Dement Ranch v. Curry County Board of Commissioners

315

Argued and submitted December 13, 2019, reversed and remanded

September 2, 2020

Judicial Examination to Determine the Regularity and

Legality of Order No. 20479 Annexing Property into the

Curry County Livestock District.

DEMENT RANCH, LLC,

a domestic limited liability company,

Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

CURRY COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS,

Defendant-Respondent,

and

WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY,

a Washington Foreign Business Corporation,

Intervenor-Appellant.

Curry County Circuit Court

18CV04119, 18CV05861;

A168954 (Control), A168955

474 P3d 435

Intervenor appeals a judgment that vacated and annulled a county order

annexing approximately 17,000 acres of intervenor’s forestlands into a livestock

district pursuant to ORS 607.020(6) and (7) (2017). The trial court vacated and

annulled the county order because it concluded that annexation of land into an

existing livestock district is only permitted if the annexed land is contiguous

to the existing livestock district, and the annexation in this case was contrary

to that contiguity requirement. On appeal, intervenor argues that the trial

court erred because, under the relevant statutes in effect at the time the county

adopted and entered the order, there was no contiguity requirement to annex

land into an existing livestock district. Held: The trial court erred. The Court of

Appeals, after considering the statutory text in context, concluded ORS chapter

607 (2017) did not require contiguity for annexations of land into an existing

livestock district.

Reversed and remanded.

Jesse C. Margolis, Judge.

Dominic M. Carollo argued the cause for appellant. Also

on the briefs were Matthew D. Query and Yockim Carollo

LLP.

316 Dement Ranch v. Curry County Board of Commissioners

David C. Johnston argued the cause for respondent

Dement Ranch, LLC. Also on the brief was Law Office of

David C. Johnston, LLC.

John R. Huttl argued the cause and filed the brief for

respondent Curry County Board of Commissioners.

Before Armstrong, Presiding Judge, and Tookey, Judge,

and Aoyagi, Judge.

TOOKEY, J.

Reversed and remanded.

Cite as 306 Or App 315 (2020) 317

TOOKEY, J.

This is a case concerning Oregon’s livestock district

statutes set forth in ORS chapter 607. Weyerhaeuser appeals

a judgment entered in a writ-of-review proceeding that

vacated and annulled Curry County Order No. 20479, which

annexed approximately 17,000 acres of Weyerhaeuser’s for-

estlands into the Curry County Livestock District pursuant

to ORS 607.020(6) and (7) (2017).1 On appeal, Weyerhaeuser

contends that “[t]he trial court erred in granting the County’s

motion for partial summary judgment on the ground that

ORS 607.005 et seq. imposes a contiguity requirement” to

annex land into an existing livestock district. We conclude

that, at the time Weyerhaeuser’s forestlands were annexed

into the Curry County Livestock District, ORS chapter 607

did not preclude noncontiguous annexations and, accord-

ingly, we reverse and remand.

This appeal arises from a writ-of-review petition

that was filed by Dement pursuant to ORS 34.040 and

ORS 34.100, and a separate petition for judicial examina-

tion that was filed by the county pursuant to ORS 33.710

and ORS 33.720 after the county received certain objections

from ranchers in the local community and questioned the

validity of its own order, Order No. 20479, which approved

Weyerhaeuser’s petition to annex approximately 17,000

acres of Weyerhaeuser’s forestlands into the existing Curry

County Livestock District.2 The trial court consolidated the

1

Weyerhaeuser Co. intervened in the writ-of-review proceeding and is the

appellant on appeal. Respondent Curry County and petitioner Dement Ranch,

LLC are the respondents on appeal. Throughout this opinion, we refer to

Weyerhaeuser Co. as “Weyerhaeuser,” Curry County as “the county,” and Dement

Ranch, LLC as “Dement.”

Additionally, as we discuss below, several sections of ORS chapter 607,

including ORS 607.020, were repealed in 2019. Or Laws 2019, ch 450, § 9. Unless

otherwise noted, all references to ORS chapter 607 throughout this opinion are to

the 2017 version of those statutes, the version that was in effect when the county

adopted and entered Curry County Order No. 20479. See ORS 607.020(7) (“The

annexation shall be effective on the date of entry of the order by the county gov-

erning body.”).

