Town of China v. Albert Althenn , 82 A.3d 835 ( 2013 )

MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT Reporter of Decisions
Decision: 2013 ME 107
Docket: Ken-12-544
Argued: October 8, 2013
Decided: December 10, 2013
Panel: SAUFLEY, C.J., and ALEXANDER, LEVY, SILVER, MEAD, GORMAN, and JABAR,
JJ.
TOWN OF CHINA
v.
ALBERT W. ALTHENN
SILVER, J.
[¶1] Albert W. Althenn appeals from a judgment of the District Court
(Augusta, Dobson, J.) finding that he maintained an automobile graveyard on his
property in violation of 30-A M.R.S. § 3753 (2012); ordering him to either remove
three unregistered, uninspected vehicles from his property or to store them in a
building; and imposing a civil penalty and attorney fees. The Town of China
cross-appeals from the District Court’s denial of its second request for attorney
fees in connection with responding to Althenn’s post-judgment motion for findings
of fact and conclusions of law. We affirm the judgment and the denial of the
Town’s request for attorney fees.
2
I. BACKGROUND
[¶2] The trial court found the following facts. The Town identified four1
unregistered, uninspected vehicles on Althenn’s property: a 1978 GMC Grumman
box van, a 1962 GMC C60 truck, a 1984 3/4-ton truck, and the body of a 1978
Ford van. Althenn did not have a permit to operate an automobile graveyard. The
Secretary of State had issued Althenn a certificate identifying the box van as an
antique auto, and Althenn continued to use it for its original purpose of
transporting and storing small sports cars. Althenn started the 1962 GMC truck
once or twice a year, but did not move it. The body had been removed from the
3/4-ton truck. A family of raccoons lived in the 1978 Ford van.
[¶3] Althenn testified that he planned to use his vehicles when he retired.
At an earlier point in his life, he had taken cars to shows and exhibitions.
Specifically, he testified that he had taken his 1962 GMC truck to “World of
Wheels and Autorama at the Hynes Auditorium in Boston” sometime in the early
1980s. In addition, he argued that because he occasionally used his 3/4-ton truck
to plow snow and haul firewood on his property, it was a logging tractor exempt
1
The Town’s original Land Use Citation and Complaint alleged that Althenn had “at least five”
unregistered or uninspected motor vehicles stored outside on his property. By the time of trial, however,
only four vehicles remained at issue; one had apparently been removed from Althenn’s property.
3
from registration,2 and could not be counted as violating the automobile graveyard
statute.
[¶4] The trial court concluded that only the box van qualified as an “antique
auto,” and that each of the other vehicles failed to meet the statutory definition
because they were not being actively used in exhibitions or other events of public
interest.3 It also rejected Althenn’s characterization of his 3/4-ton truck as a
logging tractor. Consequently, it ordered Althenn to pay a civil penalty of $1500,
2
Logging tractors are exempt from the general requirement that vehicles must be registered. The
exemption applies to:
a converted motor vehicle used as a tractor when used solely for logging purposes when
operated to or from:
A. The premises where the tractor is kept;
B. A woodlot and between woodlots used for logging purposes by the owner; or
C. A filling station or garage for fuel or repairs.
29-A M.R.S. § 510(3) (2012).
3
Pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. § 101(3) (2012), an “antique auto” is an automobile or truck manufactured
in or after model year 1916 that is:
A. More than 25 years old;
B. Equipped with an engine manufactured either at the same time as the vehicle or to the
specifications of the original engine;
C. Substantially maintained in original or restored condition primarily for use in exhibitions,
club activities, parades or other functions of public interest;
D. Not used as its owner’s primary mode of transportation of passengers or goods;
E. Not a reconstructed vehicle; and
F. Not an altered vehicle.
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as well as attorney fees and costs amounting to $8509.46. It also ordered Althenn
to remove all four vehicles from his property, or to store them inside a building,
within thirty days after the date of the judgment.
[¶5] Althenn filed a motion for additional findings of fact, raising several
issues. The Town opposed the motion and argued that it was untimely. It also
requested an additional award of $555 to compensate for fees incurred in response
to the motion. The trial court determined that Althenn’s motion was timely, but
declined to address most of the issues Althenn raised. However, it did note that the
original order incorrectly required Althenn to remove all four vehicles from his
property, even though the court had explicitly found that the box van was an
antique auto and therefore was not in violation. It amended the judgment
accordingly to reflect that Althenn was only required to remove or store three
vehicles. The court denied the Town’s request for additional attorney fees.
