Randy Hildebrant v. Shannon Badgero ( 2018 )

STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
RANDY HILDEBRANT, also known as RANDY UNPUBLISHED
HILDEBRANDT, September 13, 2018
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v No. 341117
Mecosta Circuit Court
SHANNON BADGERO, JOHN L. STEFFES, and LC No. 16-023528-CH
SHAWN REIM,
Defendants-Appellants,
and
ROBERT K. KAUFMAN,
Appellant.
Before: MURRAY, C.J., and CAMERON and LETICA, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In this property dispute, defendants Shannon Badgero, John L. Steffes, and Shawn Reim,
together with their trial counsel, Robert K. Kaufman, appeal the trial court’s order granting
partial summary disposition in favor of plaintiff, Randy Hildebrant, and the trial court’s
subsequent judgment in favor of plaintiff. We affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
The Weeks family owned four adjacent parcels of property in Morley, Michigan, labeled
parcels B, C, D, and E. Parcel B is the northern-most parcel, followed by C, D, and E. An
easement, known as Weeks Drive, runs along the eastern border of the properties, ending at
parcel E. Thus, in order to gain access from the main road, named Three Mile Road, to parcel E,
a person must cross parcels B, C, and D by way of Weeks Drive. The western boundary of the
four properties borders a wooded trail with a forest and other property on the other side. The
following diagram illustrates the layout of the properties:1
1
For ease of reference, this Court has included a compass with the diagram.
-1-
A member of the Weeks family eventually conveyed parcel E to Corinne K. Cousineau
(known at the time as Corinne K. Nelson) by warranty deed. Cousineau obtained approval from
Aetna Township to split parcel E into two separate parcels, known as parcels E1 and E2. The
parcels are split horizontally, where parcel E1 is north of parcel E2. The split effectively
landlocked parcel E2, leaving it with no access to a main road. In 2005, Cosineau conveyed
Parcels E1 and E2 to Kimberly Freas. Parcel E1 was conveyed by warranty deed and Parcel E2
was conveyed by quitclaim deed. The deeds to parcels E1 and E2 contained language
establishing an easement over parcel E1 for the benefit of parcel E2 so that it could have access
to Weeks Drive and ultimately Three Mile Road.
On the same day that Freas obtained the parcels, she also obtained a mortgage over parcel
E1. In 2012, Flagstar Bank foreclosed on the mortgage, and parcel E1 was sold to defendant
Reim. Defendants Badgero and Steffes purchased parcel E1 from Reim by way of a land
contract. Freas retained in fee simple parcel E2 until she conveyed the property to Anthony
Joseph Evans. In 2013, Evans sold parcel E2 to plaintiff. In 2015, plaintiff received a letter
from defendant Reim’s attorney, Kaufman, threatening prosecution for trespass if plaintiff
continued to traverse defendants’ property in his truck to get to his own property. On May 28,
2015, plaintiff attempted to access his property along Weeks Drive, but Reim blocked entry
where parcel E1 bordered parcel D on Weeks Drive. Plaintiff filed a police report. Over
defendants’ objection, plaintiff obtained a special use permit to build a manufactured home, but
defendants continued to refuse to allow plaintiff access to his property. Plaintiff asserted he was
forced to incur extra living expenses because he could not access his land and build his home.
Further, defendants removed the locks to plaintiff’s well and began supplying water to their
property. A surveyor concluded that the well was on plaintiff’s property.
Plaintiff brought a quiet title action seeking a declaration that he has an appurtenant
easement over parcel E1 for ingress and egress to his landlocked property. Plaintiff’s complaint
alleged the existence of an easement on three distinct theories—express easement, easement by
-2-
implied reservation/implied grant, and easement by necessity—and also included claims for
ejectment, trespass, and conversion. He also sought a declaration that the water well was his
property, to enjoin defendants from using the well, and damages. Plaintiff filed a motion for
summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(9) and (C)(10), arguing there was no genuine issue of
material fact that he had an express easement, an easement by implied reservation/implied grant,
and an easement by necessity. The trial court granted partial summary disposition in favor of
plaintiff, concluding that plaintiff had an express easement as set forth in the deed from
Cousineau to Freas. With respect to the alternative grounds for finding an easement, the trial
court stated:
And as to the implied easement; easement by necessity; whether it’s the
reasonably necessary or strictly necessary standard, both of those are
satisfied. . . . But I think that as to the reasonable necessity, the continuity of use,
the unified nature of the two lots were once one common owner were split, that
roadway that existed for a long time; documented by the aerial photographs, I
think there is no question that there was an understanding at the time of . . .
common ownership that when that single unified lot was split, that southern lot
that resulted from the split, subsequently owned by plaintiff, reasonably needed to
go over the pathway that was well established and continuously existed for many,
many years. . . . . An absolute necessity here. There’s no question, no challenge
that the lot that plaintiff purchased, that at the time it was split by Ms.
