James F. Hilgers and Carolyn M. Hilgers v. Jefferson County (Appeal from Jefferson Circuit Court: CV-11-2093)

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REL: 06/21/2013 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2012-2013 2120332 James F. H i l g e r s and C a r o l y n M. H i l g e r s v. J e f f e r s o n County 2120333 Jim H i l g e r s a/k/a James F. H i l g e r s v. J e f f e r s o n County 2120334 H i l g e r s Real E s t a t e Investments, LLC v. Jefferson County 2120335 H i l g e r s Real E s t a t e Investments, LLC v. Jefferson County 2120336 Jim H i l g e r s a/k/a James F. H i l g e r s v. Jefferson County Appeals from J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t Court (CV-11-2093, CV-11-2094, CV-11-2095, CV-11-2096, and CV-112097) THOMAS, J u d g e . 2 On O c t o b e r 28, 2011, J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y f i l e d f i v e actions seeking to enforce charges against five James F. H i l g e r s James F. ("the liens separate or H i l g e r s defendants"). At sewer-service p a r c e l s o f p r o p e r t y owned b y a n d C a r o l y n M. Hilgers, f o r unpaid separate Hilgers, Real J i m H i l g e r s a/k/a Estate Investments, the request of LLC the p a r t i e s , the a c t i o n s were c o n s o l i d a t e d f o r p u r p o s e s o f d i s c o v e r y a n d t r i a l . On October production things, 22, 2012, t h e d e f e n d a n t s o f documents, documents i n which relating filed they a request f o r sought, t o t h e components among other of the sewer- s e r v i c e charges; t h a t i s , they d e s i r e d i n f o r m a t i o n e x p l a i n i n g what p o r t i o n o r p e r c e n t a g e attributable to the f o l l o w i n g administration, On of the s e w e r - s e r v i c e charges October items: capital o p e r a t i o n , maintenance, 29, 2012, J e f f e r s o n improvements, and debt County service. objected to the r e q u e s t e d d i s c o v e r y , a r g u i n g t h a t t h e r e q u e s t s were and that challenge they indicated the county s e r v i c e charges. that the commission's A l s o on O c t o b e r defendants authority overbroad wished to t o s e t sewer- 29, 2012, J e f f e r s o n moved f o r a summary j u d g m e n t i n e a c h were c a s e ; the motions County were s u p p o r t e d by a f f i d a v i t s and e x h i b i t s showing t h e u n p a i d sewer- 3 service charges on defendants filed Jefferson County defendants filed for a later each a parcel. motion responded November compel on 6, 2012, discovery, November 13, on November 13, December 17, 2012, summary j u d g m e n t i n e a c h amount liability." of the which 2012. The motions The parties positions. court entered a partial a c t i o n i n favor of J e f f e r s o n After unpaid p a r c e l , the t r i a l the t r i a l a hearing sewer-service on damages, charges the 2012. f i l e d memorandums o f l a w i n s u p p o r t o f t h e i r to to an o p p o s i t i o n t o J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y ' s summary j u d g m e n t On "as to On due County i . e . , the for each c o u r t e n t e r e d a judgment i n each a c t i o n f o r t h e s e w e r - s e r v i c e c h a r g e s due and o w i n g on December 21, 2012. 1 The d e f e n d a n t s a p p e a l e d e a c h o f t h e summary j u d g m e n t s i n f a v o r of Jefferson County c o n s o l i d a t e d the On appeal, on January 23, 2013. This court appeals. the defendants' main argument is that J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y d i d n o t have t h e a u t h o r i t y t o i m p o s e l i e n s the p a r c e l s f o r unpaid s e w e r - s e r v i c e charges. further argue t h a t t h e y were e n t i t l e d The on defendants to the d i s c o v e r y they I n l i g h t o f t h e a r g u m e n t s made on a p p e a l , t h e amount o f the u n p a i d s e w e r - s e r v i c e charges a s s e s s e d f o r each p a r c e l i s n o t r e l e v a n t t o t h e outcome o f t h e s e a p p e a l s . 