2

ORS 34.040(1) provides, in pertinent part:

“The writ shall be allowed in all cases in which a substantial interest

of a plaintiff has been injured and an inferior court including an officer or

tribunal other than an agency as defined in ORS 183.310(1) in the exercise of

judicial or quasi-judicial functions appears to have:

318 Dement Ranch v. Curry County Board of Commissioners

writ-of-review proceeding and the judicial validation pro-

ceeding, because both actions arose from the county’s adop-

tion of Curry County Order No. 20479.

As relevant here, in Dement’s fifth claim for relief

in its petition for writ-of-review, Dement argued that the

county improperly construed the applicable law, because

the law allowing for the annexation for livestock districts

requires contiguity, and Weyerhaeuser’s “proposed annexed

district is not contiguous to the existing Curry County

Livestock District.” The county moved for summary judg-

ment, agreeing with Dement’s “claim that the county com-

mitted legal error when it annexed [Weyerhaeuser’s land]

into the existing Curry County Livestock District” because

“[t]he text, context and legislative history show that the use

of the word annexation [in ORS chapter 607] requires conti-

guity or adjacency of parcels.”

The trial court noted there was no factual dispute

that Weyerhaeuser’s land was not contiguous with the existing

livestock district and agreed with the county’s and Dement’s

statutory construction arguments. The trial court concluded

that, under ORS chapter 607, “the legislature intended that

annexation of land into a livestock district would be limited

to contiguous land,” and that “the annexation in this instance

was contrary to an implied contiguity requirement within the

statutory scheme applicable to annexation into a livestock

district.” Accordingly, the trial court vacated and annulled

Curry County Order No. 20479, dismissed the remaining

“* * * * *

“(d) Improperly construed the applicable law[.]”

See Crainic v. Multnomah Cty. Adult Care Home Program, 190 Or App 134, 141,

78 P3d 979 (2003) (“The criteria set out in ORS 34.040(1) also constitute the legal

standards that the circuit court is to apply in determining whether to affirm,

modify, or reverse the action of the tribunal or officer whose action is being

reviewed. ORS 34.100.”).

ORS 33.720(1) provides that “[t]he determination authorized by ORS 33.710

shall be in the nature of a proceeding in rem,” and ORS 33.720(3) provides that

“[s]uch proceeding shall be tried forthwith and judgment rendered as expedi-

tiously as possible declaring the matter so contested to be either valid or invalid.”

See State ex rel City of Powers v. Coos County Airport, 201 Or App 222, 229, 119

P3d 225 (2005), rev den, 341 Or 197 (2006) (“ORS 33.710 and ORS 33.720 set forth

the method by which certain local governmental entities can seek judicial exam-

ination of the legality of their establishment or of some of the actions that they

take.”).

Cite as 306 Or App 315 (2020) 319

claims in the consolidated proceedings with prejudice, and

entered judgment in favor of Dement.

On appeal, Weyerhaeuser contends that “[t]he trial

court erred in granting the County’s motion for partial sum-

mary judgment on the ground that ORS 607.005 et seq.

imposes a contiguity requirement” to annex land into an

existing livestock district. Dement and the county argue

that Oregon’s Livestock District statutes require contiguity

when annexing to an existing livestock district.

The trial court’s ruling that “the legislature

intended that annexation of land into a livestock district

would be limited to contiguous land,” and that “the annex-

ation in this instance was contrary to an implied contigu-

ity requirement within the statutory scheme applicable to

annexation into a livestock district,” presents a question of

statutory interpretation, which we review for legal error.

See State v. Thompson, 328 Or 248, 256, 971 P2d 879, cert

den, 527 US 1042 (1999) (“A trial court’s interpretation of

a statute is reviewed for legal error.”); Drake v. Mutual of

Enumclaw Ins. Co., 167 Or App 475, 478, 1 P3d 1065 (2000)

(“Because the material facts are not in dispute, we review

the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to determine

whether [the moving party] was entitled to judgment as a

matter of law.” (Citing ORCP 47 C.)). When we interpret a

statute, “[w]e ascertain the legislature’s intentions by exam-

ining the text of the statute in its context, along with any

relevant legislative history, and, if necessary, canons of con-

struction.” State v. Cloutier, 351 Or 68, 75, 261 P3d 1234

(2011) (citing State v. Gaines, 346 Or 160, 171-73, 206 P3d

1042 (2009)).