Nelson/Cousineau, it was landlocked and it was absolutely necessary to use the
66-foot easement over defendants’ resulting parcel to get to the public way on
Three Mile Road.
The trial court deferred ruling on remaining issues relating to an injunction, ownership of
the well, damages, and sanctions. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court convened a
meeting in chambers with the attorneys for plaintiff and defendants. Thereafter, defendants filed
objections to plaintiff’s proposed order, two motions to disqualify the trial judge for bias, a
motion for sanctions, and a motion for reconsideration of the order granting partial summary
disposition in favor of plaintiff. The trial court denied the motions for disqualification, which
were then reviewed and denied by a judge appointed by the State Court Administrator’s Office.
Additionally, the trial court denied the motion for reconsideration. Following a hearing on
plaintiff’s remaining claims, the trial court entered an order granting an injunction enjoining
defendants from “blocking or otherwise interfering with Plaintiff’s superior right of use of said
66 foot wide easement over the East 66 feet of Defendants’ Parcel, for all purposes of ingress
and egress to Plaintiff’s Parcel.” The order also enjoined defendants from removing water
through plaintiff’s well, ordered defendants to remove their pipes and wires leading to plaintiff’s
well, awarded plaintiff $8,400 in compensation for costs related to additional housing expenses
incurred as a result of defendants’ obstruction of the easement, and awarded plaintiff $500 for
the use of plaintiff’s well. Defendants now appeal, challenging the trial court’s decisions as to
the easement, the decision on the motion for reconsideration, the request for sanctions, and the
judicial bias determination. They request this Court to conclude that plaintiff does not have an
easement appurtenant over defendants’ parcel, that the trial court should be disqualified, and,
should the case be remanded, that a new judge should be reassigned to the case on remand.
-3-
II. MOTION FOR SUMMARY DISPOSITION
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
This Court reviews de novo a trial court’s decision regarding a motion for summary
disposition. Home-Owners Ins Co v Smith, 314 Mich App 68, 73; 885 NW2d 324 (2016). A
motion under MCR 2.116(C)(10) “tests the factual sufficiency of the complaint.” Joseph v Auto
Club Ins Ass’n, 491 Mich 200, 206; 815 NW2d 412 (2012). When reviewing a motion under this
subsection, the affidavits, pleadings, depositions, admissions, and other evidence submitted by
the parties must be considered “in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion.”
Maiden v Rozwood, 461 Mich 109, 120; 597 NW2d 817 (1999). “Where the proffered evidence
fails to establish a genuine issue regarding any material fact, the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.” Id. Additionally, “because deeds are contracts, the interpretation
of their language is an issue of law, which this Court reviews de novo.” Penrose v McCullough,
308 Mich App 145, 147; 862 NW2d 674 (2014). Likewise, a trial court’s equitable decisions,
including decisions in an action for a prescriptive easement, are reviewed de novo. Mulcahy v
Verhines, 276 Mich App 693, 698; 742 NW2d 393 (2007). A party claiming a right to an
easement has the burden of proving the claim by a preponderance of the evidence. Schmidt v
Eger, 94 Mich App 728, 731; 289 NW2d 851 (1980).
B. ANALYSIS
Defendants contend that the trial court erred when it granted partial summary disposition
in favor of plaintiff. We conclude that the trial court did not err when it concluded there were no
genuine issues of material fact and held that plaintiff demonstrated by a preponderance of the
evidence the existence of an implied easement by necessity.
“An easement is the right to use the land of another for a specified purpose.” Schadewald
v Brule, 225 Mich App 26, 35; 570 NW2d 788 (1997). “ ‘[A]n easement may be created by
express grant, by reservation or exception, or by covenant or agreement.’ ” Rossow v Brentwood
Farms Dev, Inc, 251 Mich App 652, 661; 651 NW2d 458 (2002) (citation omitted). Michigan
courts recognize two types of easements: easements appurtenant and easements in gross.
