Fox v. BHCC , 388 Mont. 443 ( 2017 )

09/05/2017
DA 17-0069
Case Number: DA 17-0069
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2017 MT 218
HERMAN L. FOX,
Plaintiff and Appellant,
v.
BHCC II, INC., a Montana Corporation,
doing business as THE BILLINGS HOTEL
& CONVENTION CENTER,
Respondent and Appellee.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Thirteenth Judicial District,
In and For the County of Yellowstone, Cause No. DV 15-1678
Honorable Michael G. Moses, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Benjamin J. LaBeau, LaBeau Law Firm, PC, Billings, Montana
For Appellee:
Jon E. Doak, Doak & Associates, PC, Billings, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: June 21, 2017
Decided: September 5, 2017
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Michael E Wheat delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Herman Fox filed a complaint against the Billings Hotel & Convention Center
(BHCC or Hotel) in December 2015 alleging that BHCC was interfering with his right to
distribute irrigation water and maintain the irrigation ditch to which he holds senior
rights. Following a non-jury trial in August 2016, the District Court ruled that while Fox
has existing and historical ditch and water rights across BHCC’s property, as well as an
established secondary easement, BHCC was not unreasonably infringing on Fox’s
easement rights. The court determined that Fox shall have access to the easement
property to inspect the easement but BHCC will continue to be responsible for using
reasonable efforts to maintain the ditch located on its property. The court further
concluded that Fox was not entitled to damages. It awarded BHCC reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs. Fox appeals. We affirm.
ISSUES
¶2 A restatement of the issues on appeal is:
¶3 Did the District Court err when it determined that BHCC did not unreasonably
interfere with Fox’s secondary ditch easement by planting and maintaining trees and
shrubs along the ditch?
¶4 Did the District Court err by imposing a duty on BHCC to clean and maintain the
ditch on its property?
¶5 Did the District Court err by awarding costs and fees to BHCC?
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FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
¶6 This case arises over rights and obligations associated with an irrigation ditch in
Yellowstone County known as Hogan’s Slough/Canyon Creek. Easement rights to
Hogan’s Slough were established in 1905. Since 1927, the Fox family, including Herman
Fox currently, has held the easement and has diverted water from the Yellowstone River
through Hogan’s Slough to the family’s farmland.
¶7 In the early 1970s, two hotel complexes were constructed adjacent to Hogan’s
Slough—the Billings Hotel (formerly Ramada Inn) is located south of the slough and a
Radisson Inn (formerly Holiday Inn) is located to the north. In 1999, BHCC acquired the
existing hotel located on the south side of the slough with its accompanying approximate
twelve acres of land. At the time of BHCC’s acquisition, two footbridges, multiple
mature and immature cottonwood and spruce trees, numerous utility boxes and power
poles, and a picnic table were located within ten feet of the center line of the ditch. Over
time, the existing fifty-foot cottonwood trees required pruning. The utility company
undertook the task in 2011. However, after pruning the trees were no longer stable and
had to be removed by the utility company. In 2012, BHCC replaced the downed trees
with multiple small spruce trees and expanded the landscaped area with additional trees
and shrubs.
¶8 In 2012, Fox contacted BHCC asserting that BHCC was encroaching upon his
easement. He claimed he could no longer access the ditch with his ditch maintenance
equipment because the trees and shrubs blocked access. He demanded removal of all
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trees, footbridges, and other improvements within fifteen feet of the center line of the
ditch.
¶9 In December 2015, after the parties could not reach agreement, Fox filed his
complaint against BHCC in the Thirteenth Judicial District Court, Yellowstone County.
He asserted BHCC, through tree and shrub planting, was interfering in his right to
distribute irrigation water and maintain the irrigation ditch. He further claimed the
foliage sheds limbs, leaves, cones, and other detritus into the ditch disrupting the flow of
water as well as the operation of his irrigation piping and equipment. Lastly, he
complained that BHCC placed decorative items and seating in the easement area thereby
encouraging hotel patrons to use the easement leading to further debris.