Althenn appealed, and the Town cross-appealed on the issue of attorney fees.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Althenn’s Vehicles
1. “Antique Autos”
[¶6] Althenn argues that the trial court impermissibly created a standard for
meeting the definition of “antique auto” that is higher than that required by statute.
5
We disagree. Statutes are ambiguous only if reasonably susceptible to different
interpretations; otherwise, they are to be interpreted according to their plain
meaning. Peters v. O’Leary, 2011 ME 106, ¶ 13, 30 A.3d 825. We have
previously held that the automobile graveyard and junkyard statute does not force
people of general intelligence to guess at its meaning. See Town of Mount Desert
v. Smith, 2000 ME 88, ¶ 6, 751 A.2d 445 (construing 30-A M.R.S. § 3751 (1996)
et seq.); Town of Pownal v. Emerson, 639 A.2d 619, 621 (Me. 1994) (construing
30-A M.R.S. § 3752 (Pamph. 1993) and holding that the statute is not
unconstitutionally vague).
[¶7] The fact that Althenn disagrees with the trial court’s application of the
statute to the facts of this particular case does not mean that the court
misapprehended the meaning of the statute. The trial court’s determination that
Althenn’s vehicles were not antique autos is a factual finding. As such, we review
it only for clear error, and will reverse only if there is no competent evidence in the
record to support it. Morin Bldg. Prods. Co., Inc. v. Atl. Design and Constr. Co.,
Inc., 615 A.2d 239, 241 (Me. 1992).
[¶8] Ample evidence in the record supports the trial court’s findings.
Althenn’s own testimony established that his use of the vehicles was infrequent at
best. He did testify that he had a subjective intent to use the vehicles in exhibitions
at some point in the future; however, the trial court concluded that his indefinite
6
plans did not support a finding that the vehicles were kept primarily for use in
exhibition-type activities. See Town of Pownal, 639 A.2d at 621.
[¶9] Contrary to Althenn’s assertion, the trial court did not find him to be in
violation based on its conclusion that he did not qualify as a “hobbyist.” Although
the court observed that “a hobbyist must be more actively and currently engaged in
or have plans to engage in such activity,” in its analysis, it carefully applied the
relevant statutory definition of antique auto. The trial court did not arbitrarily
impose upon Althenn an artificial legal standard. Rather, it considered the
evidence and explained the reasoning behind its ultimate decision. It did not
misconstrue the applicable law, and its factual findings were not clearly erroneous.
2. “Logging Tractor”
[¶10] Althenn’s contention that the court impermissibly created a legal test
to determine whether his activities met the definition of “logging” is likewise
unpersuasive. The trial court concluded that Althenn used his 3/4-ton truck not
only to haul firewood⎯which may or may not constitute “logging”⎯but also to
plow snow. Althenn further testified that he used the truck for parts. On this
record, the trial court’s finding that the truck was not a tractor used solely for
logging purposes is not clearly erroneous.
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3. “Altered Vehicle”
[¶11] Althenn further argues that the trial court erred by concluding that the
1962 GMC truck was an “altered vehicle” pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. § 101(2)
(2012),4 which precludes it from being considered an antique auto pursuant to
29-A M.R.S. § 101(3)(F). At trial, the court admitted evidence of Althenn’s
answer to an interrogatory by the Town, identifying the truck as an altered vehicle
pursuant to the statutory definition. 5 Althenn now argues that the trial court
committed reversible error by accepting that interrogatory answer in evidence,6
contending that it constituted a legal opinion that Althenn was not qualified to give
pursuant to M.R. Evid. 702. Further, he asserts that the answer amounted to
4
An “altered vehicle” is defined as:
a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less that is
modified so that the distance from the ground to the lowermost point on any part of the
frame or body is different from the manufacturer’s specifications, unless that difference is
caused by:
A. The use of tires that are no more than 2 sizes larger than the manufacturer’s
recommended sizes;
B. The installation of a heavy duty suspension, including shock absorbers and
overload springs; or
C. Normal wear of the suspension system that does not affect control of the vehicle.
29-A M.R.S. § 101(2) (2012).