We pause briefly to provide some background on

livestock districts. The Supreme Court summarized the sig-

nificance of livestock districts in Dunlap v. Dickson:

“In a livestock district, cows and other ‘livestock’ may not

‘run at large.’ ORS 607.005. In effect, this means that a

livestock owner at all times must retain control over live-

stock within a livestock district. Livestock districts are to

be distinguished from ‘open range.’ On ‘open range,’ live-

stock may run at large. ORS 607.005(6).”

307 Or 175, 177, 765 P2d 203 (1988) (footnote omitted).

320 Dement Ranch v. Curry County Board of Commissioners

To create a livestock district, ORS 607.010 to

607.015 provides a process for: (1) petitioning for creation

of a new livestock district that is over 2,000 acres, ORS

607.010; (2) drawing boundaries for a proposed district, ORS

607.012; (3) counties holding a hearing on a proposed dis-

trict, ORS 607.013; and, (4) an election to create the district,

ORS 607.015. ORS 607.020(5) to (7) govern annexations of

land to an existing livestock district.

With that background in mind, we turn to the text

of ORS 607.020(5) to (7) because it is “the best evidence of the

legislature’s intent” on annexations into a livestock district.

PGE v. Bureau of Labor and Industries, 317 Or 606, 610,

859 P2d 1143 (1993). ORS 607.020(5)(a) provides that “[a]ny

area may be annexed to an existing livestock district in the

same manner as creation of a livestock district as provided

in ORS 607.005 to 607.045, except that” the “area may be

less than 2,000 acres.” Annexations under ORS 607.020(5)

generally require an election to be “carried out in the area

proposed to be annexed.” ORS 607.020(5)(c). However, ORS

607.020(6) and (7) establish a process for annexation that

does not require an election when all owners of the lands

proposed to be annexed sign the petition. Those subsections

provide:

“(6) Notwithstanding subsection (5) of this section and

ORS 607.015, when a petition for annexation is signed by

all the owners of all the land in the area proposed to be

annexed or is signed by a majority of the electors registered

in the area proposed to be annexed and by the owners of

more than half of the land in the area, an election on the

proposed annexation shall not be held in either the district

or the area proposed to be annexed.

“(7) When an annexation election is dispensed with

under subsection (6) of this section, the county governing

body, after the hearing on the petition for annexation, shall

enter an order describing the boundaries of the area and

declaring it annexed to the district. The annexation shall

be effective on the date of entry of the order by the county

governing body.”

ORS 607.020(6), (7). In this case, Weyerhaeuser petitioned

for annexation pursuant to ORS 607.020(5) to (7).

Cite as 306 Or App 315 (2020) 321

Notably, ORS 607.020(5) expressly permits the

annexation of “any area” into an existing livestock district,

including any area that is “less than 2,000 acres.” (Emphasis

added). “Ordinarily, courts assume that the legislature’s use

of the word ‘any’ indicates deliberately comprehensive appli-

cation.” Preble v. Centennial School Dist. No. 287, 298 Or App

357, 367, 447 P3d 42 (2019) (citing State v. Hamilton, 348 Or

371, 378, 233 P3d 432 (2010) (statutory reference to “any”

person “demonstrates that the legislature deliberately chose

not to limit the reach” of the statute); Crocker and Crocker,

332 Or 42, 51, 22 P3d 759 (2001) (“The word ‘any’ ordi-

narily would have a very broad sweep.”); Dickinson v. Leer,

255 Or 274, 276, 465 P2d 885 (1970) (statutory reference to

“any” business in Oregon suggests the statute applies in

“an unrestricted and comprehensive sense to include every

legitimate business transaction, regardless of its nature”)).

Presumably, then, the legislature’s use of the phrase “any

area” in ORS 607.020(5) demonstrates the legislature’s

intention for “any area” to encompass both contiguous and

noncontiguous lands. See State v. Serrano, 346 Or 311, 328,

210 P3d 892 (2009) (the “legislature’s use of the word ‘any’

to modify the phrase ‘confidential communication’ demon-

strates that * * * the legislature intended to include within

the protection of OEC 505(2) all confidential communica-

tions between spouses” (emphasis in original)).

