KEWEENAW BAY OUTFITTERS & TRADING POST V DEPT OF TREASURY
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
KEWEENAW BAY OUTFITTERS & TRADING
POST, KERRY VARLINE, and JERRY
MAGNANT,
FOR PUBLICATION
June 28, 2002
9:00 a.m.
Petitioners-Appellees,
v
No. 236702
Houghton Circuit Court
LC No. 01-011580-AA
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY and JUNE
SUMMERS HASS, COMMISSIONER OF
REVENUE,
Respondents-Appellants.
Updated Copy
September 13, 2002
Before: Griffin, P.J., and Hood and Sawyer, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
We granted respondents, the Michigan Department of Treasury and June Summers Haas,
Commissioner of Revenue, leave to appeal an order regarding procedure. We affirm and hold
that further proceedings are governed by Chapter Two of the Michigan Court Rules.
Tobacco products belonging to petitioners, Keweenaw Bay Outfitters & Trading Post,
Kerry Varline, and Jerry Magnant, were seized by the Michigan State Police because there was
no tax stamp affixed to the products. After an administrative hearing authorized by MCL
205.429(3), Haas ordered that the products be forfeited to the state of Michigan, and petitioners
appealed to the circuit court. The court asked the parties for briefs on what procedural rules
should control the proceedings. Petitioners argued that MCR 7.105(B)(1) and MCL 205.429
controlled and that they were entitled to discovery, motion practice, and possibly a trial.
Respondents argued that MCR 7.101 controlled and that the parties need only submit appellate
briefs. The circuit court agreed with petitioners and this appeal followed.
Respondents argue that the circuit court erred in ordering that its proceedings were
governed by Chapter Two of the Michigan Court Rules rather than the provisions of MCR 7.101.
We disagree. Court rule interpretation and statutory construction present questions of law that
we review de novo. Rafferty v Markovitz, 461 Mich 265, 270; 602 NW2d 367 (1999). This
Court begins a consideration of statutory construction by examining the plain language of the
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statute. Sun Valley Foods Co v Ward, 460 Mich 230, 236; 596 NW2d 119 (1999). To determine
whether ambiguity exists, the statutory language is read in context. Id. at 237. Unambiguous
language precludes judicial construction. Frankenmuth Mut Ins Co v Marlette Homes, Inc, 456
Mich 511, 515; 573 NW2d 611 (1998). When an ambiguity is present, however, the intent of the
Legislature must be put into effect by reasonably construing the statute, considering its purpose
and the object it seeks to accomplish. Id.
The Tobacco Products Tax Act (TPTA) is set forth in MCL 205.421 et seq. Section 9 of
the TPTA authorizes the seizure of tobacco products under certain circumstances. It reads, in
relevant part, as follows:
(1) A tobacco product held, owned, possessed, transported, or in control of
a person in violation of this act . . . [is] contraband and may be seized and
confiscated by the department as provided in this section.
* * *
(3) As soon as possible, but not more than 5 business days after seizure of
any alleged contraband, the person making the seizure shall deliver personally or
by registered mail to the last known address of the person from whom the seizure
was made, if known, an inventory statement of the property seized. . . . The
inventory statement shall also contain a notice to the effect that unless demand for
hearing as provided in this section is made within 10 business days, the
designated property is forfeited to the state. . . . Within 10 business days after the
date of service of the inventory statement . . . the person from whom the property
was seized or any person claiming an interest in the property may by registered
mail, facsimile transmission, or personal service file with the commissioner a
demand for a hearing before the commissioner or a person designated by the
commissioner for a determination as to whether the property was lawfully subject
to seizure and forfeiture. . . . Upon receipt of a request for hearing, the
department shall hold the hearing within 15 business days. The hearing is not a
contested case proceeding and is not subject to the administrative procedures act
of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328. After the hearing, the department
shall render its decision in writing within 10 business days of the hearing and, by
order, shall either declare the seized property subject to seizure and forfeiture, or
declare the property returnable in whole or in part to the person entitled to
possession. . . .
(4) If a person is aggrieved by the decision of the department, that person
may appeal to the circuit court of the county where the seizure was made to
obtain a judicial determination of the lawfulness of the seizure and forfeiture. . . .
The court shall hear the action and determine the issues of fact and law involved
in accordance with rules of practice and procedure as in other in rem
proceedings. [MCL 205.429 (emphasis added).]
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Respondents base their argument on the express "non-contested case" status of the
hearing set forth in MCL 205.429(3). However, MCR 7.105—entitled "Appeals from
Administrative Agencies in 'Contested Cases'"—provides in relevant part as follows:
(A) Definitions. . . .
* * *
(2) "Contested case" means a proceeding including but not limited to
ratemaking, price fixing, and licensing, in which determination of the legal rights,
duties, or privileges of a named party is required by law to be made by an agency
after an opportunity for an evidentiary hearing. An appeal of one agency's
decision to another agency is a continuous proceeding as though before a single
agency.
* * *
(B) Scope.
(1) This rule governs an appeal to the circuit court from an agency
decision in a contested case, except when a statute requires a different procedure.
A petitioner intending to rely on a different procedure permitted by statute shall
identify the statutory procedure in the petition for review. Failure to do so waives
the right to use the different procedure. [Emphasis added.]
The agency proceedings in this case fall within the strict definition of "contested case"
because, as petitioners correctly argue, MCR 7.105(A)(2) does not limit contested cases to those
determinations made after a required evidentiary hearing, but to those required to be made after
an opportunity for an evidentiary hearing. MCL 205.429(3) provides that opportunity.