¶10 In July 2016, BHCC made an offer of settlement which, among other things,
acknowledged Fox’s ownership of the easement and his right to access the property for
inspection, repair, and maintenance purposes. BHCC proposed Fox provide it with
forty-eight hours’ notice of his intent to perform maintenance. The offer also required
that Fox not damage or destroy the existing foliage, parking lots, footbridges, and the
utility and landscaping elements as he had threatened to do earlier in the litigation. The
Hotel pledged to use reasonable efforts to keep the ditch free from trash, debris, and
foliage detritus, and to control the weeds on its side of the slough. The offer assured Fox
that nothing therein superseded his rights or those of his heirs, successors, or assigns.
BHCC offered to pay Fox $1,008.75 to reimburse him for his court filing fee and his
share of the mediator’s fees. Fox did not respond to the offer.
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¶11 On August 22, 2016, the District Court conducted a non-jury trial at which Fox
testified as did three witnesses with long-term relationships with the property and BHCC.
One of the BHCC witnesses is the owner of the Billings Hotel. He testified that since
1999 BHCC has performed regular maintenance of its side of the ditch, including, but not
limited to, necessary tree removal and replacement, debris cleanup, and mowing and
weeding the ditch bank. This was done to ensure the operation of the irrigation ditch as
well as to render the easement safe and aesthetically pleasing to its patrons.
¶12 Another BHCC witness, the current director of sales for BHCC, testified that she
has been associated with the Hotel in some capacity since shortly after its construction,
with a few hiatuses, one of which was when she was the general manager for the adjacent
Holiday Inn. She was very familiar with Hogan’s Slough and the maintenance work both
hotels have performed on the ditch. She testified that the Holiday Inn hired students or
used its maintenance personnel to mow and weed its side of the ditch.
¶13 The last BHCC witness is the current general manager of the Billings Hotel who
has worked for the Hotel since 2008 and oversees all departments including the
maintenance staff. Additionally, he resided at the Hotel for a period of five years. He
testified that he regularly walked the property in the evenings while living in the Hotel
and noted the maintenance accomplishments or needs on the property. He further
testified to the regular actions taken by the maintenance staff to keep the slough running
smoothly and the surrounding property aesthetically pleasing. All three BHCC witnesses
testified that neither they nor their staffs ever saw Fox or anyone acting on behalf of Fox
clean or maintain the slough.
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¶14 The District Court reviewed the multiple land transfers of the property through the
decades as well as the various title policies and determined, in its October 2016 Findings
of Fact and Conclusions of Law and its January 2017 Judgment, that “Fox has an existing
and historical ditch right and water right across the BHCC Property which benefit the
farmland Fox owns and farms.” The court further concluded that Fox has a secondary
easement that, under § 70-17-122, MCA, BHCC may not encroach upon or impair; nor
may BHCC “unreasonably interfere” with Fox’s easement rights. Engel v. Gampp, 2000
MT 17, 298 Mont. 116, 993 P.2d 701. The District Court, after visiting the site to view
the slough and the adjacent property, observed that the current spruce trees and shrubbery
are causing access problems for Fox and will continue to do so in the future.
¶15 However, the court also recognized the “benefit of excellent maintenance of the
ditch” by BHCC. It recited the numerous and regular actions BHCC takes to maintain
the ditch and specifically noted that in 2016 BHCC undertook—at its own expense—to
remove an old and unnecessary culvert and to dredge a portion of the ditch that had
become unsightly. Based upon BHCC’s consistent maintenance activities, the court
accepted the Hotel’s “judicial admission and tender” that it, its successors, and assigns
“shall use reasonable efforts” to keep trash and debris from being discarded into the
portion of Fox’s irrigation ditch that traverses BHCC property. The court imposed this
admission by BHCC as a duty “to continue to clean and maintain the ditch located on
BHCC property.” The District Court expressly held that failure to comply with this duty
would constitute unreasonable interference with Fox’s rights.