Penrose, 308 Mich App at 148. An appurtenant easement attaches to the land and is incapable of
existence apart from the land to which it is annexed. Schadewald, 225 Mich App at 35. An
appurtenant easement is “necessarily connected with the use or enjoyment of the benefited parcel
and may pass with the benefited property when the property is transferred.” Heydon v
MediaOne, 275 Mich App 267, 270; 739 NW2d 373 (2007). This is true even if the easement is
not specifically mentioned in the deed. von Meding v Strahl, 319 Mich 598, 611; 30 NW2d 363
(1948). However, one cannot have an easement in one’s own land. Morgan v Meuth, 60 Mich
238, 254; 27 NW 509 (1886). Thus, “the union of the dominant and servient estates in the same
owner extinguishes prior easements.” von Meding, 319 Mich at 605 (citation omitted). The land
served or benefited by an easement appurtenant is called the dominant estate, and the land
burdened by an easement appurtenant is called the servient estate. Rusk v Grande, 332 Mich
665, 669; 52 NW2d 548 (1952).
-4-
1. EXPRESS EASEMENT
“In order to create an express easement, there must be language in the writing
manifesting a clear intent to create a servitude.” Forge v Smith, 458 Mich 198, 205; 580 NW2d
876 (1998). Plaintiff’s claim of an express easement arises out of Cousineau’s conveyance of
parcel E2, together with an easement ending at the boundary between parcel E1 and parcel E2,
by quitclaim deed to Freas. Plaintiff claimed that Cousineau expressly granted an easement to
burden parcel E1 for the benefit of parcel E2 by recording the deed, which included the
description of an easement across the newly created parcel E1. He also claimed that Freas’s
mortgage on parcel E1 prevented unity of title in Freas over both parcel E1 and parcel E2, even
though Cousineau conveyed parcel E1 by warranty deed to Freas.
Although Cousineau split parcel E into parcels E1 and E2, she retained ownership of both
parcels. Cousineau subsequently conveyed both parcel E1 and parcel E2 to Freas. Thus, Freas
also acquired title to and ownership of both parcel E1 and parcel E2. One cannot have an
easement in one’s own land. Morgan, 60 Mich at 254. It appears that the intent at the time of
the conveyances to Freas was to burden parcel E1 with an easement for ingress and egress to
parcel E2 in the event that the bank foreclosed upon the mortgaged parcel (E1), leaving Freas as
the owner of only parcel E2, thereby rendering parcel E2 landlocked. However, an easement is
extinguished when the same person becomes the owner of both pieces of property. See Bricault
v Cavanaugh, 261 Mich 70, 72; 245 NW 573 (1932); see also Penrose, 308 Mich App at 150.
Thus, the apparent intent to create an easement with parcel E2 being the dominant estate and
parcel E1 being the servient estate, failed as a matter of law because Freas could not have an
easement in her own property. Rusk, 332 Mich at 670; von Meding, 319 Mich at 605; Dimoff v
Laboroff, 296 Mich 325, 328; 296 NW 275 (1941). Because Freas acquired title to both parcel
E1 and parcel E2, no easement appurtenant attached to parcel E2. Thus, the only express
easement that existed ended at the north property line of parcel E1 (the original point of
beginning of the easement over parcels B, C, and D, that was conveyed to Cousineau and,
subsequently, to Freas) and did not extend over parcel E1 to parcel E2.
Plaintiff asserts that unity of title with Freas did not exist because Freas granted a
mortgage on parcel E1 to Flagstar Bank. However, “ ‘[t]he rule is well settled that a real estate
mortgage does not transfer title of the land to the mortgagee, but rather the mortgagee has a lien
on the land to secure the debt.’ ” McKeighan v Citizens Commercial & Savings Bank of Flint,
302 Mich 666, 671; 5 NW2d 524 (1942). Therefore, the existence of a mortgage on parcel E1
did not affect the unity of title with Freas, and does not support the existence of an express
easement for the benefit of parcel E2.
2. IMPLIED EASEMENT
An implied easement may arise in two ways: (1) by necessity or (2) when property either
burdened with or served by a quasi-easement is severed and conveyed to another. Schmidt, 94
Mich App at 732-733; see also Forge, 458 Mich at 211 n 38.
The trial court found that plaintiff had an easement by necessity over parcel E1. An
easement by necessity “may be implied by law where an owner of land splits his property so that
one of the resulting parcels is landlocked except for access across the other parcel.” Chapdelaine
-5-
v Sochocki, 247 Mich App 167, 172; 635 NW2d 339 (2001), citing Schmidt, 94 Mich App at
732. “An easement by necessity may arise either by grant, where the grantor created a
landlocked parcel in his grantee, or it may arise by reservation, where the grantor splits his
property and leaves himself landlocked.” Chapdelaine, 247 Mich App at 172–173.