1 4 sought i n t h e i r motion entry t o c o m p e l and o f t h e summary j u d g m e n t s was p r e m a t u r e b e c a u s e still pending. We We that i n favor the d i s c o v e r y the t r i a l court's of J e f f e r s o n County the defendants sought affirm. r e v i e w a summary j u d g m e n t de n o v o ; we s t a n d a r d as was applied i n the t r i a l summary j u d g m e n t i s t o be material was f a c t e x i s t s and court. g r a n t e d when no the moving p a r t y j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r o f l a w . R u l e 5 6 ( c ) ( 3 ) , a p p l y t h e same A motion genuine for a issue is entitled A l a . R. of to a C i v . P. A p a r t y m o v i n g f o r a summary j u d g m e n t must make a p r i m a f a c i e showing fact "that and law." 1036, burden t h e r e i s no that [ i t ] i s e n t i t l e d Rule 56(c)(3); 1038 ( A l a . 1992). then shifts to p r i m a f a c i e s h o w i n g by 2d at genuine 1038 (footnote issue as t o any material t o a j u d g m e n t as a m a t t e r see Lee v. C i t y o f Gadsden , 592 So. I f t h e movant meets t h i s b u r d e n , the nonmovant to rebut 'substantial evidence.'" omitted). the of 2d "the movant's L e e , 592 So. " [ S ] u b s t a n t i a l evidence i s e v i d e n c e o f s u c h w e i g h t and q u a l i t y t h a t f a i r - m i n d e d persons i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f i m p a r t i a l j u d g m e n t can r e a s o n a b l y i n f e r t h e existence o f t h e f a c t s o u g h t t o be p r o v e d . " 5 West v. Founders Life Assurance Co. o f F l o r i d a , 547 So. 2d 870, 871 ( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) ; s e e A l a . Code 1975, § 1 2 - 2 1 - 1 2 ( d ) . The i s s u e c e n t r a l to the r e s o l u t i o n of these appeals i s w h e t h e r J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y h a s t h e a u t h o r i t y t o i m p o s e a l i e n on the property sewerage from system which under sewage i s disposed A l a . Const. 1901, L o c a l J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y , § 4 ( O f f . Recomp.) 73) Amendments, ( f o r m e r l y Amendment No. ("the Amendment"), A l a . Code 1975, § 11-81-166, a p o r t i o n of the K e l l y A c t , 619, we through i t s A l a .Acts must c o d i f i e d a t § 11-81-160 e t s e q . ; and A c t No. 1949 ("Act No. 6 1 9 " ) . construe these p r o v i s i o n s , To d e c i d e t h e s e mindful that appeals, one o f t h e most b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s o f s t a t u t o r y c o n s t r u c t i o n i s t h a t w o r d s in a statute meaning, are to be given their commonly understood s e e D e K a l b C n t y . LP Gas Co. v. S u b u r b a n Gas, I n c . , 729 So. 2d 270, 275 ( A l a . 1 9 9 8 ) , a n d t h a t we must presume t h a t "'every word, intended and sentence, or provision statute] was f o r some u s e f u l p u r p o s e , h a s some f o r c e a n d e f f e c t , t h a t some e f f e c t i s t o be g i v e n superfluous State, [in a words o r p r o v i s i o n s t o e a c h , and a l s o t h a t no were u s e d . ' " S h e f f i e l d v. 708 So. 2d 899, 909 ( A l a . C r i m . App. 1997) C.J.S. S t a t u t e s § 316 a t 551-52 6 (1953)). We (quoting turn now 82 to a d i s c u s s i o n of the t e x t of those p r o v i s i o n s that are necessary t o an u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e i s s u e . The counties Kelly A c t , which and i n c o r p o r a t e d was enacted a s a n i t a r y sewer s y s t e m . that county improve, § enlarge, may issue Further, revenue § among § 11-81-161(a). bonds to e x t e n d , o r r e p a i r a s a n i t a r y sewer 11-81-166(a)(1). permits m u n i c i p a l i t i e s to acquire, other things, end, a i n 1933, 11-81-166(b) To acquire, system. requires that bonds i s s u e d u n d e r t h e K e l l y A c t "be made p a y a b l e s o l e l y o u t of t h e revenues the borrower," from t h e o p e r a t i o n o f a system o r systems o f and § 11-81-166(e) s t a t e s that " [ n ] o bond o r coupon i s s u e d p u r s u a n t t o [ t h e K e l l y A c t ] s h a l l c o n s t i t u t e an indebtedness meaning of the borrower o f any s t a t e issuing t h e same constitutional provision w i t h i n the or statutory limitation." The Amendment was r a t i f i e d i n 1948. I t provided that J e f f e r s o n County c o u l d i n c u r bonded i n d e b t e d n e s s e x c e e d i n g t h e then t h r e e and o n e - h a l f p e r c e n t debt l i m i t i n o r d e r t o f i n a n c e 7 improvements to pertinent part, i t s sewer r e a d s as system. 