved for accelerated judgment under GCR 1963,116, and summary judgment under GCR 1963, 117, claiming that the court was without jurisdiction and that plaintiff failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The trial judge granted the motion for summary judgment and dismissed the complaint. In granting the motion, he expressed the views that the declaratory judgment procedure is not available to one attacking the constitutionality of a statute providing criminal penalties for its violation and, even if the procedure could properly be utilized for such a purpose, plaintiff’s action was premature because no prosecution against him had yet been commenced.

Initially, we note that GCR 1963, 521 was intended to provide the “broadest type of declaratory judgment procedure.” 5 It has been observed that under the former declaratory judgment act our Supreme Court at one time indicated that where an alternative remedy was available, a declaratory judgment could not be obtained. 6 GCR 1963, expressly provides that the existence of another adequate remedy does not necessarily preclude declaratory relief. 7 Thus, simply because plaintiff could raise the defense of unconstitutionality in any criminal proceeding that might be brought against him, does not foreclose declaratory relief.

In Michigan, legislation regulating business practices and providing criminal penalties for violation has been successfully challenged in actions seeking declaratory relief. See Grocers Dairy Company v. Department of Agriculture Director (1966), 377 Mich 71 (prohibiting sale of milk in gallon containers); Arlan’s Department Stores, Inc., v. Attorney General (1964), 374 Mich 70 (Sunday closing law); Levy v. City of Pontiac (1951), 331 Mich 100 (size of signs advertising gasoline prices); Carolene Products Co. v. Thomson (1936), 276 Mich 172 (quality of milk); National Amusement Co. v. Johnson (1935), 270 Mich 613 (ordinance prohibiting endurance contests). In other cases, the Supreme Court reached the merits of actions seeking-declaratory relief concerning such legislation and declared the legislation valid. See Thayer v. Department of Agriculture (1949), 323 Mich 403 (sale of dairy products); Fitzpatrick v. Liquor Control Commission (1946), 316 Mich 83 (licensing of female bartenders; that declaratory relief was sought appears from the record on appeal); see, also, the following Sunday closing law cases: Mark’s Furs, Inc., v. City of Detroit (1961), 365 Mich 108; People’s Appliance, Inc., v. City of Flint (1959), 358 Mich 34; The Irishman’s Lot, Inc., v. Secretary of State (1954), 338 Mich 662.

"While the question of the court’s power to grant declaratory relief was neither argued nor discussed in any of the cases cited in the preceding paragraph, 8 we conclude that in Michigan, as in other jurisdictions, 9 a plaintiff: may obtain declaratory relief concerning a statute regulating his business practices even though the statute provides a criminal sanction for its violation.

“A declaratory action is a proper remedy to test the validity of a criminal statute where it affects one in his trade, business or occupation.” 2 Anderson, Actions For Declaratory Judgments (2d ed, 1951), § 624, p 1436. To afford a businessman relief in such a situation without having first to be arrested is one of the functions of the declaratory judgment procedure. Acme Finance Co. v. Huse (1937), 192 Wash 96, 108 (73 P2d 341, 346, 114 ALR 1345, 1353).

It has been argued that to award declaratory relief in such a case would expose the courts to petitions from potential criminals seeking judicial approval before they go forth into the night. We do not believe this will happen. If it does, the courts will be found fully able to articulate an appropriate response. It has been suggested by some that a distinction may properly be drawn in this regard between crimes malum in se and those malum prohibitum.

“The substitution of the' civil for the criminal forum in the adjudication of the validity of administrative controls and the legitimacy of business practices requires the making of a distinction between (a) an offense involving moral turpitude, malum in se, where there is little or no. question of what the criminal law prohibits, and (b) business conducted by responsible men, subject to the continuing regulations and prohibitions, statutory and administrative, of a public control sanctioned by criminal penalty, at most malum prohibitum, where there is grave uncertainty as to what practices the general terms of a law prohibit.” Borchard, Declaratory Judgments (2d ed, 1941), p 1021. 10

The attorney general asserts that the threat of criminal prosecution was not here sufficiently imminent to justify plaintiff’s commencement of this action. The attorney general, however, acknowledges that the letter of February 2, 1966, from the prosecuting attorney to the plaintiff states: “A warrant will be asked for your arrest if you fail to answer [this] notice.” The plaintiff need not defer action until arrested. Indeed, if he delays, he may be unable once criminal prosecution has been commenced to seek declaratory relief; in a ease decided under the former declaratory judgment act, the Supreme Court held that one may not maintain an action for declaratory relief after criminal proceedings had been commenced against him. Updegraff v. Attorney General (1941), 298 Mich 48. See records in Arlan’s Department Stores, Inc., v. Attorney General, supra; People’s Appliance, Inc., v. City of Flint, supra; Thayer v. Department of Agriculture, supra, where it appears the complaints were filed before the effective date of the legislation. The plaintiff may justifiably assume public officials will do their duty. 11 Plaintiff’s complaint was not premature.