Parcel E1 was separated from parcel E2 when the bank foreclosed on the mortgage2
secured by parcel E1, and parcel E1 was conveyed to Reim. At that point, the divestiture of
parcel E1 left parcel E2 landlocked, and an easement by necessity was created. The
documentary evidence clearly demonstrates that, without an easement over parcel E1, no means
of ingress and egress to parcel E2 existed. Thus, plaintiff met his burden of showing that an
implied easement by necessity was established because use of the easement over parcel E1 is
strictly necessary to reach parcel E2. See Charles A Murray Trust v Futrell, 303 Mich App 28,
48; 840 NW2d 775 (2013). Once established, an easement by necessity is appurtenant to the
land and it passes with successive transfers. See Bean v Bean, 163 Mich 379, 397; 128 NW 413(1910). However, when strict necessity ends, such as when another way to the property has been
acquired, the easement also ceases to exist. Charles A Murray Trust, 303 Mich App at 42, 55.
Defendants argue that the easement is not necessary because the easement over
defendants’ parcel does not reach a public highway. Rather, defendants argue, the easement over
parcel E1 extends only to the northern boundary of parcel E1, where it borders parcel D, which
does not provide access to Three Mile Road. This argument is without merit. Parcels B, C, D,
and E were formerly commonly owned by Darrell and Wendy Weeks. When Darrell and Wendy
Weeks conveyed parcel E to Cousineau by warranty deed, they conveyed an express easement
for purposes of ingress and egress over and across lands of others for Parcels C, D and E to
provide access to Three Mile Road. This created an express easement for the benefit of parcel E
over the remaining parcels to provide access to Three Mile Road. When the subsequent
divestiture of parcel E1 and parcel E2 left parcel E2 landlocked, an easement by necessity was
created over parcel E1, where it joined the express easement over the remaining parcels to the
north.
3. IMPLIED EASEMENT BY QUASI-EASEMENT
The trial court also found that plaintiff had an implied easement by quasi-easement.
Because an implied easement by necessity exists, we need not address this alternative ground for
establishing an easement. Nonetheless, we address this issue for purposes of finality.
An easement implied from a quasi-easement requires that, at the severance of an estate,
an obvious and apparently permanent servitude already exists over one part of the estate in favor
of the other. It also requires a showing of reasonable necessity. Thus, three things must be
shown: “ ‘(1) that during the unity of title an apparently permanent and obvious servitude was
imposed on one part of an estate in favor of another, (2) continuity, and (3) that the easement is
reasonably necessary for the fair enjoyment of the property it benefits.’ ” Charles A Murray
2
Freas did not create an easement over parcel E1 benefiting parcel E2 by reservation in the
mortgage.
-6-
Trust, 303 Mich App at 42, quoting Schmidt, 94 Mich App at 731. An easement implied from a
quasi-easement is an easement appurtenant that runs with the land. Charles A Murray Trust, 303
Mich App at 41-42. The rationale for this type of easement is set forth in Rannels v Marx, 357
Mich 453, 456; 98 NW2d 583 (1959), which, quoting Rischall v Bauchmann, 132 Conn 637,
642; 46 A2d 898 (1946), observed:
[T]he law implies that with the grant of the one [parcel] an easement is also
granted or reserved, as the case may be, in the other, subjecting it to the burden of
all such visible uses and incidents as are reasonably necessary to the enjoyment of
the dominant heritage in substantially the same condition in which it appeared and
was used when the grant was made.
Although the servitude involved in a quasi-easement must arise during a period of unified
title, “an easement cannot exist over one part of a person’s land in favor of another part when
both parts remain in that person’s possession.” Schmidt, 94 Mich App at 737. Therefore, the
key inquiry under the first element is whether the servitude existed at the date of severance of the
parcel. Id. In this case, documentary evidence showed that, at the time of the severance, Weeks
Drive ran from Three Mile Road across what is now defendants’ property and provided the only
means of ingress and egress to what is now plaintiff’s property. Accordingly, plaintiff satisfied
the first element.