2 The Amendment, in follows: " I n a d d i t i o n t o any i n d e b t e d n e s s now a u t h o r i z e d , J e f f e r s o n c o u n t y may become i n d e b t e d and may i s s u e bonds t h e r e f o r i n an amount n o t e x c e e d i n g 3 p e r c e n t of the a s s e s s e d v a l u a t i o n of the t a x a b l e p r o p e r t y i n said county i n o r d e r t o pay the expenses of c o n s t r u c t i n g , i m p r o v i n g , e x t e n d i n g and repairing s e w e r s and sewerage t r e a t m e n t and d i s p o s a l p l a n t s i n s a i d c o u n t y . S a i d bonds s h a l l be g e n e r a l o b l i g a t i o n s of J e f f e r s o n county but s h a l l a l s o be payable p r i m a r i l y f r o m and s e c u r e d by a l i e n upon t h e sewer r e n t a l s o r s e r v i c e c h a r g e s , w h i c h s h a l l be l e v i e d and c o l l e c t e d i n an amount s u f f i c i e n t t o p a y t h e principal of and interest on such bonds, r e p l a c e m e n t s , e x t e n s i o n s and i m p r o v e m e n t s t o , and t h e c o s t o f o p e r a t i o n and m a i n t e n a n c e o f , t h e s e w e r s and sewerage t r e a t m e n t and d i s p o s a l p l a n t s . Such sewer r e n t a l s o r s e r v i c e c h a r g e s s h a l l be l e v i e d upon and c o l l e c t e d f r o m t h e p e r s o n s and p r o p e r t y whose s e w e r a g e i s d i s p o s e d o f o r t r e a t e d by t h e s e w e r s o r t h e sewerage t r e a t m e n t o r d i s p o s a l p l a n t s and w h e t h e r s e r v e d by t h e p a r t o f t h e sewer s y s t e m t h e n b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d , i m p r o v e d , o r e x t e n d e d o r by some o t h e r p a r t o f s u c h s y s t e m ; and s u c h c h a r g e s o r rentals s h a l l be a personal obligation of the o c c u p a n t o f t h e p r o p e r t y t h e sewerage f r o m w h i c h i s d i s p o s e d o f by s u c h s e w e r s o r t r e a t e d i n s u c h p l a n t s and shall a l s o be a l i e n upon s u c h p r o p e r t y , e n f o r c e a b l e by a s a l e t h e r e o f . A s e x p l a i n e d i n L u n s f o r d v. J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y , 973 So. 2d 327, 328 n.1 ( A l a . 2 0 0 7 ) , § 224 o f t h e A l a b a m a C o n s t i t u t i o n i n 1948 s e t a d e b t l i m i t o f t h r e e and o n e - h a l f p e r c e n t ; Amendment No. 342 i n c r e a s e d t h e d e b t l i m i t t o f i v e p e r c e n t i n 1976. 2 8 "The g o v e r n i n g body o f J e f f e r s o n c o u n t y s h a l l have f u l l power and a u t h o r i t y t o manage, o p e r a t e , c o n t r o l and a d m i n i s t e r t h e s e w e r s and p l a n t s h e r e i n provided f o r and, to that end, may make any reasonable and nondiscriminatory rules and r e g u l a t i o n s f i x i n g r a t e s and c h a r g e s , p r o v i d i n g f o r t h e payment, c o l l e c t i o n and e n f o r c e m e n t t h e r e o f , and the p r o t e c t i o n of i t s p r o p e r t y . L i e n s f o r sewer r e n t a l s o r s e r v i c e c h a r g e s s h a l l be f o r e c l o s e d i n such manner as may be provided by law for foreclosing municipal assessments for public i m p r o v e m e n t s . T h i s amendment i s s e l f - e x e c u t i n g . "The a u t h o r i t y t o i s s u e bonds s h a l l cease December 31, 1958. The a u t h o r i t y t o l e v y and c o l l e c t sewer c h a r g e s and r e n t a l s s h a l l be l i m i t e d t o s u c h c h a r g e s as w i l l p a y t h e p r i n c i p a l o f and i n t e r e s t on t h e bonds and t h e r e a s o n a b l e e x p e n s e o f e x t e n d i n g , i m p r o v i n g , o p e r a t i n g and m a i n t a i n i n g s a i d s e w e r s and p l a n t s ; and when t h e bonds s h a l l have b e e n p a i d o f f , s e r v i c e c h a r g e s and r e n t a l s s h a l l be accordingly r e d u c e d , i t b e i n g t h e i n t e n t and p u r p o s e o f t h i s amendment t h a t