It is not disputed that plaintiff’s business is directly and substantially affected by the home improvement finance act. An “actual controversy” is presented. See 22 Am Jur 2d, Declaratory Judgments § 11.

The trial judge’s determination that the complaint should be dismissed was based on bis views that the validity of a statute imposing a criminal penalty for its violation may not be challenged by an action for declaratory judgment, and that the plaintiff’s action was premature in that prosecution bad not been commenced against him. The trial judge did not dismiss the complaint in the exercise of discretion. See United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company v. Kenosha Investment Company (1963), 369 Mich 481, and Molinaro v. Driver (1961), 364 Mich 341, 354. We, therefore, have not reviewed bis order as if be had. We intimate no opinion as to the extent of the trial judge’s discretion in that regard or on the merits of plaintiff’s complaint.

Reversed and remanded for a determination on the merits. No costs, a public question.

Fitzgerald, P. J., and McG-regor, J., concurred.

1 “In a ease of actual controversy within its jurisdiction, any circuit court of this State may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking a declaratory judgment, whether or not other relief is or could be sought or granted.” GCR 1963, 521.1.

2 PA 1967, No 332, effective January 1, 1966 (MCLA §445.1101 [Stat Ann 1968 Cum Supp § 19.417 (101)]).

3 The complaint was filed by Nathan Strager, doing business as Best Home Modernization Company. After the defendant filed the motion for judgment hereinafter referred to, Detroit Garage Builders’ and Modernization Contractors’ Association was permitted to intervene and file a complaint as party plaintiff. The complaint filed by Mr. Strager is referred to in this opinion as the “complaint,” and Mr. Strager as the plaintiff.”

4 The statute defines and regulates home improvement installment contracts and, among other things, requires rescission clauses in an installment contract, reference to the home improvement in promissory notes given in connection therewith, and prohibits gifts exceeding $2.50 for the procurement of the contract and eash loans by the contractor to the buyer. The complaint admits violation of each of these provisions of the statute.

5 GOB 1963, 521, official committee comment, reprinted as annotation to Michigan Statutes Annotated, Bules, Buie 521.

6 2 Honigman & Hawkins, Michigan Court Buies Annotated, p 684, commenting on Miller v. Siden (1932), 259 Mieh 19, which was decided under BA 1929, No 36 (CL 1948, §§ 691.501, 691.507 [Stat Ann §§ 27.501, 27.507]).

7 “Other Adequate Remedy. The existence of another adequate remedy does not preelude a judgment for declaratory relief in cases where it is appropriate”. GCR 1963, 521.3.

8 In this connection, we observe that a question affecting the court’s jurisdiction of the subject matter should be raised on the court’s own motion. Bolton v. Cummings (1918), 200 Mich 234; Warner v. Noble (1938), 286 Mieh 654, 659; Ideal Furnace Co. v. International Molder’s Union of North America (1918), 204 Mich 311, 313; Bradley v. Board of State Canvassers (1908), 154 Mich 274, 282; In re Fstate of Fraser (1939), 288 Mich 392, 394.

9 See Sunshine Mining Co. v. Carver (ND Idaho, 1940), 34 F Supp 274, 280; Acme Finance Company v. Huse (1937), 192 Wash 96, 108 (73 P2d 341, 346, 114 ALR 1345, 1353). See, generally, Note, Deelaratory Relief in the Criminal Law, 80 Harv L Rev 1490 (1967) ; Annotation, Validity, Construction, and Application of Criminal Statutes or Ordinances as Proper Subject Fox Declaratory Judgment, 10ALR3d 727 (1966).

10 See, also, Pacific Meat Company v. Otagaki (1964), 47 Hawaii 652, 653 (394 P2d 618, 621); Herald Publishing Company v. Bill (1955), 142 Conn 53, 56 (111 A2d 4, 6); Bryarly v. State (1953), 232 Ind 47, 51 (111 NE2d 277, 279).

11 “The danger of a criminal penalty attached by law to the performance of an aet affords those affected the necessary legal interest in a judgment raising the issue of validity, immunity, or status. The threat to enforce the statute seems hardly necessary. for public officials are presumed to do their duty. The plaintiff need only show that Ms position is jeopardized by the statute.” Borehard, Declaratory Judgments (2d ed, 1941), p 66.