PLATZ v HAMILTON

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

No. 82-64 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA 1982 LOIS PLATZ, Clerk of Court, Big Horn County, Montana, Plaintiff and Appellant, LORRAINE HAMILTON, Treasurer, Biq Horn County, Montana, Defendant and Respondent. Appeal from: District Court of the Thirteenth Judicial District, In and for the County of Big Horn Honorable Robert Wilson, Judge presiding. Counsel of Record: For Appellant: Robert J. Em.ons argued, Great Falls, Montana For Respondent: James E. Seykora, County Attorney, argued, Hardin, Montana Submitted: September 16, 1982 Decided: November 4, 1982 Filed: hi,^ 4 -1982 Mr. Justice John C. Sheehy delivered the Opinion of the Court. Lois Platz, clerk of the District Court of Big Horn County, appeals from a summary judgment in favor of the county treasurer, Lorraine Hamilton, entered in the District Court, Thirteenth Judicial District, Big Horn County. Lois Platz filed an action for declaratory judgment to determine whether a clerk of District Court is required to remit to the county treasurer the fees collected by the clerk in the issuance and execution of passports. Platz alleges that a clerk of court should be allowed to retain the execution fee for his or her personal use. Because no genuine issue as to any material fact existed, both parties moved for summary judgment under Rule 56, M.R.Civ.P. The District Court granted Hamilton's motion for summary judgment, and thereby required the clerk of court to remit the fee to the county treasurer. The United States Congress has the exclusive authority to regulate the issuance and execution of passports, and has exercised that authority by enacting 22 U.S.C. 211a, et seq. It also implemented federal regulations which designate persons before whom passport applications can be executed and oaths can be administered. These persons include, among others, state clerks of court of record, state judges, clerks of probate courts, and post office personnel. § 51.21(b). 22 C.F.R. The execution of passports is not, however, a mandatory function imposed upon these public officials by the Congress. Any of the designated officials could refuse, without violating a duty of office, to handle passport applications. The federal statutes and regulations also state that two fees can be collected. The first is a $10 passport fee which must be p a i d t o t h e United S t a t e s T r e a s u r y . U.S.C. § 214. 22 The c o l l e c t i o n of t h i s p a s s p o r t f e e i s n o t d i s p u t e d by t h e p a r t i e s i n t h i s c a s e . The second f e e , which i s t h e c e n t e r o f t h i s d i s p u t e , i s a $5 e x e c u t i o n f e e which "may be c o l l e c t e d and r e t a i n e d by any S t a t e o f f i c i a l b e f o r e whom a n a p p l i c a t i o n i s e x e c u t e d . " 22 C . F . R . 5 51.61(b), F l a t z c o n t e n d s t h a t s h e s h o u l d be a l l o w e d t o r e t a i n t h i s e x e c u t i o n f e e f o r h e r p e r s o n a l u s e . Hamilton, c o n v e r s e l y , contends t h e execution f e e should be remitted t o t h e county g e n e r a l fund. I n Montana, no s p e c i f i c s t a t u t e e x i s t s which imposes a n o f f i c i a l d u t y upon a c l e r k of D i s t r i c t C o u r t t o e x e c u t e passport applications. Nor i s t h e r e a s p e c i f i c Montana s t a t u t e which r e q u i r e s t h a t an e x e c u t i o n f e e c o l l e c t e d by a c l e r k o f D i s t r i c t C o u r t b e p a i d o v e r t o t h e county t r e a s u r e r . The l e g i s l a t u r e d i d , however, e n a c t a g e n e r a l s t a t u t e r e l a t i n g t o t h e c o l l e c t i o n of f e e s , which s t a t e s i n p a r t : "No s a l a r i e d county o f f i c e r may r e c e i v e f o r h i s own u s e any f e e s , p e n a l t i e s , o r emoluments o f any k i n d , e x c e p t t h e s a l a r y a s p r o v i d e d by l a w , f o r any o f f i c i a l s e r v i c e r e n d e r e d by him." (Emphasis added. ) S e c t i o n 7-4-2511 ( 2 ) , MCA. I n 1972, A t t o r n e y General Woodahl i s s u e d an o p i n i o n i n t e r p r e t i n g t h i s s t a t u t e i n l i g h t of execution fees. We s t a t e d , "There b e i n g no s t a t u t o r y d u t y imposed upon t h e c l e r k s of c o u r t c o n c e r n i n g t h e i s s u a n c e o f p a s s p o r t s , it i s n o t a d u t y o f t h e i r o f f i c e f o r which t h e y a r e r e g u l a r l y compensated ... Therefore,. . . the . . . fee collected f o r i s s u i n g p a s s p o r t s may b e r e t a i n e d by t h e c l e r k s o f c o u r t i n t h e v a r i o u s c o u n t i e s o f t h e s t a t e , and t h e c l e r k s of c o u r t a r e not required t o d e p o s i t t h e s a m e with t h e county t r e a s u r e r f o r d e p o s i t i n t h e c o u n t y g e n e r a l f u n d . " 3 4 Opinion of A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ( 1 9 7 2 ) , 4 1 . In 1979, Attorney General Greely reversed the 1972 opinion, finding that the execution of passports was an "official service" as used in section 7-4-2511(2), MCA. He stated, "The fact that a state official performs a function under federal rather than state law does not necessarily mean that he or she is not rendering an official service. When the individual is permitted to perform the function solely because of his or her official status, he or she renders an official service, regardless of whether the service is authorized by state or federal law." of Attorney General (1979), 46. 