t h e e x p e n s e s o f n e e d e d i m p r o v e m e n t s and e x t e n s i o n s and m a i n t e n a n c e and o p e r a t i o n o f t h e s e w e r s and s e w e r a g e t r e a t m e n t and d i s p o s a l p l a n t s and no o t h e r e x p e n d i t u r e s s h a l l be p a i d f r o m s u c h s e r v i c e c h a r g e s and r e n t a l s . " Act No. 619, that i t i s intended which was enacted i n 1949, states in § 1 to " s u p p l e m e n t [ t h e Amendment], and t o e n a b l e J e f f e r s o n County t o c o n s t r u c t , i m p r o v e , e x t e n d and r e p a i r s e w e r s and s e w e r a g e t r e a t m e n t and d i s p o s a l p l a n t s i n s a i d C o u n t y and t o e x e r c i s e t h e power and a u t h o r i t y g i v e n by [ t h e Amendment] t o l e v y sewer r e n t a l s o r sewer s e r v i c e c h a r g e s upon and c o l l e c t f r o m t h e p e r s o n s and p r o p e r t y whose s e w e r a g e i s d i s p o s e d o f o r t r e a t e d by s u c h s e w e r s o r s e w e r a g e t r e a t m e n t o r d i s p o s a l p l a n t s and t o make s u c h r e n t a l s o r c h a r g e s a personal o b l i g a t i o n of the occupant of the 9 p r o p e r t y t h e sewerage from which i s d i s p o s e d o f by such sewers o r t r e a t e d i n such p l a n t s and a l s o a l i e n upon s u c h p r o p e r t y a n d t o p r o v i d e e f f e c t i v e means f o r t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f s u c h r e n t a l s o r c h a r g e s and t o i n s u r e t h a t r e v e n u e d e r i v e d f r o m s u c h r e n t a l s and charges i s applied as p r o v i d e d i n [ t h e Amendment]. T h i s A c t s h a l l be l i b e r a l l y c o n s t r u e d i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h such purpose." S e c t i o n 4 o f A c t No. 619 g r a n t s t h e c o u n t y c o m m i s s i o n t h e power t o l e v y sewer r e n t a l s o r s e r v i c e c h a r g e s . That section f u r t h e r p r o v i d e s t h a t " [ s ] u c h sewer r e n t a l s o r s e r v i c e c h a r g e s may be c o l l e c t e d f r o m , a n d be a l i e n upon, any p r o p e r t y s e r v e d by t h e s e w e r a g e s y s t e m p r i o r t o as w e l l as a f t e r t h e t i m e when improvements under financed by t h e i s s u a n c e o f bonds [ t h e Amendment] s h a l l be b e g u n . " authorized S e c t i o n 5 o f A c t No. 619, among o t h e r t h i n g s , a t t e m p t e d t o l i m i t t h e s e w e r - s e r v i c e charges, where t h e s e r v i c e was b a s e d on t h e c o n s u m p t i o n w a t e r a l o n e , t o an amount n o t t o e x c e e d 50% o f t h e w a t e r of t h e p r o p e r t y i n v o l v e d . bill Our supreme c o u r t s t r u c k down § 5 as u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i n S h e l l v . J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y , 1331, of 454 So. 2d 1337 ( A l a . 1 9 8 4 ) , b e c a u s e , i t c o n c l u d e d , t h e a t t e m p t t o l i m i t t h e amount o f t h e s e w e r - s e r v i c e c h a r g e s c o n f l i c t e d w i t h the language c o n t a i n e d i n t h e Amendment g r a n t i n g 10 the county commission charges." "full power a n d a u t h o r i t y t o ... f i x [ ] r a t e s a n d 3 Under § 7 o f A c t No. 619, s e w e r - s e r v i c e charged t o the p a r c e l of r e a l property originated. "unpaid Furthermore, [sewer-service charges are from w h i c h t h e sewerage § 9 o f A c t No. 619 p r o v i d e s charges] and a l l i n t e r e s t that accruing t h e r e o n s h a l l be a l i e n on s u c h p a r c e l o f r e a l p r o p e r t y . " In a d d i t i o n t o o t h e r r i g h t s s e t o u t i n A c t No. 619, § 13 empowers A l t h o u g h a reading of the o p i n i o n i s s u e d i n S h e l l might l e a d one t o c o n c l u d e , as do t h e d e f e n d a n t s , t h a t A c t No. 619 was s t r u c k down i n i t s e n t i r e t y , we c a n n o t a g r e e . The d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t A c t No. 619 was u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l was b a s e d s o l e l y upon i t s a t t e m p t t o l i m i t t h e c o u n t y c o m m i s s i