Alpine Village Co. v. City of McCall , 154 Idaho 930 ( 2013 )


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  •                  IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
    Docket No. 39580
    ALPINE VILLAGE COMPANY, an Idaho                    )
    corporation,                                        )
    )
    Plaintiff-Appellant,                           )           Boise, May 2013 Term
    )
    v.                                                  )           2013 Opinion No. 69
    )
    CITY OF MC CALL, a municipal                        )           Filed: June 14, 2013
    corporation,                                        )
    )           Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk
    Defendant-Respondent.                          )
    )
    )
    Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District, State of Idaho,
    Valley County. Hon. Michael R. McLaughlin, District Judge.
    District court grant of summary judgment, affirmed.
    Millemann & Pittenger, McCall, for appellant. Steven J. Millemann argued.
    Givens Pursley, LLP, Boise, for respondents. Christopher H. Meyer argued.
    __________________________________
    BURDICK, Chief Justice
    Appellant Alpine Village Company (Alpine) appeals from the Valley County district
    court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Respondent City of McCall. Alpine brought a
    claim against McCall alleging the city’s enforcement of Ordinance 819, an ordinance found to be
    unconstitutional in a separate proceeding, effectuated an unlawful taking of Alpine’s property in
    violation of the United States Constitution and a taking or inverse condemnation in violation of
    the Idaho Constitution.
    The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment, and the district court granted
    McCall’s motion and denied Alpine’s motion on all claims. In its decision, the district court
    found that Alpine’s state law claims are barred due to a failure to timely comply with the notice
    requirements of the Idaho Tort Claims Act (ITCA), and the federal claims are either not ripe or
    time-barred by I.C. § 5-219(4). We affirm the district court.
    1
    I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
    On February 23, 2006, McCall passed Ordinance 819, which required developers of
    residential subdivisions to include a certain number of affordable community housing units in its
    development plans. Ordinance 819 was codified as McCall City Code § 9.7.10. The ordinance
    allowed an applicant subject to the ordinance to comply in any one or combination of four ways:
    (1) to build community housing units on the site of the development; (2) to build or provide the
    community housing units off-site; (3) to provide land for the construction of community housing
    units; and (4) to pay an “in lieu fee.”
    On June 20, 2006, Alpine filed an application with the Planning and Zoning Commission
    to develop the Alpine Village, a mixed use residential and commercial property. Alpine initially
    proposed to convert sixteen mobile home spots on another property and build another six onsite
    units to satisfy Ordinance 819. The Planning and Zoning Commission preliminarily approved
    Alpine’s application on October 3, 2006, with the condition that Alpine revise its community
    housing plan. Alpine’s March 12, 2007 revised plan called for the purchase of a seventeen unit
    apartment complex called the Timbers. This plan was approved on March 22, 2007, and Alpine
    closed on the Timbers on April 16, 2007. Alpine and McCall entered into a Development
    Agreement for the Alpine Village on December 13, 2007. 1
    While Alpine was developing its plans, a third party, Mountain Center Board of Realtors,
    had filed a complaint against McCall, Case No. 2006-490-C (“MCBR litigation”), to declare
    Ordinance 819 as facially unconstitutional. On February 19, 2007, the Valley County district
    court ruled that Ordinance 819 was an unconstitutional tax. On April 24, 2008, McCall passed
    Ordinance 856, which repealed Ordinance 819 and the similar Ordinance 820. Subsequently,
    McCall and Alpine entered into the First Amendment to the Development Agreement on July 24,
    2008.     The amendment lifted the restrictions imposed by Ordinance 819 as applied to Alpine
    1
    Section 7.1 of the Development Agreement expressly referenced the pending litigation on the constitutionality of
    McCall’s Ordinance 819:
    Alpine Village’s approved Community Housing Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit “B”.
    Alpine Village waives and releases the City from any claims whatsoever regarding or stemming
    from the pending litigation between the Mountain Central Board of Realtors and the City (i.e.
    Mountain Central Board of Realtors, et al v. City of McCall, et al) . . . as to Community Housing
    Units which are sold pursuant to this Plan prior to the final disposition of such litigation. The Plan
    will be reviewed and modified, as necessary, to comply with the final disposition of the litigation
    as to any Community Housing Units which have not been sold prior to the final disposition of the
    litigation.
    2
    Village.   On August 8, 2008, the First Amendment to the Alpine Village Development
    Agreement was recorded.