The second requirement, continuity, has been examined by this Court in the context of
driveway cases. In Rannels, 357 Mich at 458, the Court held with respect to a joint driveway
along the property line of adjoining neighbors:
This is an instance where previous use in possession of the common grantor was
visible, apparent even to a casual observer, continuous, and necessary to
convenient use of the property. Federal Savings & Loan Ins Corp v Urschel, 159
Kan 674; 157 P2d 805. Such a use prior to division of the property has been
referred to as a quasi-easement. At time of sale of the property without reference
to the quasi-easement, an easement is held to exist by implication because of the
obvious intention of the parties.
In this case, plaintiff presented documentary evidence that the use of the easement over
parcel E1 to access parcel E2 was visible, apparent to a casual observer, continuous, and
necessary to the convenient use of parcel E1. Plaintiff demonstrated that an easement was
previously established and continuously utilized and gave rise to a finding that a quasi-easement
existed. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in ruling that an easement implied from a quasi-
easement existed.
Defendants also raise arguments unrelated to an express easement. They maintain that
the deed from Darrell and Wendy Weeks to Cousineau allowed “zero” splits of parcel E.
However, parcel E was split in 2003, and the propriety of the split has never been challenged in
an appropriate proceeding, and there has been no determination that the prohibition against
splitting parcel E affects any of the parties’ current interests in their respective parcels. Further,
any cause of action for violation of the terms of the conveyance to Cousineau would properly lie
with the prior owners. Indeed, as the trial court noted, defendants’ parcel was a product of the
-7-
split. Defendants argue that an easement over their property would not provide plaintiff with
access to a public highway because plaintiff would also need to travel over parcels B, C, and D
to reach the public highway, and the trial court had no proof that the owner of those parcels
would allow plaintiff to cross those parcels. As explained earlier, an express easement over
those parcels for the benefit of parcel E was previously created by members of the Weeks family
when parcel E was conveyed to Cousineau. Moreover, as the trial court noted, defendants have
no standing to object to plaintiff’s use of the easement over the parcels to the north of
defendants’ parcel (parcels B, C, and D); any objection to plaintiff’s use of those parcels for
ingress and egress to Three Mile Road belongs with the owners of those servient parcels.3
III. MOTION FOR SANCTIONS
Defendants claim the trial court clearly erred by denying their motion for sanctions. We
disagree.
This Court reviews for clear error a trial court’s determination whether a claim was
frivolous and whether sanctions are warranted. Bronson Health Care Group, Inc v Titan Ins Co,
314 Mich App 577, 585; 887 NW2d 205 (2016). “A decision is clearly erroneous where,
although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court is left with a definite and firm
conviction that a mistake has been made.” Kitchen v Kitchen, 465 Mich 654, 661-662; 641
NW2d 245 (2002).
Plaintiffs made an oral motion for sanctions at the summary disposition hearing.4 The
record reflects that defendants and Kaufman subsequently filed their own motion for sanctions
against plaintiff’s attorney for making a baseless oral motion for sanctions against them. The
trial court denied that motion, ruling:
Defendants’ brief in sizeable part appears to fixate on the issue decided at the
February 24, 2017, hearing. Additionally, where the brief does address the issue
of sanctions, the case law cited in the brief is offered in a cursory manner, and the
majority of the case law is from other jurisdictions. Upon review of [d]efendants’
motion for sanctions, the court finds that the motion is meritless and denies the
relief requested therein.
3
Defendants did not make any substantive challenge to the trial court’s ruling on the motion for
reconsideration, instead claiming that the trial court improperly denied the motion because it was
untimely. Assuming this was in error, the trial court did address the substantive merits of
defendants’ motion, concluding that they had not demonstrated palpable error requiring
correction. Thus, even if the trial court’s ruling on the procedural defect was erroneous, any
such error was harmless. MCR 2.613(A).
4
The trial court also denied plaintiff’s oral request for sanctions, finding that “there has been no
follow-up documentation that properly sets the stage for that request for sanctions to be
considered.”
-8-
On appeal, defendants acknowledge that an “oral motion for frivolous filings sanctions
couldn’t be said to violate . . . MCR 2.114(D).” They rely on foreign authority in support of their
assertion that a “motion for frivolous filings sanctions, which omits to demonstrate grounds for
characterizing the non-movant’s filing as frivolous, is itself a punishably frivolous filing.”