o n ' s a b i l i t y t o s e t sewer-service charges; the only s e c t i o n of A c t No. 619 t h a t a t t e m p t e d t o l i m i t t h e c o u n t y c o m m i s s i o n ' s power was § 5. Thus, we c o n c l u d e t h a t S h e l l i m p l i c i t l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t o n l y § 5 o f A c t No. 619 was u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l . This r e a d i n g o f S h e l l i s b o l s t e r e d by t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t " [ c ] o u r t s w i l l s t r i v e t o u p h o l d a c t s o f t h e l e g i s l a t u r e " and t h e f a c t t h a t A c t No. 619 c o n t a i n e d a s e v e r a b i l i t y c l a u s e i n § 17, which i n d i c a t e d that the l e g i s l a t u r e d e s i r e d that only the o f f e n d i n g s e c t i o n o f A c t No. 619 be i n v a l i d a t e d , l e a v i n g t h e r e m a i n i n g s e c t i o n s o f A c t No. 619, many o f w h i c h contained l a n g u a g e m i r r o r i n g t h a t u s e d i n t h e Amendment, " i n t a c t a n d i n force." C i t y o f B i r m i n g h a m v. S m i t h , 507 So. 2d 1312, 1315 ( A l a . 1 9 8 7 ) ; s e e a l s o M i t c h e l l v. M o b i l e C n t y . , 294 A l a . 130, 134, 313 So. 2d 172, 175 (1975) ( " [ I ] f t h e r e m a i n i n g p o r t i o n s o f an A c t a r e c o m p l e t e w i t h i n t h e m s e l v e s , s e n s i b l e a n d c a p a b l e o f e x e c u t i o n , t h e A c t w i l l s t a n d where i n v a l i d p o r t i o n s were deleted i n accordance with a s e v e r a b i l i t y c l a u s e . " ) . 3 11 the county commission to foreclose on any lien f o r unpaid s e w e r - s e r v i c e c h a r g e s " i n any s u c h manner as may be p r o v i d e d by for law for foreclosing improvements," m u n i c i p a l assessments public w h i c h p r o c e d u r e i s s e t o u t i n A l a . Code 1975, § 11-48-1 e t s e q . Based on t h e a b o v e - q u o t e d Amendment, A c t argue that No. 619, Jefferson and and e x p l a i n e d p o r t i o n s o f t h e the County Kelly Act, does n o t have the defendants the a u t h o r i t y to a s s e s s t h e e n t i r e amount o f u n p a i d s e w e r - s e r v i c e c h a r g e s f o r each parcel because, revenue of property as a lien against the property they contend, t h a t r i g h t e x i s t s only i n r e l a t i o n bonds issued under i s s u e d under the K e l l y A c t . t h e Amendment and not to That i s , the d e f e n d a n t s to bonds contend t h a t t h e u n p a i d s e w e r - s e r v i c e c h a r g e s s h o u l d be a p p o r t i o n e d , w i t h o n l y t h o s e amounts t h a t were c h a r g e d t o r e p a y any bonds u n d e r t h e Amendment o r t h o s e amounts r e l a t e d t o t h e r e a s o n a b l e expenses the sewer of extending, improving, operating, system b e i n g imposed real property. as a lien and maintaining on t h e p a r c e l s Thus, t h e d e f e n d a n t s c o n c e d e that a l i e n of may be i m p o s e d upon t h e i r p r o p e r t i e s u n d e r t h e Amendment f o r t h e 12 reasonable expenses of maintaining property improving, operating, and a sewer s y s t e m . However, t h e Jefferson extending, defendants argue t h a t the County no authority to as a r e s u l t o f t h e i s s u a n c e K e l l y Act impose a lien grants on real o f K e l l y A c t bonds u n d e r § 11-81-166. J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y c o n t e n d s t h a t i t s power t o set sewer-service charges, to c o l l e c t sewer-service charges, and s e r v i c e d by the t o impose a l i e n a g a i n s t a p a r c e l of p r o p e r t y sewer s y s t e m f o r u n p a i d s e w e r - s e r v i c e to only that portion of repayment of the bonds that from the arise improving, operating, those charges i s not charges issued pursuant reasonable that to the expenses and m a i n t a i n i n g arise limited from the Amendment of extending, t h e sewer s y s t e m . That argument i s s u p p o r t e d by L u n s f o r d v. J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y , 973 2d 327, 329 a trial court's 14, ( A l a . 