Had the legislature intended to restrict the “areas”

eligible for annexation to those contiguous to an existing

livestock district, it would not have modified the word “areas”

with the word “any” and it could have included an express

contiguity requirement. ORS 607.020(5). We must be mind-

ful when we construe statutes to not “insert what has been

omitted, or to omit what has been inserted.” ORS 174.010;

see Donaldson v. Lane County Local Govt. Bdry. Comm., 99

Or App 430, 434, 782 P2d 449 (1989) (observing that “[t]he

legislature’s inclusion of an express contiguity requirement

in chapter 222 demonstrates its ability to require contigu-

ity if, in fact, that is what it intends,” and concluding that

“the absence of an explicit contiguity requirement in ORS

199.490(1) is a deliberate legislative choice”). There is noth-

ing in the text of ORS 607.020(5) from which we could imply

a contiguity requirement.

322 Dement Ranch v. Curry County Board of Commissioners

Dement and the county focus heavily on ORS

607.012 as context to support their argument that there is

an implied contiguity requirement in ORS 607.020(5). We

disagree. ORS 607.012 provides:

“The boundaries of the proposed livestock district shall

follow subdivision lines of sections, section lines, township

lines, donation land claim boundaries or lines, lakes, rivers,

the boundary line of this state, public roads or county

boundary lines, except that the boundary of an established

livestock district may be used as a boundary for the pro-

posed livestock district if the districts are adjacent to each

other and will have a common boundary line.”

(Emphases added). The legislature used the mandatory

term “shall” to describe what boundaries a proposed live-

stock district must follow, and the permissive term “may”

to allow for the boundary of an established livestock district

to be used as a boundary for a proposed livestock district if

the districts are adjacent. See Associated Oregon Veterans v.

DVA, 70 Or App 70, 74, 688 P2d 431 (1984), rev den, 298 Or

470 (1985) (“may” is generally a permissive term, whereas

“shall” is generally construed as a mandatory term). Thus,

the legislature did not require contiguity for a proposed live-

stock district’s boundary, although it is permitted. Again,

had the legislature intended to restrict the areas eligible for

annexation to those contiguous to an existing livestock dis-

trict it could have included a mandatory contiguity require-

ment for a proposed district’s boundaries, but it did not. In

sum, the legislature required the boundaries of the pro-

posed district to follow certain lines, but it did not require

that they be contiguous with an existing district.3

Moreover, ORS 607.043 pertains to “Land entirely

enclosed by federal land.” ORS 607.043 provides that “[t]he

creation or dissolution of a livestock district shall not affect

land entirely enclosed by federal land, unless the enclosed

land is accurately and completely described in the petition.”

3

We understand Dement and the county to also argue that the legal descrip-

tion in Weyerhaeuser’s petition for annexation violated the requirement in ORS

607.012 that district boundaries follow certain lines and, thus, we could affirm

the trial court on that basis. That is a question that involves material issues of

fact, and the trial court did not reach or resolve that issue on summary judgment.

Therefore, it is an issue that will need be resolved on remand, not in this appeal.

Cite as 306 Or App 315 (2020) 323

Additionally, certain federal lands are not subject to live-

stock districting under Oregon law. See ORS 607.005(3)

(defining the phrase “federal land” to mean “a tract of land

containing 25,000 acres or more owned or administered by,

or under the jurisdiction of, the United States and not sub-

ject to the laws of this state”). Accordingly, a parcel of non-

federal land that is “entirely enclosed” by federal lands could

not be contiguous with other nonfederal lands included

within a livestock district, but it nonetheless could be part

of a livestock district if “the enclosed land is accurately and

completely described in the petition.” Thus, the legislature

recognized the possibility that noncontiguous parcels could

be part of a livestock district.4

Based on the foregoing analysis of the statutory

text in context, we conclude that ORS chapter 607 does not

require contiguity for annexations of land into an existing

livestock district.5 We therefore reverse and remand.