Thus, if MCR 7.105(A)(2) were the only determining provision, then MCR 7.105 would
apply to the TPTA hearing. However, MCR 7.105(B)(1) compels a conclusion that this court
rule does not apply. The first sentence of MCR 7.105(B)(1) states: "This rule governs an appeal
to the circuit court from an agency decision in a contested case, except when a statute requires a
different procedure." (Emphasis added.) MCL 205.429(4) requires a different procedure.
Because this rule is not ambiguous, this Court may not construe the language, but must apply it
as written. Frankenmuth, supra at 515. MCR 7.105 does not govern.
MCR 7.101 also cannot apply to the appeal to circuit court. Its relevant language reads as
follows: "This rule applies to appeals to the circuit court from the district court and probate court,
each referred to as 'trial court' in MCR 7.101 and 7.103." MCR 7.101(A)(1). Respondents'
assertion that "MCR 7.101 governs appeals to circuit court from district court, probate court and
agency decisions" (emphasis added), is correct only where MCR 7.104(A) directs a court to
apply MCR 7.101; but MCR 7.104, entitled "Appeals From Administrative Agencies," also does
not apply. MCR 7.104(A) governs appeals under MCL 600.631, which only takes effect when
"an appeal or other judicial review has not otherwise been provided for by law . . . ." MCL
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600.631. Again, because other judicial review has been provided by law, MCL 600.631 is not
applicable. The other subsections of MCR 7.104 patently do not apply.
Determining which procedural requirements do apply to the circuit court review of the
agency proceeding under the TPTA begins with the following statutory guidance: "The court
shall hear the action and determine the issues of fact and law involved in accordance with rules
of practice and procedure as in other in rem proceedings." MCL 205.429(4). The language of
this statute is not ambiguous. In Michigan, in rem proceedings include foreclosures for failure to
pay taxes, Smith v Cliffs on the Bay Condominium Ass'n (On Remand), 245 Mich App 73, 75;
626 NW2d 905 (2001), foreclosures on construction liens, Republic Bank v Modular One LLC,
232 Mich App 444, 448; 591 NW2d 335 (1998), and penalty forfeitures, People v Acoff, 220
Mich App 396, 399; 559 NW2d 103 (1996).
Penalty forfeitures are most similar to the TPTA-authorized seizure and forfeiture in this
case; the question that is litigated in penalty forfeitures must be answered by the circuit court in
this case: whether the property in question came into petitioners' hands in violation of a law of
the state and should therefore be forfeited. Litigation to answer that question includes discovery,
motion practice, and trials. See Hollins v Detroit Police Dep't, 225 Mich App 341, 343; 571
NW2d 729 (1997); In re Forfeiture of $25,505, 220 Mich App 572; 560 NW2d 341 (1996); In re
Forfeiture of 19203 Albany, 210 Mich App 337, 338; 532 NW2d 915 (1995). Otherwise, there
are no special court rules governing penalty forfeitures. In re Forfeiture of 301 Cass Street, 194
Mich App 381, 384; 487 NW2d 795 (1992). Summary forfeitures are explicitly allowed only in
cases involving "executory contract[s] for the purchase of premises" under MCR 4.202(A), or
those involving "controlled substance[s] listed in schedule 1," MCL 333.7525, of which tobacco
is not one. MCL 333.7212. In re Forfeiture of 301 Cass Street, supra at 384. Penalty forfeiture
proceedings are not proceedings in which discovery is prohibited. Id. Instead, the "'Michigan
Court Rules govern practice and procedure in all courts' except where more specific rules are
provided." Id., quoting MCR 1.103. There are no special court rules providing for penalty
forfeiture proceedings. Id. Indeed, as petitioners point out, MCR 2.001 provides that Chapter
Two of the Michigan Court Rules "govern[s] procedure in all civil proceedings in all courts
established by the constitution and laws of the State of Michigan, except where the limited
jurisdiction of a court makes a rule inherently inapplicable or where a rule applicable to a
specific court or a specific type of proceeding provides a different procedure."
MCL 205.429(4) creates the circuit court's jurisdiction over an appeal of an agency
proceeding under the TPTA, but does not limit the jurisdiction it creates. There is no rule
applicable to the circuit court or to this type of proceeding that provides for or mandates a
different procedure. Because the appeal of the agency decision to circuit court is governed by
the same rules of practice and procedure as an in rem, civil proceeding under MCL 205.429(4),
the circuit court must conduct the proceedings under the rules of Chapter Two of the Michigan
Court Rules. MCR 2.001.
Finally, contrary to respondents' assertions, nothing in the TPTA expressly places the
burden of proof on a petitioner in a forfeiture proceeding; the TPTA states only that "[t]he
[aggrieved] persons are entitled to appear before the department, to be represented by counsel,
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and to present testimony and argument." MCL 205.429(3). Generally, the government has the
burden of proving its case by a preponderance of the evidence in a forfeiture proceeding. See
People v Everard, 225 Mich App 455, 465-466; 571 NW2d 536 (1997); In re Forfeiture of
$25,505, supra at 574; In re Forfeiture of $1,159,420, 194 Mich App 134, 146; 486 NW2d 326
(1992). A full proceeding in circuit court will not result in a shift of the burden of proof.
Affirmed.
/s/ Richard Allen Griffin
/s/ Harold Hood
/s/ David H. Sawyer
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