2007), i n w h i c h our judgment d e t e r m i n i n g or So. supreme c o u r t affirmed A l a . Code 1975, § 35-9¬ unconstitutional. In L u n s f o r d , judgment against landlords declaring properties that sued J e f f e r s o n County, s e e k i n g the owned by s e r v i c e c h a r g e s i n c u r r e d by county's the imposition landlords a of liens for unpaid sewer- t e n a n t s v i o l a t e d § 35-9-14, w h i c h 13 stated that bills responsibility f o r sewer of the tenant service and t h a t would be such b i l l s the sole would not " c o n s t i t u t e a l i e n on t h e p r o p e r t y where t h e sewer s e r v i c e was received." Lunsford, 973 So. 2d a t 328 & 329. f a c t t h a t t h e Amendment p r o v i d e d that the authority to issue bonds p u r s u a n t t o t h e Amendment e x p i r e d based on t h e s t a t e m e n t i n d i c a t i n g Amendment was " t h a t extensions sewerage treatment expenditures rentals," shall after i t s authority and a f t e r been p a i d . that the purpose and o p e r a t i o n disposal paid the landlords to collect expired and be power i n December 1958 a n d t h e expenses o f needed and maintenance from such I d . a t 331. o f t h e sewers and and service no charges and Jefferson C o u n t y h a d no t h e Amendment bonds under t h e Amendment h a d issued under t h e Amendment h a d Our supreme c o u r t e x p l a i n e d c o n s t r u c t i o n urged by the l a n d l o r d s " c o n t r a d i c t [ e d ] l a n g u a g e o f t h e [A]mendment," w h i c h c l e a r l y sewer-service maintain charges would be o f t h e bonds issued necessary to 14 under that the the p l a i n envisioned that o p e r a t e and t h e sewer s y s t e m s t h a t h a d been c o n s t r u c t e d assistance other charges under sewer-service a l l bonds of the improvements and plants argued that to issue B a s e d on t h e with the t h e Amendment. Id. B a s e d on t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e Amendment i n d i c a t i n g t h a t sewer- s e r v i c e c h a r g e s w o u l d be r e d u c e d a f t e r t h e payment o f t h e b o n d d e b t i n c u r r e d u n d e r t h e Amendment, o u r supreme c o u r t c o n c l u d e d that, "[c]learly, elimination of t h e [A]mendment does charges; in fact, not contemplate the i t contemplates the c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e c o l l e c t i o n o f s e r v i c e charges and r e n t a l s after Id. t h e payment o f t h e l a s t o f t h e bonded i n d e b t e d n e s s . " The l a n g u a g e o u r supreme c o u r t r e l i e d upon makes i t c l e a r that, even after t h e bonds i s s u e d under t h e Amendment have been p a i d , J e f f e r s o n County c o u l d c o n t i n u e t o l e v y and c o l l e c t sewer-service charges to cover "the expenses improvements and e x t e n s i o n s and maintenance the sewers We right note County also t o impose l i e n s that many relies and o p e r a t i o n o f nearly identical utilized i n t h e Amendment. Id. on A c t No. 619 t o s u p p o r t f o r unpaid sewer-service charges. of the sections language o f A c t No. t o , or s i m i l a r 619 t o , the contain language S e c t i o n s 4, 9, a n d 13 echo t h e r i g h t s o f t h e county commission state needed and sewerage t r e a t m e n t and d i s p o s a l p l a n t s . " Jefferson its of t o s e t sewer-service charges, t h a t unpaid s e w e r - s e r v i c e charges are a l i e n upon t h e r e a l p r o p e r t y t o w h i c h sewer s e r v i c e s a r e p r o v i d e d , a n d g r a n t 15 the county commission t h e power t o e n f o r c e t h e l i e n . Thus, l i k e J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y , we a g r e e t h a t A c t No. 619 a l s o p r o v i d e s a b a s i s f o r J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y ' s power t o impose a l i e n f o r the unpaid sewer-service charges on t h e p r o p e r t y p r o v i d e d sewer services. 