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¶16 The District Court ruled that Fox failed to prove that BHCC unreasonably
interfered with is secondary easement; consequently, Fox was not entitled to damages.
The court noted that BHCC had made an offer of settlement to which Fox did not
respond. Relying on § 25-7-105, MCA, the court held that the offer of settlement to Fox
was more favorable than the court’s ruling; therefore, BHCC was entitled to recover
attorney’s fees and reasonable costs.
¶17 Fox appeals the District Court’s rulings.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶18 We review a district court’s findings of fact to determine if they are clearly
erroneous. A finding is clearly erroneous if it is not supported by substantial credible
evidence, if the district court misapprehended the effect of the evidence, or if we have a
definite and firm conviction that the district court made a mistake. Public Lands Access
Ass’n v. Bd. of Cty. Comm’rs, 2014 MT 10, ¶ 14, 373 Mont. 277, 321 P.3d 38.
¶19 We review a district court’s conclusions of law for correctness. Kurtzenacker v.
Davis Surveying, Inc., 2012 MT 105, ¶ 14, 365 Mont. 71, 278 P.3d 1002.
¶20 We review an award of attorney’s fees to determine whether legal authority exists
to award fees. Friedel, LLC v. Lindeen, 2017 MT 65, ¶ 5, 387 Mont. 102, 392 P.3d 141.
If such authority exists, we review the award of attorney’s fees for abuse of discretion. A
district court abuses its discretion when it acts arbitrarily without employment of
conscientious judgment or exceeds the bounds of reason resulting in substantial injustice.
Boyne USA, Inc. v. Spanish Peaks Dev., LLC, 2013 MT 1, ¶ 30, 368 Mont. 143, 292 P.3d
432.
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DISCUSSION
¶21 Did the District Court err when it determined that BHCC did not unreasonably
interfere with Fox’s secondary ditch easement by planting and maintaining trees
and shrubs along the ditch?
¶22 Fox argues on appeal that the District Court erred in allowing BHCC’s foliage to
remain within the easement area when such foliage prevents Fox from accessing his
irrigation ditch for maintenance purposes. He claims the District Court incorrectly
determined that BHCC did not unreasonably interfere with his ditch rights, which include
access for maintenance.
¶23 BHCC argues that the District Court correctly reached this conclusion. The Hotel
asserts that Fox’s claim for a fifteen-foot-wide easement from the center of the ditch to
allow him to conveniently access the ditch with a spray boom was correctly rejected as
Fox had been unable to do so for more than twenty-five years, as he was blocked by
pre-1999 trees, utilities, and footbridges.
¶24 The District Court heard considerable evidence pertaining to the maintenance
activities of both parties as well as the adjacent Holiday Inn. It also heard conflicting
evidence as to the last time Fox accessed the property for maintenance purposes. Fox
asserted that he cleans and sprays the ditch for weeds annually in April or May but for
several years has been doing so from the Holiday Inn side of the slough. He testified that
he had not accessed the property from the Billings Hotel side with his heavy maintenance
equipment since 2011. The Hotel personnel claimed that it had an almost-constant
presence on the property and had not seen anyone spray or clean the ditch, other than its
staff, since 1999 when the Hotel acquired the property. The District Court found that Fox
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last used his farm equipment to maintain the ditch from the BHCC property in April
2011.
¶25 As noted above, the District Court concluded unequivocally that Fox has existing
and historical ditch and water rights across the Hotel’s Property. The court continued
that under applicable law, “BHCC, as the servient tenement . . . cannot unreasonably
interfere with Fox’s rights by planting excess foliage. The current spruce trees and
shrubbery do cause access problems and will continue to do so in the future.”