4

We may also consider legislative history to the extent it is helpful. Gaines,

346 Or at 172. Whether we find legislative history helpful in determining the

legislature’s intent depends on the substance and probative quality of the legis-

lative history. Id.; see also ORS 174.020(3) (“A court may limit its consideration

of legislative history to the information that the parties provide to the court. A

court shall give the weight to the legislative history that the court considers to

be appropriate.”). Additionally, “a party seeking to overcome seemingly plain and

unambiguous text with legislative history has a difficult task before it.” Gaines,

346 Or at 172. The legislative history brought to our attention by the parties is

not helpful as it does not directly address the contiguity issue for annexations

that we are grappling with on appeal. Here, “[w]e decline to supply terms that

the legislature ha[d] omitted or to legislate a result that the legislature so far

ha[d] not.” Donaldson, 99 Or App at 434; see also Wickman v. Housing Authority of

Portland, 196 Or 100, 119, 247 P2d 630 (1952) (“It is not for this court to legislate,

but rather to interpret.”).

5

As noted at the outset of this opinion, after the events that took place in

this case, ORS chapter 607 was substantially amended by the legislature when

it passed House Bill (HB) 3365 (2019). In particular, ORS 607.010, ORS 607.012,

ORS 607.013, ORS 607.015, ORS 607.020, ORS 607.025, ORS 607.040, ORS

607.042, and ORS 607.043 were all repealed. Or Laws 2019, ch 450, § 9.

At a House Committee on Agriculture and Land Use hearing on HB 3365,

Anne Guerin, a fourth generation rancher from Curry County, testified that this

litigation against Weyerhaeuser was the impetus for the bill. Audio Recording,

House Committee on Agriculture and Land Use, HB 3365, Mar 28, 2019, at

1:24:15 (comments of Anne Guerin), https://olis.leg.state.or.us (accessed July 31,

2020). Guerin testified that the bill’s contiguity requirement for annexations is

necessary to protect ranchers from liability and that, if this bill had been in place,

this litigation would not have been necessary. Id. Likewise, John Swenson, man-

ager for Dement, testified that the contiguity requirement for annexation was

extremely important to make sure isolated blocks of ground were not annexed

324 Dement Ranch v. Curry County Board of Commissioners

Reversed and remanded.

into a livestock district because it creates liability for ranchers who will face the

extremely difficult task of fencing around isolated blocks of land. Id. at 1:29:05

(comments of John Swenson). Both Guerin and Swenson testified that, although

the bill would not be retroactive and fix their issue with Weyerhaeuser in this lit-

igation, this bill was their way to “pay it forward” to other ranchers. Id. at 1:24:15

(comments of Anne Guerin), Id. at 1:29:05 (comments of John Swenson); see also

Or Laws 2019, ch 450, § 10 (“Sections 2 to 6 of this 2019 Act, the amendments to

ORS 255.305 and 607.080 by sections 7 and 8 of this 2019 Act and the repeal of

ORS 607.010, 607.012, 607.013, 607.015, 607.020, 607.025, 607.040, 607.042 and

607.043 by section 9 of this 2019 Act apply to the formation of, annexation to,

withdrawal from or dissolution of a livestock district for which an application

is made on or after the effective date of this 2019 Act. Any petition regarding a

livestock district that is filed before the effective date of this 2019 Act and pend-

ing on the effective date of this 2019 Act shall be processed as provided under

ORS 607.010, 607.012, 607.013, 607.015, 607.020, 607.025, 607.040, 607.042 and

607.043 (2017 Edition).”).

As a result of the enactment of HB 3365, ORS 607.021 provides:

“(1) A livestock district must contain at least 2,000 acres.

“(2) A livestock district may not cross the boundaries of a county. Except

as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the boundaries of a livestock dis-

trict must follow subdivision lines of sections, section lines, township lines,

donation land claim boundaries or lines, lakes, rivers, the boundary line of

this state, public roads or county boundary lines.

“(3) The boundary of an established livestock district may be used as a

boundary for a proposed livestock district if the districts are adjacent to each

other and will have a common boundary line.

“(4) An area may be annexed to an existing livestock district only if the

annexed area is contiguous with the livestock district and the district bound-

aries after annexation will meet the requirements in subsection (2) of this

section.”

Or Laws 2019, ch 450, § 3 (emphasis added). Although we include that infor-

mation for the interest of the reader, we do not consider it as legislative history

because it occurred after the enactment of the statutes that we are construing.