    On November 15, 2010, Alpine sent a written demand letter to McCall seeking payment
    of damages incurred in purchasing the Timbers. McCall did not respond to the letter. Alpine
    filed a Verified Complaint against McCall in state district court on December 10, 2010. An
    amended complaint was filed on May 23, 2011, and a second amended complaint was filed on
    September 19, 2011. The second amended complaint contained three causes of action. The first
    alleged McCall’s application of Ordinance 819 to Alpine was an unlawful taking under the Fifth
    and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. The second alleged that the same
    action was an unlawful taking in violation of Article I, Section 14 of the Idaho Constitution. The
    third alleged that the same action was an unlawful taking under the Fifth and Fourteenth
    Amendments to the United States Constitution as applied to state action pursuant to 
    42 U.S.C. § 1983
    .
    After the complaint was filed in state district court, McCall removed the case to federal
    court. Subsequently, Alpine filed a Motion to Remand to State Court that was granted by the
    federal district court on the grounds that the federal claims were not yet ripe.
    On September 19, 2011, McCall filed a motion for summary judgment contending that:
    (1) Alpine’s inverse condemnation claim was barred by I.C. §§ 50-219, 6-906, and 6-908
    because Alpine did not timely file a notice of claim with McCall; (2) Alpine’s inverse
    condemnation claim is barred by the four-year statute of limitation; (3) Alpine’s decision to
    purchase the Timbers was voluntary; (4) Alpine’s 
    42 U.S.C. § 1983
     claim is barred by a two-
    year statute of limitations; (5) Alpine’s claims are barred by the Release in the Development
    Agreement; and (6) Alpine’s claims are barred by laches.
    Alpine filed a cross-motion for summary judgment contending that: (1) McCall’s
    imposition of Ordinance 819 on Alpine constituted a taking or inverse condemnation under
    Article I, Section 14 of the Idaho Constitution and that if relief is denied on the state claim then a
    taking occurred under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution; (2) Alpine’s
    inverse condemnation claim was timely under the four-year statute of limitations; (3) Alpine’s
    inverse condemnation claim was not barred by 
    Idaho Code § 50-219
    ; (4) Alpine’s federal claims
    were timely under the applicable statute of limitations; and (5) McCall’s remaining arguments
    concerning release, voluntary purchase, and laches are without merit.
    3
    After hearing argument on the motions the district court issued its Memorandum
    Decision on Plaintiff’s and Defendant’s Cross Motions for Summary Judgment on December 16,
    2011. In its decision, the district court granted McCall’s motion for summary judgment and
    denied Alpine’s motion on all claims for relief. On the state inverse condemnation claim, the
    district court found that Alpine failed to timely comply with the notice requirements of I.C. §§
    50-219, 6-906, and 6-908. On the federal claims, the district court found Alpine’s first claim to
    be unripe and the third claim to be untimely filed and barred by I.C. § 5-219(4). Alpine timely
    filed a notice of appeal to this Court on January 12, 2012.
    II. ISSUES ON APPEAL
    1. Whether the district court erred by dismissing Alpine’s state law takings claims on
    summary judgment.
    2. Whether the district court erred by dismissing Alpine’s federal law takings claims on
    summary judgment.
    3. Whether either party is entitled to attorney fees on appeal.
    III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
    When reviewing an order for summary judgment, the standard of review
    for this Court is the same standard as that used by the district court in ruling on
    the motion. Summary judgment is appropriate if “the pleadings, depositions, and
    admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no
    genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a
    judgment as a matter of law.” I.R.C.P. 56(c). Disputed facts should be construed
    in favor of the non-moving party, and all reasonable inferences that can be drawn
    from the record are to be drawn in favor of the non-moving party.
    Fuller v. Callister, 
    150 Idaho 848
    , 851, 
    252 P.3d 1266
    , 1269 (2011) (quoting Castorena v. Gen.
    Electric, 
    149 Idaho 609
    , 613, 
    238 P.3d 209
    , 213 (2010)). “However, the nonmoving party
    cannot rely on mere speculation, and a scintilla of evidence is insufficient to create a genuine
    issue of material fact.” Bollinger v. Fall River Rural Elec. Co-op., Inc., 
    152 Idaho 632
    , 637, 
    272 P.3d 1263
    , 1268 (2012). “The date when a cause of action accrues is a question of law to be
    determined by this Court where no disputed issues of material fact exist.” Harris v. State, ex rel.
