GeorgiaCarry.Org, Inc. v. Atlanta Botanical Garden, Inc.

In the Supreme Court of Georgia
Decided: May 9, 2016
S16A0294. GEORGIACARRY.ORG et al v. ATLANTA BOTANICAL
GARDEN, INC.
HUNSTEIN, Justice.
Appellants GeorgiaCarry.org and Phillip Evans appeal the dismissal of
their petition for declaratory and injunctive relief as to the Atlanta Botanical
Garden’s prohibition of weapons on the Garden’s premises. We affirm in part
and reverse and remand in part.
The facts are not in dispute. The Garden is a non-profit corporation that
operates a botanical garden complex on property leased from the City of Atlanta.
Evans, who holds a Georgia weapons carry license, visited the Garden twice in
October 2014 and wore a handgun in a waistband holster each time. After
gaining admission to the Garden on his second visit, Evans was stopped by an
employee of the Garden and advised that he could not carry the weapon at the
Garden; a security officer detained Evans, and Evans was eventually escorted
from the Garden by an officer with the Atlanta Police Department.
Appellants subsequently petitioned the Fulton County Superior Court for
declaratory and injunctive relief on the basis that OCGA § 16-11-127 (c)1
authorizes Evans – and similarly licensed individuals – to carry a weapon at the
Garden. Appellants sought a declaration that the Garden could not prohibit
licensed individuals from “carrying weapons on property that the Garden leases
from the City of Atlanta,” an injunction prohibiting the Garden from “causing
the arrest or prosecution of [licensed individuals] from carrying weapons at the
[Garden],” and an interlocutory injunction prohibiting the Garden from
“banning the carrying of weapons at the [Garden] by [licensed individuals] or
1
OCGA § 16-11-127 (c) states as follows:
A license holder or person recognized under subsection (e) of
Code Section 16-11-126 shall be authorized to carry a weapon as
provided in Code Section 16-11-135 and in every location in this
state not listed in subsection (b) or prohibited by subsection (e) of
this Code section; provided, however, that private property owners
or persons in legal control of private property through a lease, rental
agreement, licensing agreement, contract, or any other agreement to
control access to such private property shall have the right to
exclude or eject a person who is in possession of a weapon or long
gun on their private property in accordance with paragraph (3) of
subsection (b) of Code Section 16-7-21, except as provided in Code
Section 16-11-135. A violation of subsection (b) of this Code
section shall not create or give rise to a civil action for damages.
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from causing [their] arrest or prosecution . . . for carrying weapons at the
[Garden].” In response, the Garden moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing,
inter alia, that a declaratory action may not be used to interpret a criminal
statute, that a declaratory action may not be used to compel a party to take (or
refrain from taking) specific action, and that an injunction may not be used to
inhibit or control the enforcement of criminal laws. The trial court, agreeing
with the Garden’s position, granted the motion to dismiss.
1. Appellants first argue that the trial court erroneously dismissed their
declaratory judgment action; we agree.
It is well settled that
[a] motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief
may be granted should not be sustained unless (1) the allegations of
the complaint disclose with certainty that the claimant would not be
entitled to relief under any state of provable facts asserted in
support thereof; and (2) the movant establishes that the claimant
could not possibly introduce evidence within the framework of the
complaint sufficient to warrant a grant of the relief sought. If,
within the framework of the complaint, evidence may be introduced
which will sustain a grant of the relief sought by the claimant, the
complaint is sufficient and a motion to dismiss should be denied.
In deciding a motion to dismiss, all pleadings are to be construed
most favorably to the party who filed them, and all doubts regarding
such pleadings must be resolved in the filing party’s favor.
(Footnotes omitted.) Anderson v. Flake, 267 Ga. 498, 501 (2) (480 SE2d 10)
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(1997). “On appeal, a trial court’s ruling on a motion to dismiss for failure to
state a claim for which relief may be granted is reviewed de novo.” Northway
v. Allen, 291 Ga. 227, 229 (728 SE2d 624) (2012).
“The State Declaratory Judgment Act gives superior courts the power to
declare rights and other legal relations of any interested party in ‘cases of actual
controversy’ under OCGA § 9-4-2(a) and ‘in any civil case in which it appears
to the court that the ends of justice require that the declaration should be made.’
OCGA § 9-4-2(b).” Leitch v. Fleming, 291 Ga. 669, 670 (1) (732 SE2d 401)
(2012). Such relief is authorized when there are “circumstances showing [a]
necessity for a determination of the dispute to guide and protect the plaintiff
from uncertainty and insecurity with regard to the propriety of some future act
or conduct, which is properly incident to his alleged rights and which if taken
without direction might reasonably jeopardize his interest.” Morgan v.