However, they have made no attempt to demonstrate that plaintiff’s request for sanctions was
frivolous, notwithstanding that the court denied his motion. Merely because a party does not
prevail on an argument does not render the argument frivolous. Kitchen, 465 Mich at 662. “An
appellant may not merely announce a position then leave it to this Court to discover and
rationalize the basis for the appellant’s claims[.]” Cheesman v Williams, 311 Mich App 147,
161; 874 NW2d 385 (2015). Defendants’ cursory treatment of the issue may constitute
abandonment of their arguments on appeal. See Eldred v Ziny, 246 Mich App 142, 150; 631
NW2d 748 (2001) (“[T]his Court need not address an issue that is given only cursory
consideration by a party on appeal.”). Nonetheless, accepting defendants’ argument that a
motion for sanctions may be regarded as frivolous, defendants have failed to show that the trial
court clearly erred by rejecting defendants’ argument that plaintiff’s motion was frivolous, and
thus denying defendants’ motion for sanctions on that basis.
IV. MOTION TO DISQUALIFY
Defendants claim the trial court abused its discretion when it denied their motion to
disqualify the trial judge. We disagree.
“When this Court reviews a motion to disqualify a judge, the trial court’s findings of fact
are reviewed for an abuse of discretion; however, the applicability of the facts to relevant law is
reviewed de novo.” Armstrong v Ypsilanti Charter Twp, 248 Mich App 573, 596; 640 NW2d
321 (2001). “An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court’s decision is outside the range of
reasonable and principled outcomes.” Moore v Secura Ins, 482 Mich 507, 516; 759 NW2d 833
(2008).
Defendants filed a motion to disqualify Judge Scott Hill-Kennedy on the ground that he
was biased against them. They conceded in their brief in support of the motion that they
“learned the basis for the present motion” on February 24, 2017, and that the motion was
untimely. Defendants’ claim of bias was based on comments purportedly made by Judge Hill-
Kennedy in chambers following the February 24, 2017 summary disposition hearing.
The transcript of the hearing reflects that plaintiff’s counsel asserted that the defense was
“basically frivolous and devoid of . . . arguably legal merit, and [defendants] should be assessed
attorney fees and costs pursuant to the court rule.” At the conclusion of the hearing, the court
stated that plaintiff’s oral motion for sanctions was “premature because I haven’t concluded the
case yet.”
In their brief in support of the motion for disqualification, defendants asserted that Judge
Hill-Kennedy elaborated on why it was premature to decide plaintiff’s motion for sanctions
during an off-the-record conference in chambers. They asserted that the judge told Kaufman in
chambers
-9-
that it wanted no appeal of its ruling granting in part [plaintiff’s] motion. This
Court said that if Kaufman could arrange for this case to be disposed of without
entry of an appealable order then the court wouldn’t impose sanctions on the
defense. It’s a fair inference from negative implication that this court then
intended to convey that if Kaufman exposed this court’s ruling to the risk of
appellate reversal then this court would punish Kaufman’s temerity by imposing
sanctions against him.
In support of their motion, defendants submitted the affidavit of Kaufman, who averred
that during the in-chambers meeting, Judge Hill-Kennedy “announced that it was his desire that
his ruling, granting in part [plaintiff’s] summary disposition motion, and holding that [plaintiff]
had an access easement over the defendants’ property, not be appealed and that it was his
preference that the case be settled.” Kaufman further averred that “Judge Hill-Kennedy there
and then stated that it was to be wished that the parties not become obliged to assume the
expenses of an appeal from a decision affecting property of such slight value.” Kaufman also
averred that “Judge Hill-Kennedy there and then further stated that if the case were settled then
he wouldn’t grant [plaintiff’s] oral motion . . . for frivolous filings sanctions.” Defendants also
argued that the trial court’s ruling that plaintiff had an easement across defendants’ property was
contrary to controlling authority and demonstrated bias against defendants. Finally, they argued
that they demonstrated good cause for the untimely filing of the motion for disqualification
because they “are filing a motion for reconsideration of [the] court’s February 24, 2017 order”
and that “[i]t’s unlikely that, after threatening retaliation for an appeal, Judge Hill-Kennedy
could dispassionately assess a motion that he reverse himself instead.” They asserted that the
trial court’s ruling on the motion for summary disposition was clearly erroneous and, therefore,
because Judge Hill-Kennedy would not reverse his decision because of bias against defendants,
the error would be outcome-determinative.