    Kempthorne, 
    147 Idaho 401
    , 405, 
    210 P.3d 86
    , 90 (2009). “This Court exercises free review
    over questions of law.” Fuller, 
    150 Idaho at 851
    , 
    252 P.3d at 1269
    .
    IV. ANALYSIS
    A. The district court did not err in dismissing Alpine’s state law claims on summary
    judgment.
    4
    In its memorandum decision, the district court held that Alpine’s failure to comply with
    the notice requirements of I.C. §§ 50-219, 6-906, and 6-908 barred Alpine’s state law claim of
    inverse condemnation. In reaching this decision, the district court found that the 180 day period
    for notice mandated by I.C. § 6-906 began to run no later than December 13, 2007, making
    Alpine’s November 15, 2010 demand letter untimely. The district court did not address the
    issues of equal protection or estoppel.
    On appeal, Alpine argues that the district court erred as a matter of law in holding that
    Alpine’s state inverse condemnation claim is barred by I.C. §§ 50-219 and 6-908. Alpine’s
    argument has five parts. First, Alpine argues that the notice requirement of I.C. § 6-908 is
    procedural, not jurisdictional, and that a failure to give notice could be excused on constitutional
    or equitable grounds. Second, Alpine argues that the notice requirement of I.C. § 6-908 does not
    apply to non-tort claims for damages against municipalities. Third, Alpine argues that the
    application of the notice statute violates Alpine’s constitutional right to equal protection. Fourth,
    Alpine argues that McCall should be estopped from asserting the notice statute as a bar. Finally,
    Alpine argues that its state claims were filed within the four-year statute of limitations prescribed
    by I.C. § 5-224.
    Idaho Code section 50-219 states that “[a]ll claims for damages against a city must be
    filed as prescribed by chapter 9, title 6, Idaho Code.” Idaho Code section 6-906 requires:
    All claims against a political subdivision arising under the provisions of this act
    and all claims against an employee of a political subdivision for any act or
    omission of the employee within the course or scope of his employment shall be
    presented to and filed with the clerk or secretary of the political subdivision
    within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date the claim arose or reasonably
    should have been discovered, whichever is later.
    Further, I.C. § 6-908 states that “[n]o claim or action shall be allowed against a governmental
    entity or its employee unless the claim has been presented and filed within the time limits
    prescribed by this act.”
    The plain language of I.C. § 50-219 that requires “all claims for damages against a city”
    applies to the claims brought in this case. This Court has previously held that I.C. § 50-219
    requires claimants to follow the filing procedure in I.C. § 6-906. See Sweitzer v. Dean, 
    118 Idaho 568
    , 572, 
    798 P.2d 27
    , 31 (1990). Alpine argues that I.C. § 50-219 only incorporates I.C.
    §§ 6-906 and 6-907, as they are the two subsections of chapter 9, title 6 that specifically address
    filing claims. However, this position ignores that I.C. § 6-908 outlines the ramifications for
    5
    failing to timely file a claim, a function that would clearly bring it within the scope of I.C. § 50-
    219. Therefore, Alpine’s claims must be timely as contemplated in I.C. §§ 6-906 and 6-908 or
    they will not be allowed under I.C. § 50-219.
    1. Whether Alpine satisfied the notice requirements of I.C. § 50-219.
    The dispositive determination on this issue is whether Alpine satisfied the notice
    requirements of I.C. § 6-906 as applied to I.C. § 50-219.
    This Court has held that knowledge of facts which would put a reasonably
    prudent person on inquiry is the equivalent to knowledge of the wrongful act and
    will start the running of the 180 days. The Court has further held that the statutory
    period begins to run from the occurrence of the wrongful act even if the full
    extent of damages is not known at that time.
    BHA Investments, Inc. v. City of Boise, 
    141 Idaho 168
    , 174, 
    108 P.3d 315
    , 321 (2004) (internal
    quotation omitted).
    The parties agree that the November 15, 2010 demand letter from Alpine is the earliest
    notice that was given to McCall under I.C. § 6-908. To be timely, the claim must have arisen or
    reasonably should have been discovered no later than on or about May 19, 2010.
    McCall contends that Alpine’s state inverse condemnation cause of action accrued on
    June 20, 2006, the day it filed its development applications. Alpine contends that the cause of
    action accrued on December 13, 2007, the day Alpine entered into the Development Agreement
    with McCall. The district court correctly noted that this is the latest possible date for the accrual
    of the action. Alpine had knowledge of the allegedly wrongful act—at the very latest—when the
    development agreement was signed. We hold that because Alpine’s claims were filed more than
    180 days after their cause of action accrued, the claims are untimely under I.C. § 50-219.