38 Opinion Therefore, the Attorney General concluded that county clerks of court must pay the execution fees to the county treasurer. We do not agree with the latest Attorney General opinion. Instead, we would apply the rationale set forth in Anderson v. Hinman (1960), 138 Mont. 397, 357 P.2d 595. Anderson involved the question of whether the clerk of the Supreme Court could retain fees paid by West Publishing Company for copies of opinions of the Supreme Court. Anderson, who was then the attorney general, took the position that the fee paid by West Publishing Company was paid for an official duty of the clerk of the Supreme Court, and therefore the fee must be remitted to the State Treasury. The Supreme Court held, however, that the clerk of the Supreme Court could properly retain the fee for his or her own use. The court in Anderson stated several reasons why the clerk was allowed to retain the fee. First, "[tlhe right of the state to monies collected depends upGn some legislative enactment clearly identifying them as compensation owing to the state." Anderson, 138 Jlont. at 408, 357 P.2d at 901. To determine whether a clear legislative enactment existed, the court in Anderson reviewed the following two statutes: "82-504 [R.C.M. 19471. D u t i e s . I t is t h e duty o f t h e c l e r k [ o f t h e Supreme C o u r t ] t o p e r f o r m s u c h o t h e r d u t i e s a s may b e r e q u i r e d o f him by t h e supreme c o u r t . ... "52-503(2) [R.C.M. 19471. F e e s . A l l f e e s c o l l e c t e d by [ t h e c l e r k o f t h e Supreme C o u r t ] must b e p a i d i n t o t h e s t a t e t r e a s u r y , a l l o f which s h a l l b e c r e d i t e d t o t h e c r e d i t o f t h e S t a t e law l i b r a r y f u n d . " I n l i g h t o f t h e s e s t a t u t e s , t h e c o u r t c o u l d f i n d no l e g i s l a t i v e e n a c t m e n t c l e a r l y i d e n t i f y i n g f e e s p a i d by W e s t P u b l i s h i n g Company t o t h e c l e r k a s compensation owing t o t h e state. I n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e , no s t a t e s t a t u t e e x i s t s which imposes a d u t y upon a c l e r k of D i s t r i c t C o u r t t o e x e c u t e passport applications. Nor i s t h e r e a s t a t u t e which c l e a r l y r e q u i r e s t h e c l e r k t o r e m i t t h e e x e c u t i o n f e e t o t h e county treasurer. T h e r e f o r e , t h e r e i s no " l e g i s l a t i v e e n a c t m e n t c l e a r l y i d e n t i f y i n g [monies c o l l e c t e d ] a s compensation owing t o the State. " supra. Anderson s t a t e d a second r e a s o n why c l e r k s s h o u l d be allowed t o r e t a i n t h e f e e : "Under S e c t i o n 82-504, supra, t h e S t a t e i s c l e a r l y e n t i t l e d t o any monies c o l l e c t e d by t h e c l e r k w h i l e a c t i n g i n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y and p e r f o r m i n g t h e d u t i e s t h e r e i n enumerated and t h e c o n v e r s e i s e q u a l l y t r u e t h a t t h e S t a t e i s n o t e n t i t l e d t o any f e e s e x c e p t t h o s e s e t by l a w . " Anderson a t 409, 357 P.2d a t 901. In the p r e s e n t case, t h e S t a t e has n o t provided f o r t h e d i s p o s i t i o n of e x e c u t i o n f e e s , e v e n though Congress g a v e t h e S t a t e t h e power t o do s o . 2 2 U.S.C. S 214. Therefore, t h e S t a t e h a s n o t " s e t by law" any f e e r e l a t i n g t o t h e e x e c u t i o n o f passports. A t h i r d r e a s o n s t a t e d i n Anderson i s t h a t a f u n c t i o n performed by a c l e r k must b e "demanded by law." Anderson a t 409, 357 P.2d at 902. In the present case, a clerk of District Court is not "demanded by law" to execute passpcrts applications. By federal law, the clerk of the District Court is merely authorized to execute passport applications. 