Plaintiff responded that Kaufman’s affidavit did not comport with MCR 2.119(B)(1)
because it did not “include all mandated particulars” and was “full of inaccuracies and does not
comport with the content of the meeting in chambers.” Plaintiff submitted an affidavit from his
own attorney, Steve Lobert, who averred, in relevant part:
D. At the conclusion of the Plaintiff’s Summary Disposition hearing on
February 24, 2017, I met in the Honorable Scott Hill-Kennedy’s chambers with
the said judge and Defendants’ counsel, Robert Kaufman.
E. My recollection of the in chambers meeting is that the parties merely
discussed the benefits and drawbacks of settling this case versus trying the same
to a conclusion and it was merely an informal effort between the parties that were
present to discuss the framework and possibilities of an equitable settlement. I do
not specifically recall the judge making the statements referred to in paragraphs 4,
5 and 6 of Mr. Kaufman’s purported “affidavit” in support of Defendants’ motion
for disqualification.
F. Part and parcel to said discussion, the judge clearly stated that he had
not made any final decision on the matters that remained to be decided, and would
-10-
not render such a decision until taking our respective clients’ evidence and
arguments into account as they were presented throughout the course of the case.
G. The meeting in chambers was no different than the dozens of similar
meetings that I have personally had in many judge’s chambers with other
opposing counsel wherein the benefits of finding common ground and a
resolution short of litigation was discussed.
H. In no way, shape or form did Judge Hill-Kennedy threaten any pre-
determined result if this case did not settle prior to trial.
I. I have found the Honorable Scott Hill-Kennedy to be a judge with the
highest degree of integrity and have not observed him ever engage in any activity
that could remotely be considered to approach even the appearance of
impropriety.
Plaintiff argued that defendants’ motion to disqualify Judge Hill-Kennedy contained
allegations made without any basis in fact and that the motion should be denied “both
procedurally (as untimely and not supported by the proper evidence) and substantively as it is
inaccurate” and based on defense counsel’s suggestion that defendants would be punished if they
did not settle prior to a final disposition by the court.
The trial court held a hearing on the motion for disqualification. The trial court denied
the motion for disqualification on the ground that the motion was untimely, but the court also
addressed the merits of the motion “as a separate and distinct reason for denial.” The trial court
provided a lengthy explanation on the record of its reasons for denying the motion. In
summation, the trial court ruled:
So, folks, I don’t find any evidence of actual bias. I don’t find the
appearance of impropriety. I don’t think the due process Caperton standard has
been violated. So for the reasons I just stated and the reasons I stated at the
beginning of this Disqualification Hearing, I’m denying the Motion to Disqualify.
The denial of the motion to disqualify was referred to the state court administrator for de
novo review. The state court administrator appointed Judge David A. Thompson to review the
motion. Judge Thompson issued an opinion and order denying the motion for disqualification,
finding that defendants’ motion to disqualify was untimely and that defendants made no attempt
to show good cause for the untimely motion, and instead merely asserted that “plain error” would
result if Judge Hill-Kennedy was permitted to preside over the matter. Judge Thompson also
found that no actual bias or prejudice existed from Judge Hill-Kennedy’s alleged conduct, and
that “no reasonable person would find that based on all the facts and circumstances that Judge
Hill-Kennedy could not impartially decide this case.”
Defendants now argue that Judge Hill-Kennedy’s bias against defendants should have
disqualified him from deciding defendants’ motion for sanctions. Initially, as defendants
concede, the motion for disqualification was untimely. MCR 2.003(D)(1)(a) requires that a
motion to disqualify be filed within 14 days after the moving party discovers the ground for
disqualification, and MCR 2.003(D)(1)(d) provides that untimely motions may be granted for
-11-
good cause shown and that “untimeliness is a factor in deciding whether the motion should be
granted.” The motion was based on events that occurred during the in-chambers conference on
February 24, 2017, so the purported grounds for disqualification would have been discovered
that day. Defendants filed their motion more than six weeks later, on April 10, 2017.
“Due process requires that an unbiased and impartial decision-maker hear and decide a
case.” Mitchell v Mitchell, 296 Mich App 513, 523; 823 NW2d 153 (2012). Under MCR
2.003(C)(1), a judge must be disqualified from hearing a case in which he cannot act impartially
or is biased against a party. However “[a] trial judge is presumed unbiased, and the party
asserting otherwise has the heavy burden of overcoming the presumption.” Mitchell, 296 Mich
App at 523. MCR 2.003(C)(1)(b) provides that disqualification of a judge is warranted if “[t]he
judge, based on objective and reasonable perceptions, has either (i) a serious risk of actual bias
impacting the due process rights of a party as enunciated in Caperton v Massey, 556 US 868; 129
S Ct 2252; 173 L Ed 2d 1208 (2009), or (ii) has failed to adhere to the appearance of impropriety
standard set forth in Canon 2 of the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct.” For purposes of this
appeal, defendants cite to, but do not discuss, the following subsections of Canon 2:
A. Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or
improper conduct by judges. A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance
of impropriety. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny.