619 m e r e l y m i r r o r s defines and However, A c t No. the r i g h t s Jefferson of Jefferson County's County and f u r t h e r t h e Amendment, on i t does reliance under not completely r e s o l v e t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' arguments regarding apportionment of the unpaid sewer-service charges. The defendants further argue that the language of the Amendment a n d t h e l a c k o f l a n g u a g e r e l a t i n g t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f a lien the a g a i n s t t h e p r o p e r t y s e r v i c e d b y t h e sewer system i n K e l l y A c t p r e c l u d e s t h a t p o r t i o n of s e w e r - s e r v i c e charges i n t e n d e d t o p a y o f f i n d e b t e d n e s s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h bonds i s s u e d pursuant to the K e l l y A c t from becoming a lien p r o p e r t y t o w h i c h sewer s e r v i c e i s p r o v i d e d . against the This i s so, they c o n t e n d , b e c a u s e , u n l i k e t h e Amendment, t h e K e l l y A c t c o n t a i n s no p r o v i s i o n authorizing a lien system and because on t h e p r o p e r t y s e r v i c e d b y the sewer t h e revenue the K e l l y Act are f o r a c q u i s i t i o n , e x t e n s i o n a n d r e p a i r o f t h e sewer 16 bonds i s s u e d improvement, system. under enlargement, Indeed, t h e K e l l y Act does n o t c o n t a i n any p r o v i s i o n s speaking s p e c i f i c a l l y to t h e power o f a c o u n t y t o c o l l e c t s e w e r - s e r v i c e less a provision property relating receiving conclude that defendants' sewer lack c h a r g e s , much to creation of a services. However, of such p r o v i s i o n s lends lien upon t h e we cannot support to the argument. I n f a c t , t h e f a c t t h a t bonds i s s u e d p u r s u a n t t o t h e K e l l y Act are f o r the purposes of a c q u i r i n g , improving, extending, a n d r e p a i r i n g t h e sewer s y s t e m does n o t s u p p o r t t h e conclusion permitted enlarging, that use Amendment. Kelly A c t bonds f o r continued That do not fall sewer-service within charges using enlarging, a n d r e p a i r i n g t h e sewer s y s t e m i s n o t e q u i v a l e n t t o those needed i n the i s , we c a n n o t c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e u s e o f K e l l y A c t bonds f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f a c q u i r i n g , i m p r o v i n g , extending, the bonds as a means improvements and to finance extensions "the expenses maintenance and of and operation o f t h e sewers and sewerage t r e a t m e n t and d i s p o s a l plants," which continued power t o l e v y a n d c o l l e c t s e w e r - s e r v i c e to impose Amendment. liens We serve as f o r unpaid agree w i t h a basis f o r Jefferson sewer-service Jefferson 17 charges County that County's charges and under t h e the l i e n s , i n c l u d i n g any p o r t i o n t h a t m i g h t have b e e n i n t e n d e d t o repay K e l l y A c t b o n d i n d e b t e d n e s s , were p r o p e r l y i m p o s e d a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' p r o p e r t i e s under t h e power p r o v i d e d to i t i n the Amendment a n d A c t No. 619. We n e x t c o n s i d e r t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' a r g u m e n t s t h a t t h e t r i a l court erred in failing to rule on t h e i r motions t o compel d i s c o v e r y and i n f a i l i n g t o p o s t p o n e r u l i n g on t h e m o t i o n s f o r a summary j u d g m e n t p e n d i n g f u r t h e r d i s c o v e r y . the defendants other the sought, information sewer-service items: documents o r t o what p o r t i o n o r p e r c e n t a g e o f administration, and debt s e r v i c e . never e x p r e s s l y judgment, relating improvements, compel p r o d u c t i o n memorandums a n d were n o t p r o v i d e d , above, c h a r g e s were a t t r i b u t a b l e t o t h e f o l l o w i n g capital maintenance, As n o t e d of that They moved t h e t r i a l information, the defendants to Further, the motions briefly court to but the t r i a l r u l e d upon t h e i r m o t i o n s . i n opposition operation, requested i n their for a that court summary the trial c o u r t e i t h e r deny o r d e c l i n e t o r u l e upon t h e summary-judgment motions pending t h e i r r e c e i p t of the requested discovery. We f i r s t n o t e t h a t , a l t h o u g h t h e i r b r i e