    2. Whether the notice requirement of I.C. § 6-908 is a procedural or jurisdictional
    requirement.
    On appeal, Alpine argues that I.C. § 6-908 is a procedural, not jurisdictional bar, and that
    this Court can still consider Alpine’s constitutional and equitable arguments. Alpine is correct.
    Article 5, section 20 of the Idaho Constitution states that “[t]he district court shall have
    original jurisdiction in all cases, both at law and in equity, and such appellate jurisdiction as may
    be conferred by law.”
    Jurisdiction over the subject matter is the right of the court to exercise judicial
    power over that class of cases; not the particular case before it, but rather the
    abstract power to try a case of the kind or character of the one pending; and not
    whether the particular case is one that presents a cause of action, or under the
    6
    particular facts is triable before the court in which it is pending, because of some
    of the inherent facts that exist and may be developed during trial.
    Troupis v. Summer, 
    148 Idaho 77
    , 79-80, 
    218 P.3d 1138
    , 1140-41 (2009) (quoting Richardson v.
    Ruddy, 
    15 Idaho 488
    , 494–95, 
    98 P. 842
    , 844 (1908)). “This Court has adopted a presumption
    that courts of general jurisdiction have subject matter jurisdiction unless a party can show
    otherwise.” Borah v. McCandless, 
    147 Idaho 73
    , 78, 
    205 P.3d 1209
    , 1214 (2009). Since there is
    no showing that jurisdiction is lacking, the district court had jurisdiction over the claims.
    However, the plain language of the statute and previous holdings of this Court show that
    non-compliance with I.C. § 6-908 deprives Alpine of the right to assert the claims:
    The ITCA mandates that if a claimant does not provide the government with
    timely notice of its claim, it loses the right to assert the claim. I.C. § 6–908.
    Timely and adequate notice under the ITCA is a mandatory condition precedent to
    bringing suit, the failure of which is fatal to a claim, no matter how legitimate.
    Allied Bail Bonds, Inc. v. Cnty. of Kootenai, 
    151 Idaho 405
    , 410, 
    258 P.3d 340
    , 345 (2011)
    (internal quotation omitted). Therefore, in the absence of any applicable exception, Alpine’s
    claim is barred as untimely.
    3. Whether the application of the notice statute violates Alpine’s constitutional right to
    equal protection.
    Alpine argues the application of the notice statute violates Alpine’s constitutional right to
    equal protection based upon McCall treating Alpine differently than other similarly situated
    persons. This assertion is based on Alpine’s belief that parties affected by Ordinance 819 are
    similarly situated to those applicants affected by Ordinance 820, a related act by McCall.
    McCall provided refunds to parties that paid community housing fees directly to the city. Alpine
    argues that in doing so, McCall waived the notice requirement as to those parties affected by
    Ordinance 820 but unlawfully invokes the notice requirement in regards to Alpine. The district
    court declined to address this issue in its memorandum decision, based upon the district court’s
    finding that the requirements of I.C. § 50-219 present a jurisdictional bar.
    “The majority of Idaho cases . . . state that the equal protection guarantees of the federal
    and Idaho Constitutions are substantially equivalent.” Rudeen v. Cenarrusa, 
    136 Idaho 560
    , 568,
    
    38 P.3d 598
    , 606 (2001). “The principle underlying the equal protection clauses of both the
    Idaho and United States Constitutions is that all persons in like circumstances should receive the
    same benefits and burdens of the law.” Bon Appetit Gourmet Foods, Inc. v. State, Dep’t of
    Employment, 
    117 Idaho 1002
    , 1003, 
    793 P.2d 675
    , 676 (1989). As a necessary corollary, no
    7
    equal protection analysis is required and no violation of equal protection will be found in
    situations where the State has not engaged in the disparate treatment of similarly situated
    individuals. See Shobe v. Ada Cnty., Bd. of Comm’rs, 
    130 Idaho 580
    , 585–86, 
    944 P.2d 715
    ,
    720–21 (1997).
    It must be determined as a threshold issue whether Alpine received different treatment
    than other similarly situated individuals. McCall argues that any refund or return of property
    similar to those impacted by Ordinance 820 would be impossible here, since the city received no
    money or land from Alpine. McCall is correct. In terms of an equal protection analysis, Alpine
    did not receive the same remedy because Alpine is not similarly situated to the parties that paid
    fees under Ordinance 820. McCall returned money to those that paid fees and released the
    housing restrictions that were placed on the Timbers.        These are different solutions that
    demonstrate the unlike circumstances experienced by Alpine and the other parties. Since Alpine
    is not similarly situated to parties that were treated differently we hold that further equal
    protection analysis is unnecessary, and McCall’s actions did not violate Alpine’s rights to equal
    protection.