22 C.F,R. S 51.21(b). Mere authorization to perform an act does not impose a mandatory duty upon a public official. If a statute is permissive, as the federal regulation is here, there is no "clear mandatory duty" to perform the function enumerated by the statute. (1979), Mont. Dreyer v. Board of Trustees , 598 P.2d 205, 209, 36 St.Rep. 1396, - Fourth, the court in Anderson stated that "an officer is not obliged, because his office is salaried, to perform all manner of public service without additional conpensation, and for services performed by request, not part of the duties of his office, and which could have been as appropriately performed by any other person, he may recover a proper remuneration." Anderson at 412, 357 P.2d at 903, quoting 67 C.J.S. Officers, 326, S 88. When executing passport applications, a clerk of District Court is performing a discretionary act. It is not "part of the duties of his office," as prescribed in sections 3-5-501 to 3-5-515, PICA, to execute passport fees. In addition, many other persons, including post office personnel, may execute passport applications. Therefore, the clerk of District Court "may recover a proper remuneration." Finally, the court in Anderson emphasized that where there is no state statute fixing a fee, no debt is owing to the State Treasury. Anderson at 412-413, 357 P.2d at 903. Because Congress has imposed the supremacy clause, Art. VI, C l a u s e Two of t h e United S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n , i n t h e a r e a o f passports, t h e S t a t e cannot f i x a f e e f o r execution of passport applications. The s t a t e l e g i s l a t u r e c a n , however, p r o v i d e t h a t any f e e c o l l e c t e d f o r t h e e x e c u t i o n of a p p l i c a t i o n s s h a l l be p a i d t o t h e c o u n t y t r e a s u r e r . I n Montana, t h e l e g i s l a t u r e has f a i l e d t o enact a s p e c i f i c s t a t u t e with regard t o execution fees. T h e r e f o r e , no d e b t i s owed by t h e c l e r k s t o t h e county t r e a s u r e r f o r e x e c u t i o n f e e s i n passport cases, W e h o l d t h a t s i n c e t h e e x e c u t i o n of p a s s p o r t a p p l i c a t i o n s i s n o t an o f f i c i a l d u t y imposed upon a c l e r k of D i s t r i c t C o u r t by s t a t e s t a t u t e , and s i n c e t h e l e g i s l a t u r e h a s n o t e n a c t e d a s p e c i f i c s t a t u t e w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e d i s p o s i t i o n of e x e c u t i o n f e e s , t h e c l e r k h a s no d u t y t o r e m i t t h e f e e s t o t h e c o u n t y g e n e r a l fund. The summary judgment o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t i s r e v e r s e d , w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o e n t e r summary judgment i n favor of t h e clerk-appellant. . r b I 9 - . ( I 2% Justice W e Concur: B Mr. J u s t i c e D a n i e l J . Shea d i s s e n t i n g : I would a f f i r m t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s judgment r e q u i r i n g t h e county c l e r k t o r e m i t t h e p a s s p o r t f e e s t o t h e county treasurer. The c l e r k c o l l e c t s t h e p a s s p o r t f e e s d u r i n g business hours, county t i m e is used, county personnel i s u s e d t o p r o c e s s t h e a p p l i c a t i o n s , c o u n t y equipment i s u s e d and p r e s w t a b l y c o u n t y p o s t a g e i s u s e d t o m a i l t h e passport a p p l i c a t i o n s t o S e a t t l e f o r f i n a l processing. The s e r v i c e i s r e n d e r e d by t h e c l e r k s o l e l y b e c a u s e o f t h e clerk's official status. I a g r e e w i t h t h e o p i n i o n of t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l which held that: "The f a c t t h a t a s t a t e o f f i c i a l p e r f o r m s a f u n c t i o n under f e d e r a l r a t h e r than s t a t e law d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y mean t h a t h e o r s h e i s n o t r e n d e r i n g a n o f f i c i a l s e r v i c e . When t h e i n d i v i d u a l i s permitted t o perform t h e f u n c t i o n s o l e l y because of h i s o r her o f f i c i a l s t a t u s , he o r she r e n d e r s an o f f i c i a l s e r v i c e , r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r t h e s e r v i c e i s a u t h o r i z e d by s t a t e o r f e d e r a l law." 38 O p i n i o n o f A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l (1979) a t 4 6 . The c l e r k s c o l l e c t t h e f e e s u n d e r c o l o r o f t h e i r office. Absent a s t a t u t e s p e c i f i c a l l y a l l o w i n g c l e r k s t o r e t a i n t h e f e e s , t h e f e e s should be t u r n e d o v e r t o t h e county t r e a s u r e r . When t h e c l e r k s t o o k o f f i c e t h e y d i d s o on t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e i r c o m p e n s a t i o n was g o v e r n e d by s e c t i o n 7-4-2503, MCA. This s t a t u t e does n o t permit t h e c l e r k s t o a l s o c o l l e c t c o m p e n s a t i o n i n t h e form o f p a s s p o r t fees.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.