¶26 While acknowledging that the existence of the trees and shrubs cause access
problems to Fox, the District Court nonetheless concluded that the continued existence of
the foliage did not constitute an “unreasonable interference” with Fox’s secondary
easement. The court based its conclusion upon BHCC’s “excellent maintenance” of the
ditch, including the Hotel’s undertaking of significant maintenance activities such as
culvert removal and ditch dredging at its own expense. The court further found that
BHCC utilized appropriately-sized equipment to clean and maintain the ditch, and that, as
a result of BHCC maintenance efforts, the ditch flowed without obstruction in 2016 as it
has done since the Hotel’s property acquisition in 1999.
¶27 It is well established that the owner of the servient tenement—in this case,
BHCC—may make use of the land in any lawful manner that he or she chooses, provided
that such use is not inconsistent with and does not interfere with the use and right
reserved to the dominant tenement or estate—in this case, Fox. Cravath v. Ellingson,
2005 MT 289, ¶ 15, 329 Mont. 280, 124 P.3d 141. Moreover, Fox’s rights in BHCC’s
land must be balanced with BHCC’s own rights as the owner of the property; we have
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held that “secondary easement rights must be exercised ‘in such a reasonable manner as
not to needlessly increase the burden upon’ or do ‘unnecessary injury to’ the servient
estate.” Musselshell Ranch Co. v. Seidel-Joukova, 2011 MT 217, ¶ 18, 362 Mont. 1, 261
P.3d 570. In Musselshell, we observed that whether interference is reasonable depends
on the factual circumstances of each particular case and is a question of fact.
Musselshell, ¶ 19. We further stated that what may be considered reasonable is
determined in light of the situation of the property and the surrounding circumstances.
Musselshell, ¶ 20.
¶28 In the case before us, BHCC owns the property upon which the Billings Hotel
resides. As a commercial establishment, BHCC must maintain the property in a manner
consistent with its business objective. In its attempt to make the property, with an
irrigation ditch running through it, visually appealing and safe for its patrons, it planted
shrubs and trees. This foliage was in addition to (or replacements of) other foliage,
bridges, and utility fixtures installed in the easement area by BHCC’s predecessors and
utility companies. Whether BHCC’s planting and beautification activities on its property
have disrupted Fox’s large machine access for maintenance purposes is disputed. Fox
testified that his equipment is blocked by the foliage but he also testified that he has not
attempted to access the ditch with his equipment from the Hotel side of the property since
2011. Hotel witnesses testified they have not seen Fox access the ditch since BHCC
purchased the property in 1999. Nonetheless, Fox believes his maintenance equipment
will not fit between the trees while it is undisputed the ditch remains accessible through
use of smaller maintenance equipment. Moreover, the ditch has been sufficiently, if not
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“excellently,” maintained since 1999 when the Hotel acquired the property. Fox’s sole
purpose for accessing BHCC’s property is to inspect, repair and/or maintain his irrigation
ditch. Nothing BHCC (or its predecessors) has done in the easement area restricts or
inhibits Fox’s right to access for inspection purposes. And while Fox may no longer
utilize his large farm equipment to maintain the ditch, adequate, or better-than-adequate,
maintenance is regularly performed.
¶29 For these reasons, we conclude the District Court did not err in determining that
under the facts of this case BHCC did not unreasonably interfere with Fox’s established
water and easement rights.
¶30 Did the District Court err by imposing a duty on BHCC to clean and maintain the
ditch on its property?
¶31 Fox maintains on appeal that the District Court abused its discretion when it
erroneously imposed the duty to maintain the ditch onto BHCC rather than ordering the
trees and shrubs be removed.
¶32 The Hotel counters that the District Court did not err in accepting BHCC’s offer
on the record to continue maintaining the ditch as it had since it purchased the property.
It argued that the court’s ruling does not deprive Fox of any access to the ditch for
inspection purposes but ameliorates the continuing and growing friction between the
parties and assures Fox’s ditch is consistently maintained.
