Little v. Dist. Ct. (State) ( 2016 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA
MICHAEL LITTLE, A CITIZEN AND No. 67639
TAXPAYER OF NEVADA,
Petitioner,
vs.
THE FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA,
IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF
CARSON CITY; AND THE
HONORABLE JAMES TODD RUSSELL, FILED
DISTRICT JUDGE,
Respondents, JUL 1 2 2016
and TRACE K. LINDEMAN
CLERIcOF SUPREME COURT
THE STATE OF NEVADA; THE BY
DEPUTY CLERK
NEVADA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; STEVEN
HILL, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
NEVADA GOVERNORS OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; AND
THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE
OF NEVADA,
Real Parties in Interest.
ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS
This is an original petition for a writ of mandamus challenging
the district court's order granting partial summary judgment on the
grounds that the petitioner, a Nevada taxpayer, lacks standing to
challenge the Nevada Catalyst Fund statutes.
Petitioner Michael Little filed suit against the State of Nevada
claiming that its Catalyst Fund violates the Nevada Constitution and that
he was harmed, both as a taxpayer of the State of Nevada and as a direct
competitor with Solar City, a beneficiary of the Catalyst Fund. The
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district court granted in part the State's motion for summary judgment on
the grounds that Little's alleged status as a Nevada taxpayer does not
afford him standing to assert a facial challenge to the Catalyst Fund
statutes. After the district court granted partial summary judgment and
the filing of this writ, the 2015 Legislature amended the Catalyst Fund
statutes. 2015 Nev. Stat., ch. 433, § 6, at 2482-83 (amending NRS
231.1577). The district court has yet to determine whether Little has
standing as a competitor to challenge the Catalyst Fund as applied to his
alleged competition with Solar City or the impact of the 2015 amendment
to NRS 231.1577 on this litigation.
Although the district court will hold an evidentiary hearing to
determine the issue of competitor standing, Little petitioned this court for
a writ of mandamus to overturn the district court's conclusion that he
lacks standing as a taxpayer and to require the district court to recognize
taxpayer standing. We conclude that the extraordinary remedy of
mandamus is not warranted in this case because the district court has not
yet ruled on Little's standing as a direct competitor and because, as an
order granting partial summary judgment, the district court's order is
interlocutory and "subject to revision at any time before the entry of
judgment adjudicating all the rights and liabilities of all the parties."
NRCP 54(b).
Little argues that this court should entertain his writ because
the issue of taxpayer standing is an issue of first impression. Little
further argues that this is an issue of public importance because taxpayer
standing is necessary to hold state governments accountable for their
actions, particularly when those actions violate the State Constitution.
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The State, however, argues that mandamus relief is not warranted
because Little can appeal an adverse decision after final judgment and a
direct appeal of a final judgment is the preferred remedy at law. We agree
with the State.
"A writ of mandamus is available to compel the performance of
an act that the law requires as a duty resulting from an office, trust, or
station or to control an arbitrary or capricious exercise of discretion." Int'l
Game Tech., Inc. v. Second Judicial Dist. Court, 124 Nev. 193, 197, 179
P.3d 556, 558 (2008); see also NRS 34.160. The decision to entertain an
extraordinary writ petition, such as mandamus, lies within our discretion.
Libby v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 130 Nev., Adv. Op. 39, 325 P.3d 1276,
1278 (2014). The petitioner has the "heavy" burden to show that such
relief is necessary. Poulos v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 98 Nev. 453,
455, 652 P.2d 1177, 1178 (1982). We will generally refuse to issue an
extraordinary writ when there is an adequate remedy at law. NRS
34.170; Oxbow Constr., LLC v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 130 Nev., Adv.
Op. 86, 335 P.3d 1234, 1238 (2014).
When a district court enters a partial summary judgment
order, the party whom the order is entered against may appeal after the
district court enters a final judgment on the remaining claims if they are
still aggrieved. State v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court (Ad America, Inc.),
131 Nev., Adv. Op. 41, 351 P.3d 736, 740 (2015). Writ review may be
appropriate, however, when the question is an important issue and this
court's review at an early stage is necessary to clarify the law and avoid
confusion. Id. We, however, will not exercise mandamus simply to control
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a district court's "discretionary action, unless discretion is manifestly
abused or is exercised arbitrarily or capriciously." Merits Incentives, LLC
v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court, 127 Nev. 689, 694, 262 P.3d 720, 723
(2011). The policy behind this hesitation to entertain such writ petitions
is to promote judicial economy and avoid "piecemeal appellate review."
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. O'Brien, 129 Nev., Adv. Op. 71, 310 P.3d 581,
582 (2013). As a general principle, we practice judicial restraint, avoiding
legal and constitutional issues, if unnecessary to resolve the case at hand.
Miller v. Burk, 124 Nev. 579, 588-89, 188 P.3d 1112, 1118-19 (2008).
Here, Little asks this court to intervene before his bench trial
and direct the district court to find that he can challenge the Catalyst
Fund statutes as an aggrieved taxpayer and as a direct competitor. If this
court does not issue the writ, Little may still proceed as a direct
competitor. He may also, depending on what transpires in district court in
the course of the evidentiary hearing and the briefing and argument on
the amendment to NRS 231.1577, persuade the district court to reconsider
or revise its partial summary judgment order. Extraordinary relief is not
necessary to allow Little any relief, including preventing Clark County
from funding his alleged competitor, Solar City. This court does not
address unnecessary constitutional issues. Id. While Little seems zealous
in challenging the statutes on their face, justiciability is about a court's
ability to redress direct injuries, rather than answer unnecessary
constitutional questions. In this instance, the district court may still
redress his injury. Therefore, Little has an adequate remedy at law.
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Because there exists an adequate remedy at law and judicial
restraint militates against interlocutory review in this case, we decline to
reach the parties' arguments on the merits in this matter. Accordingly, we
ORDER the petition DENIED.'
C.J.
Parraguirr
-C2lwaket" irres°4
J.
Hardesty
C kitYtAve Saitta
J.
Cp
Cherry
Hbons
cc: Hon. James Todd Russell, District Judge
NPRI Center for Justice and Constitutional Litigation
Attorney General/Reno
Attorney General/Las Vegas
Legislative Counsel Bureau Legal Division
Carson City Clerk
'Because we deny the petition on the grounds that Little has an
adequate remedy at law, we decline to reach a conclusion on the issue of
taxpayer standing at this time. Should Little be unable to pursue his
competitor standing case in the district court or if he loses on the merits,
he may file a direct appeal and include taxpayer standing as an issue in
that appeal. Nothing in this order should be construed as limiting Little's
future appellate rights.
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