    4. Whether McCall should be estopped from asserting the notice statute as a bar.
    Under the same rationale as its equal protection argument, Alpine argues that the doctrine
    of quasi-estoppel should stop McCall from using I.C. § 6-908 as a bar. In response, McCall
    argues that Alpine cannot establish the essential elements of quasi-estoppel. Like Alpine’s equal
    protection argument, the district court declined to address estoppel in its memorandum decision.
    The doctrine of quasi-estoppel has its basis in acceptance of benefits; it precludes
    a party from asserting to another’s disadvantage a right inconsistent with a
    position previously taken by him or her. The doctrine applies where it would be
    unconscionable to allow a person to maintain a position inconsistent with one in
    which he acquiesced or of which he accepted a benefit.
    Mitchell v. Zilog, Inc., 
    125 Idaho 709
    , 715, 
    874 P.2d 520
    , 526 (1994).
    The premise of Alpine’s argument does not address the elements of quasi-estoppel.
    McCall did not change its position relative to Alpine, it merely applied a different means of
    redressing damages under Ordinances 819 and 820. And, as noted above, these different means
    were necessary given the different methods used to satisfy the ordinances. There is nothing in
    the record to indicate—and Alpine has not demonstrated—an unconscionable or inconsistent
    position taken by McCall in relation to Ordinance 819 or to Alpine. Therefore, we hold that the
    doctrine of quasi-estoppel does not apply.
    8
    B. The district court did not err in dismissing Alpine’s federal law claims on summary
    judgment.
    Alpine brought two federal claims in its second amended complaint. The first cause of
    action alleged that McCall’s application of Ordinance 819 to Alpine’s development constituted
    an unlawful taking under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
    Constitution. Alpine’s third cause of action alleged an unlawful taking under 
    42 U.S.C. § 1983
    .
    In its decision, the district court found that both federal claims are unripe under the two-
    prong ripeness test in Williamson County Regional Planning Commission v. Hamilton Bank of
    Johnson City, 
    473 U.S. 172
    , 186 (1985). The district court also found that both claims are time
    barred by the two-year statute of limitations in I.C. § 5-219(4).
    1. Whether Alpine satisfied the requirement of the ripeness test in Williamson County.
    The district court found that the undisputed facts of this case demonstrate that this is an
    as-applied challenge to McCall’s actions and subject to the ripeness test in Williamson County.
    The district court is correct. The crux of Alpine’s argument is that the application of Ordinance
    819’s community housing requirements to Alpine’s housing development constituted an
    unlawful taking.
    a. Whether a final decision was rendered in this case.
    In Williamson County, the United States Supreme Court held that “a claim that the
    application of government regulations effects a taking of a property interest is not ripe until the
    government entity charged with implementing the regulations has reached a final decision
    regarding the application of the regulations to the property at issue.” 
    473 U.S. at 186
    .
    In Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City, the Supreme Court declined to
    find that the application of New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Law to Grand Central
    Terminal effected a taking because, although the Landmarks Preservation Commission had
    disapproved a plan for a 50-story office building above the terminal, the property owners had not
    sought approval for any other plan. 
    438 U.S. 104
    , 136–37 (1978). The Supreme Court concluded
    that the Commission’s decision was not final because it was not clear whether the Commission
    would deny approval for all uses that would enable the plaintiffs to derive economic benefit from
    the property. 
    Id.
    Similarly, the district court found that Alpine failed to contest the Development
    Agreement, and that there is no final decision as defined in Williamson County. On appeal,
    Alpine argues that the proper standard on whether a final determination was made is if the local
    9
    decision makers had an opportunity to review at least one reasonable development proposal. In
    response, McCall argues that Alpine’s failure to probe alternatives to proceeding with the
    Timbers results in not meeting this prong of the ripeness test. Additionally, McCall argues that
    Alpine’s admission in its brief that the use of the Timbers was its idea means that there was no
    final decision.
    Alpine’s interpretation of a final determination is inconsistent with the holding in
    Williamson County. There is nothing in the record to indicate any action by McCall that would
    constitute a final decision regarding the application of Ordinance 819 to Alpine’s development.