f on a p p e a l r e l i e s on caselaw i n t e r p r e t i n g Rule 5 6 ( f ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., 18 which governs the continuance hearing based on of a the pendency summary-judgment of discovery, ruling the or defendants never a c t u a l l y complied w i t h the s p e c i f i c requirements of Rule 56(f) . I n t h e i r b r i e f , t h e d e f e n d a n t s q u o t e McGhee v. M a r t i n , 892 2d 398, So. State, 757 401 So. ( A l a . C i v . App. 2d 457, citations omitted)), discovery does not 459 (quoting Wright ( A l a . C i v . App. thusly: alone 2004) 2000) (internal "'Although the a bar judgment, summary pendency n o n m o v i n g p a r t y can d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t t h e o u t s t a n d i n g discovery c r u c i a l t o h i s case, then i t i s e r r o r f o r the t r i a l to enter summary judgment completed.'" However, material McGhee sought from is crucial the before sentence states: "'To to h i s case, comply w i t h Rule 56(f) t h a t "[a] p a r t y s e e k i n g the Our following show the substantive B r a n n a n , 557 supreme c o u r t production So. 2d 1208, noted the the that been quoted discovery party should supreme c o u r t has stated r e q u i r e d by 1213 court has t h e s h e l t e r o f R u l e 5 6 ( f ) must response has that nonmoving an a f f i d a v i t e x p l a i n i n g t o t h e c o u r t why the discovery of i f the is a v. offer he i s u n a b l e t o make Rule ( A l a . 1989). "[a] pending 56(e)." Hope v. C o n v e r s e l y , our motion to compel ( P a r r i s h [ v. B o a r d o f Comm'rs o f A l a b a m a S t a t e B a r , 19 533 F.2d 942 ( 5 t h C i r . 1 9 7 6 ) ] ) and a m o t i o n t o c o m p e l a n s w e r s t o i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s , w h i c h has b e e n g r a n t e d ( N o b l e [ v. McManus, 504 So. 2d 248 ( A l a . 1987)]) when t h e evidence before the c o u r t c l e a r l y shows t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e s o u g h t i s c r u c i a l t o t h e n o n - m o v i n g p a r t y ' s c a s e , have b e e n h e l d s u f f i c i e n t w i t h R u l e 5 6 ( f ) ." compliance R e e v e s v. P o r t e r , 521 So. 2d 963, 965 ( A l a . 1988). A s s u m i n g t h e m o t i o n t o c o m p e l and t h e b r i e f r e f e r e n c e i n the defendants' memorandums of law in opposition to the m o t i o n s f o r a summary j u d g m e n t m i n i m a l l y meet t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of Rule 5 6 ( f ) , the i s s u e i s whether the evidence sought in fact, imposed crucial upon was, to the defendants' p o s i t i o n t h a t the their properties could not have b e c a u s e a t l e a s t some p o r t i o n o f t h e l i e n s was been liens imposed a t t r i b u t a b l e to r e p a y m e n t o f bonds J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y h a d i s s u e d p u r s u a n t t o t h e Kelly Act. had B e c a u s e we have c o n c l u d e d t h a t Jefferson t h e power u n d e r t h e Amendment and A c t No. 619 County t o impose t h e l i e n s a t i s s u e , r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r any p o r t i o n o f t h o s e l i e n s was a t t r i b u t a b l e t o r e p a y m e n t o f i n d e b t e d n e s s with bonds issued under defendants sought to the K e l l y A c t , discover 20 was the not associated information relevant to the the r e s o l u t i o n of the l e g a l issue presented the the m o t i o n s f o r a summary j u d g m e n t . trial court d i d n o t e r r by judgment m o t i o n s b e f o r e to the t r i a l court i n Thus, we c o n c l u d e considering that the summary- the defendants received the requested i n f o r m a t i o n and t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t d i d n o t e r r by f a i l i n g t o rule on the motion t o compel before entering the summary judgments i n f a v o r o f J e f f e r s o n County. 2120332 -- AFFIRMED. 2120333 -- AFFIRMED. 2120334 -- AFFIRMED. 2120335 -- AFFIRMED. 2120336 -- AFFIRMED. Thompson, P . J . , a n d P i t t m a n , concur. 21 Moore, a n d D o n a l d s o n , J J . ,

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