A judge must therefore accept restrictions on conduct that might be viewed as
burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so freely and willingly.
B. A judge should respect and observe the law. At all times, the conduct
and manner of a judge should promote public confidence in the integrity and
impartiality of the judiciary. Without regard to a person’s race, gender, or other
protected personal characteristic, a judge should treat every person fairly, with
courtesy and respect.
Defendants argue that Judge Hill-Kennedy’s off-the-record “resort to baseless threats” in
an attempt to frighten defendants into relinquishing their appeal rights” was improper and
evidences bias. The only evidence relied upon by defendants in support of their motion for
disqualification was Kaufman’s affidavit in which he averred that he “inferred by negative
implication” that Judge Hill-Kennedy threatened to impose sanctions on him if he appealed the
order granting partial summary disposition. Judge Hill-Kennedy denied any suggestion that he
would sanction Kaufman if the court’s ruling was appealed. Judge Hill-Kennedy stated, in
pertinent part, with regard to defendants’ claim of impartiality:
And I would note here that the argument in part was maybe about
impartiality, but possibly that I would be upset if this case went to the Court of
Appeals and my decision was overturned which, of course, happens periodically.
Thank goodness there is a check on our behavior here so we get a good quality
end product at the end of the day. So that I think, wherever that fits here, I think
that’s part of the argument that I’m trying to avoid having the Court of Appeals
scrutinize my decisions, which happens a couple hundred times a year.
-12-
Judge Hill-Kennedy also stated, in pertinent part, with regard to defendants’ claim of
bias:
I suppose you could try and fit within the Michigan Court Rule 2.003(C),
Grounds for Disqualification, by saying I have an ulterior motive, I have an
outside interest in not wanting my cases to be reviewed by the Court of Appeals,
therefore I’m trying to force settlement to avoid appellate scrutiny. There’s just
no evidence on the record of this and I, of course, disavow having indicated in
any fashion that I was looking to pressure somebody to avoid appellate review.
Plaintiff’s counsel, who was also present at the in-chambers meeting, averred in his
affidavit, as well as at the hearing on the motion for disqualification, that Judge Hill-Kennedy
did not make the implied threats attributed to him by defendants. On de novo review, Judge
Thompson also concluded that both plaintiff’s attorney and Judge Hill-Kennedy denied
Kaufman’s claims involving the in-chambers meeting. Judge Thompson found no evidence of
bias or prejudice. Judge Thompson also found that there was no evidence on which to disqualify
Judge Hill-Kennedy on due process grounds or for an appearance of impropriety.
Under these circumstances, where defendants’ motion came exceedingly late, where the
factual support for the motion was based on Kaufman’s “inference” regarding the trial court’s
comments during an in-chambers meeting, and where both the trial judge and plaintiff’s attorney
stated that Kaufman’s allegations did not comport with what actually transpired during the
meeting, defendants have failed to show that the trial court abused its discretion by denying the
motion for disqualification.
Defendants also argue that Judge Hill-Kennedy’s partial summary disposition ruling
showed “willful or egregious disregard for clear, controlling authority” and, therefore,
“demonstrates disqualifying bias.” They argue that Canon 2.B requires the judge “to respect and
observe the law” and that a judge “who refuses to adhere to that precept ‘has failed to adhere to
the appearance of impropriety standard set forth in Canon 2.’ MCR 2.003(C)(1)(b).” However,
disqualification on the basis of bias cannot be established merely because of rulings against a
party, even if the rulings are erroneous. In re MKK, 286 Mich App 546, 566; 781 NW2d 132
(2009). Defendants’ mere contention that a number of Judge Hill-Kennedy’s findings were
beyond the scope of what a “reasonable judge” would do does not sustain the heavy burden of
showing that Judge Hill-Kennedy was biased. In a related argument, defendants claim
reassignment to a new trial judge is necessary. Because there is no need for a remand in this
case, we need not consider this issue.
Affirmed. Plaintiff, as the prevailing party, may tax costs pursuant to MCR 7.219.
/s/ Christopher M. Murray
/s/ Thomas C. Cameron
/s/ Anica Letica
-13-