    Although Alpine initially proposed an alternative to satisfy the ordinance, there is no evidence
    that Alpine challenged the purchase of the Timbers to the county or the city. For this reason, it is
    unclear how McCall would have responded. Like in Penn Central, the absence of such a
    challenge means this Court does not have the benefit of a final decision, and the federal claims
    are unripe under the first prong of the Williamson County ripeness test.
    b. Whether Alpine sought compensation for the alleged taking through available
    state procedures.
    The second part of the Williamson County ripeness test holds that “if a State provides an
    adequate procedure for seeking just compensation, the property owner cannot claim a violation
    of the Just Compensation Clause until it has used the procedure and been denied just
    compensation.” 
    473 U.S. at 195
    . In its analysis, the district court held that “Alpine was required
    to raise objections with the local government in a timely and meaningful way to set up their
    claim that the exaction was involuntary.” Alpine argues that it satisfied this requirement when it
    filed the state law claim discussed in part A above. In response, McCall argues that state law
    provides Alpine with a means of challenging a taking through judicial review under the Local
    Land Use Planning Act (LLUPA) and that Alpine failed to use it. Additionally, McCall argues
    that any plaintiff that fails to timely file a state takings claim can never satisfy this prong of
    Williamson County.
    The Local Land Use Planning Act (LLUPA) provides an avenue to evaluate certain
    proposed regulatory or administrative actions to assure that such actions do not result in an
    unconstitutional taking of private property:
    Upon the written request of an owner of real property that is the subject of such
    action, such request being filed with the clerk or the agency or entity undertaking
    the regulatory or administrative action not more than twenty-eight (28) days after
    10
    the final decision concerning the matter at issue, a state agency or local
    governmental entity shall prepare a written taking analysis concerning the action.
    I.C. § 67-8003; see also Buckskin Properties, Inc. v. Valley Cnty., __ Idaho __, ___, 
    300 P.3d 18
    ,
    28 (2013). Alpine did not seek judicial review under this statute. Alpine correctly notes an
    exception in I.C. § 67-6521(2)(b) which allows a legal action under Article I, Section 14 of the
    Idaho Constitution.    But this exception requires “a final action restricting private property
    development” and as discussed above there was no final action in this matter. Therefore, we
    hold that the second prong of the Williamson County ripeness test has not been satisfied and that
    Alpine’s federal claims are not ripe.
    C. McCall is entitled to attorney fees on appeal.
    Alpine argues that if this Court reverses the decision of the district court and holds in
    favor of Alpine on either its state or federal claims, then they should be awarded attorney fees as
    the prevailing party. Their argument is based in part on the belief that Alpine cannot be said to
    have recovered the just compensation to which it is constitutionally entitled if it is not also
    awarded attorney fees and costs incurred to present its claims. In support, Alpine cites Ada
    County Highway Dist. By and Through Fairbanks v. Acarrequi, 
    105 Idaho 873
    , 874, 
    673 P.2d 1067
    , 1068 (1983). McCall argues that it should be awarded attorney fees on appeal under I.C. §
    12-117 on the grounds that Alpine unreasonably ignored settled precedent.
    Idaho Code section 12-117(1) states:
    Unless otherwise provided by statute, in any proceeding involving as
    adverse parties a state agency or a political subdivision and a person, the state
    agency, political subdivision or the court hearing the proceeding, including on
    appeal, shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney’s fees, witness fees
    and other reasonable expenses, if it finds that the nonprevailing party acted
    without a reasonable basis in fact or law.
    “The Court employs a two-part test for I.C. § 12–117 on appeal: the party seeking fees must be
    the prevailing party and the losing party must have acted without a reasonable basis in fact or
    law.” City of Osburn v. Randel, 
    152 Idaho 906
    , 910, 
    277 P.3d 353
    , 357 (2012).
    On appeal, all of the issues raised by Alpine have been resolved in favor of McCall,
    therefore they are the prevailing party. Additionally, Alpine pursued these issues without a
    reasonable basis in fact or law. This Court awards attorney fees to McCall pursuant to I.C. § 12-
    117.
    11
    V. CONCLUSION
    We hold that the district court did not err when it dismissed Alpine’s state claims as they
    were time-barred by I.C. § 50-219. We also hold that Alpine’s federal claims are unripe under
    both prongs of the ripeness test in Williamson County.     McCall is awarded attorney fees and
    costs on appeal.
    Justices EISMANN, J. JONES, W. JONES and HORTON, CONCUR.
    12