5
Answers to interrogatories may be used at trial to the extent permitted by the rules of evidence.
M.R. Civ. P. 33(b).
6
Althenn neither objected to the interrogatory, see M.R. Civ. P. 33(a), nor objected to its introduction
in evidence at trial.
8
opinion testimony by a lay witness that should have been excluded pursuant to
M.R. Evid. 701, because it was neither rationally based on the witness’s perception
nor helpful to a clear understanding of the witness’s testimony or the determination
of a fact in issue.
[¶12] Because Althenn failed to object to the challenged testimony at trial,
we review for obvious error affecting substantial rights. State v. Marden, 673
A.2d 1304, 1311 (Me. 1996). Interrogatories are not objectionable simply because
they require the application of law to facts. M.R. Civ. P. 33(b). In the same vein,
opinion testimony that is otherwise admissible is not objectionable merely because
it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of fact. M.R. Evid. 704.
However, a lay witness may not give opinion testimony that is not within the
common knowledge of an ordinary person. Mitchell v. Kieliszek, 2006 ME 70,
¶ 14, 900 A.2d 719.
[¶13] Althenn’s answer indicating that the truck was an altered vehicle was
admissible, despite it being a conclusory opinion. Because Althenn is the owner of
the truck, and it is stored on his property, it is highly unlikely that his answer
reflected anything other than his own perception of the truck’s characteristics.
This opinion was helpful to the trial court in determining a fact in issue⎯whether
the truck was an altered vehicle, and therefore precluded from being considered an
antique auto. Additionally, Althenn explained at trial that he felt that it was a
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“close call” whether the truck met the statutory definition of an altered vehicle.
Armed with this information, the trial court was free to evaluate the reliability of
Althenn’s characterization of his truck and to assign his conclusion as much weight
as it deemed appropriate. See Lewis v. Knowlton, 1997 ME 12, ¶ 8, 688 A.2d 912
(“[Fact-finders] are the judges of credibility which is not restricted to veracity but
relates also to such possible factors as powers and opportunity for observation,
recollection and accuracy of observation, etc.”). It committed no error by
accepting Althenn’s interrogatory answers in evidence and finding that the truck
was an altered vehicle.
B. Attorney Fees
[¶14] In an action to enforce land use regulations, “[i]f the municipality is
the prevailing party, the municipality must be awarded reasonable attorney fees,
expert witness fees[,] and costs, unless the court finds that special circumstances
make the award of these fees and costs unjust.” 30-A M.R.S. § 4452(3)(D) (2012).
We review an award of attorney fees pursuant to this statute for abuse of
discretion. City of Ellsworth v. Doody, 629 A.2d 1221, 1224 (Me. 1993).
[¶15] For instance, we have upheld an award of only half of a town’s
attorney fees in a zoning enforcement action. Town of Falmouth v. Long, 578 A.2d
1168, 1172 (Me. 1990). In that case, even though the municipality had prevailed,
we reasoned that the trial court had appropriately considered the relevant facts and
10
circumstances, including the economic impact a full award of attorney fees would
have had on the defendant’s dental practice, in exercising its discretion. Id.
Similarly, when a trial court declined to make an award of attorney fees to a
municipality that had prevailed on only one of its five claims, we affirmed, finding
no abuse of discretion. City of Ellsworth, 629 A.2d at 1224.
[¶16] The Town argues that, because the trial court declined to address most
of the issues Althenn raised in his post-judgment motion, Althenn must be ordered
to pay additional attorney fees absent an explicit finding of special circumstances
that would make such an award unjust. The trial court considered that Althenn
correctly pointed out an inconsistency in the court’s judgment, as well as that the
Town had already been awarded substantial attorney fees. The trial court did not
abuse its discretion in declining to award additional attorney fees.
The entry is:
Judgment affirmed.
On the briefs and at oral argument :
Aaron B. Rowden, Esq., Weeks & Hutchins, LLC, Waterville, for appellant
Albert W. Althenn
Alton C. Stevens, Esq., Marden, Dubord, Bernier & Stevens, P.A., LLC,
Waterville, for appellee Town of China
Augusta District Court docket number CV-2012-31
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