¶33 As discussed above, BHCC, its predecessors, and the utility company’s use of the
easement area over the last several years may have resulted in the inability of Fox to use
his large farming equipment to access the ditch and maintain his easement. The ditch
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and easement are still accessible using smaller maintenance equipment. BHCC
established that it has willingly taken on the obligation to maintain Fox’s irrigation ditch
since 1999 and agrees to continue doing so. This arrangement provides Fox with on-site
maintenance and upkeep without Fox needing to acquire newer and smaller equipment.
Additionally, Fox is allowed access for inspection purposes. The District Court’s
adoption of this arrangement does not deprive Fox of any access to or control over the
slough. It merely imposes a legal duty on BHCC to maintain the property in a manner
that provides Fox with the benefit of his easement rights and allows them to maintain an
aesthetically pleasing and safe environment for their patrons. Should BHCC fail in its
duty to reasonably maintain Hogan’s Slough on behalf of Fox, it can be held liable for
damages and costs of repairs.
¶34 The District Court fashioned a unique, workable, and equitable solution for both
parties under these facts and circumstances. We conclude the court’s factual findings are
not erroneous, its conclusions of law are correct, and it did not abuse its discretion in
accepting BHCC’s judicial admission and tender of its duty to clean and maintain Fox’s
irrigation ditch.
¶35 Did the District Court err by awarding costs and fees to BHCC?
¶36 Relying on § 25-7-105, MCA, the District Court awarded reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs amounting to $13,345.53 to BHCC. Fox objects.
¶37 Section 25-7-105, MCA, provides, in relevant part:
(1) At any time more than 60 days after service of the complaint and more
than 30 days before the trial begins, any party may serve upon the adverse
party a written offer to settle a claim for the money or property or to the
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effect specified in the offer. If within 10 days after the service of the offer,
the adverse party serves written notice that the offer is accepted, either
party may then file the offer and notice of acceptance together with proof of
service of the offer and notice of acceptance with the clerk of court and the
court shall enter judgment. An offer not accepted is considered withdrawn
and evidence of the offer is not admissible except in a proceeding to
determine costs. If the final judgment is less favorable to the offeree than
the offer, the offeree shall pay the costs incurred by the offeror after the
offer was made. The fact that an offer is made but not accepted does not
preclude a subsequent offer.
. . .
(3) For the purposes of this section, costs include reasonable attorney
fees.
¶38 The District Court recognized that BHCC made, and Fox did not respond to, an
offer of settlement under § 25-7-105, MCA. The court concluded that because the court’s
ruling was less favorable to Fox than was BHCC’s offer, under § 25-7-105(1), MCA, Fox
is responsible for costs and reasonable attorney’s fees accrued from the time BHCC made
the offer of settlement until the conclusion of the matter. BHCC filed an affidavit of
costs and fees and the parties stipulated to the amount of $13,345.53. The District
Court’s interpretation and application of the statute is not incorrect.
¶39 Lastly, Fox relies upon § 70-17-112, MCA, which prohibits interference with a
canal or ditch easement. Section 70-17-112(5), MCA, awards costs and reasonable
attorney’s fees to the prevailing party in a legal action brought under this statute. The
District Court did not rely on this statute in reaching its conclusion. Moreover, there are
no cases in Montana that address the application of both statutes to the facts in a single
case. In this case, however, as Fox was not the prevailing party, the outcome reached by
the District Court would have been the same under either statute.
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CONCLUSION
¶40 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the District Court’s conclusion that the
BHCC did not unreasonably interfere with Fox’s established water and easement rights
and with its determination that BHCC has a duty to continue to maintain the irrigation
ditch on its property. We also affirm the court’s award of reasonable attorney’s fees and
costs to BHCC.
/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT
We Concur:
/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ LAURIE McKINNON
/S/ DIRK M. SANDEFUR
/S/ JIM RICE
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