Guaranty National Companies, 268 Ga. 343, 344 (489 SE2d 803) (1997). “‘The
proper scope of declaratory judgment is to adjudge those rights among parties
upon which their future conduct depends.’” SJN Properties, LLC v. Fulton
County Board of Assessors, 296 Ga. 793, 802 (2) (b) (iii) (770 SE2d 832)
(2015).
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Relying on Butler v. Ellis, 203 Ga. 683 (47 SE2d 861) (1948), the trial
court dismissed Appellants’ petition for declaratory relief on the basis that it
impermissibly required the trial court to interpret and apply a criminal statute.
See Butler, 203 Ga. at 683 (no justiciable controversy where petitioners sought
a declaration that intoxicating liquors could be sold legally at a private social
club in Fulton County because equity “will take no part in the administration of
criminal law”).2 See also Martin v. Slaton, 125 Ga. App. 710 (188 SE2d 926)
(1972). However, a declaratory judgment action is not inappropriate merely
because it touches upon a question of criminal law; in fact, such an action “is an
available remedy to test the validity and enforceability of a statute where an
actual controversy exists with respect thereto.” Total Vending Service, Inc. v.
Gwinnett County, 153 Ga. App. 109, 110 (264 SE2d 574) (1980). See also
Sarrio v. Gwinnett County, 273 Ga. 404 (2) (542 SE2d 485) (2001) (authorizing
a declaratory judgment action challenging the validity of municipal ordinance
2
We note that while equity will “take no part in the administration of the
criminal law,” see OCGA § 9-5-2, it is well established that a request for declaratory
relief is generally an action at law. See Harper v Gunby, 215 Ga. 466, 469 (3) (111
SE2d 85) (1959) (“Under the above ruling, the equitable feature of the case is
removed, leaving the action solely one at law under the Declaratory Judgment Act.”).
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criminalizing the discharge of a weapon in certain areas of Gwinnett County);
State v. Café Erotica, Inc., 269 Ga. 486 (500 SE2d 574) (1998) (addressing the
merits of a declaratory judgment action challenging a statute making it a
misdemeanor to knowingly admit a person under the age of 21 to premises on
which sexually explicit performances take place). Declaratory relief is not
available, though, where the criminal conduct has already been completed,
where a prosecution is pending, or where there has already been a conviction.
See, e.g., Shantha v. Municipal Court of City of Atlanta, 240 Ga. 280, 281 (240
SE2d 32) (1977) (“Declaratory relief is not the proper remedy for attacking the
constitutionality of a municipal ordinance where the alleged criminal activity
has already taken place.”); Ross v. State, 238 Ga. 445, 445 (233 SE2d 381)
(1977) (recognizing that a declaratory action is “not maintainable by persons
already convicted of crimes who wish to examine or reexamine aspects of the
conviction or sentence”); Pendleton v. City of Atlanta, 236 Ga. 479 (1) (224
SE2d 357) (1976) (no declaratory relief where petitioners were already subject
to criminal proceedings); Clark v. Karrh, 223 Ga. 851 (159 SE2d 75) (1968)
(petition for declaratory relief properly dismissed where criminal conduct had
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already occurred and petitioners were being prosecuted).3 On the other end of
the spectrum, mere speculation regarding the application of a criminal provision
is insufficient to maintain a declaratory judgment action because the requisite
justiciable controversy is absent. See Magby v. City of Riverdale, 288 Ga. 128,
130 (1) (702 SE2d 159) (2010) (“sheer speculation” and “a challenge to the
sufficiency of the potential evidence that might be used against [petitioner] in
some future prosecution” insufficient to warrant declaratory relief); Frances
Wood Wilson Foundation, Inc. v. Bell, 223 Ga. 588 (157 SE2d 287) (1967)
(declaratory relief not available where there was no prosecution or threat of
prosecution under challenged local law); Patterson v. State, 242 Ga. App. 131(528 SE2d 884) (2000) (declaratory judgment action properly dismissed where
petitioner failed to demonstrate that there was any threat of enforcement or
prosecution of a challenged statute). We must now determine where Appellants’
petition falls along this spectrum.
Though OCGA § 16-11-127 (c) is found within the confines of the
3
But see Sarrio, 273 Ga. at 406 (declaratory action may continue with respect
to one party after criminal conduct had occurred where that party, unlike others, was
not being prosecuted).
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criminal code, Appellants here “do[] not seek an advisory opinion that [their]
proposed actions would not be criminal.” Total Vending Service, 153 Ga. App.
at 111. Instead, Appellants seek a determination of whether licensed individuals
may carry a weapon on the grounds of the Garden in accordance with OCGA §
16-11-127 (c). See Total Vending, 153 Ga. App. at 111. Further, Appellants’
requested relief is not premised on mere speculation that the Garden will enforce
its weapons ban; Evans, who holds a membership with the Garden, has already
been asked to leave the premises of the Garden and was escorted from the
property by law enforcement. Importantly, however, there is no allegation here
that criminal conduct has been accomplished. See Osborne v. State, 290 Ga.
App. 188 (665 SE2d 1) (2008) (recognizing that an essential element of criminal
trespass is a showing that entry onto the premises had been previously been
expressly forbidden). Accordingly, Appellants request for declaratory relief was
not impermissible, and it was error to dismiss Appellants’ declaratory judgment
action on the basis that it improperly called for the interpretation and application
of a criminal statute.
Additionally, we disagree with the trial court that the declaratory relief
requested here, if granted, would somehow require action by the Garden or some
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other third party. See Baker v. City of Marietta, 271 Ga. 210, 213 (1) (518 SE2d
879) (1999) (“The Declaratory Judgment Act provides a means by which a
superior court ‘simply declares the rights of the parties or expresses [its] opinion
. . . on a question of law, without ordering anything to be done.’”). While the
wording of the petition requests a declaration that the Garden “may not ban”
licensed individuals from carrying weapons at the facility, the practical effect
of the request – and the relief sought – is simply a declaration that Evans, and
similarly licensed individuals, may carry their respective weapons on the
Garden’s premises. That relief, if granted, is simply a declaration of rights and
requires no action on the part of the Garden or anyone else. See Burton v.
Glynn County, 297 Ga. 544, 550 (4) (776 SE2d 179) (2015) (a declaratory
judgment is “an order simply delineating what the applicable legal authority
requires or prohibits”). Cf. Charles H. Wesley Educ. Foundation, Inc. v. State
Election Bd., 282 Ga. 707 (4) (654 SE2d 127) (2007) (declaratory judgment
may not be used to compel rule-making process); Gelfand v. Gelfand, 281 Ga.
40, 40 (635 SE2d 770) (2006) (declaratory judgment could not be used to
compel ex-husband to provide additional funds to ex-wife).
The trial court erred by dismissing Appellants’ request for declaratory
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judgment on the basis that it impermissibly asked the trial court to interpret a
criminal statute and that it improperly compelled action by the Garden.
Accordingly, the trial court’s order is reversed in this respect and this action
remanded for further proceedings.
2. The trial court also dismissed Appellants’ request for injunctive relief;
this was proper in part.
Appellants sought a permanent and interlocutory injunction prohibiting
the Garden “from causing the arrest or prosecution” of licensed individuals who
carry weapons at the facility. As Appellants recognize on appeal, however, the
Garden is not a government entity and it lacks the power to administer the
criminal law. Because the Garden lacks the authority to administer the criminal
law, enjoining the Garden from “causing” an arrest or prosecution would be
fruitless. See generally State v. Wooten, 273 Ga. 529. 531 (2) (543 SE2d 721)
(2001) (recognizing the broad discretion of prosecutors in making decisions
about whom to prosecute and what charges to bring). Further, this portion of
Appellants’ requested injunctive relief – enjoining the arrest or prosecution of
Appellants – squarely implicates the administration of criminal law and, thus,
is improper. See Mohwish v. Franklin, 291 Ga. 179, 179-180 (728 SE2d 240)
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(2012) (injunction not available where sought to interfere with an ongoing
prosecution); Holmes v. Board of Comm., 271 Ga. 206 (517 SE2d 788) (1999)
(injunction not available to restrain trespass prosecution); City of East Point v.
Minton, 207 Ga. 495, 499 (62 SE2d 911) (1951) (recognizing that “‘[e]quity
will not enjoin a criminal prosecution solely to prevent such a prosecution’”).
On the other hand, Appellants also sought an interlocutory injunction
prohibiting the Garden from banning licensed individuals from carrying
weapons on the Garden’s premises. For the reasons discussed above, however,
this claim – which is identical to Appellants’ claim for declaratory relief – does
not improperly implicate the administration of criminal law. Accordingly, this
portion of Appellants’ claim for injunctive relief was improperly dismissed.
Judgment affirmed in part and reversed in part and case remanded. All
the Justices concur.
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