Thе City of Chesterfield (City) appeals from the trial court’s order dismissing its complaint against DeShetler Homes, Inc. (Developer). City alleges the trial court erred by failing tо treat all the facts in the information as true. We reverse and remand.
I. Background
On March 15, 1986, the St. Louis County Council issued Ordinance 12,528 authorizing Developer to construct and develop a subdivision within City’s limits. One condition set out in the ordinance required Developer to protect against siltation of retention areas in adjoining subdivisions. 12,528 4(b). The ordinance also required Developer to post a bond, before grading began, to assure maintenance of the adjoining property. 12,528 4(c).
On August 29, 1995, City filed a Municipаl Ordinance Violation Notice, alleging that Developer was in violation of 12,528 4(b) and (c) from January 7, 1992, to the present. The information filed by City included the following allеgation:
... DEFENDANT WILLINGLY AND UNLAWFULLY:
FAILED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SILTATION CONTROL DEVICES DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE WILSON MANOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN SILTATION DETENTION AREAS SUCH THAT LAKE 1 AND LAKE 2 OF THE CHESTERFIELD LAKES SUBDIVISION HAVE BECOME SILTED. ALL IN VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 12,538 (sic) SECTION 4(B) AND (C). DESHETLER HOMES, INC. HAS FURTHER VIOLATED SAID ORDINANCE BY FAILING TO REMOVE ALL SILT WHICH HAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN SAID LAKES DURING CONSTRUCTION (sic) OF WILSON MANOR AS REQUESTED.
City’s information was in writing, signed by the prosecutor, and filed in the Municipal Court of Chesterfield. The notice named Developer as the defendant, alleged that the violation took place from “JANUARY 7,1992 THRU PRESENT,” and again noted that Section 12,528 4(b) and (c) had been violated.
*673 On February 23, 1996, Developer filed a Motion to Dismiss. On April 1, 1996, the trial court issued an order granting Developer’s Motion to Dismiss. This appeal follows.
II.Jurisdiction
The trial court’s hand-written order dismissing the case merely reads, “Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss granted. All other motions under submission denied as moot.” We note that under Rule 67.03, an involuntary dismissal is without prejudice unless the court specifically notes otherwise in the order. But, an appeal from such a dismissal can be taken where the dismissal has the practical effect of terminating the litigation in the form cast or in the plaintiffs chosen forum.
Skaggs v. Skaggs,
III.Motion to Dismiss/Summary Judgment
Next, we must determine whethеr the trial court’s order constitutes a dismissal or a summary judgment. Apparently, along with its motion to dismiss, Developer presented to the court several documents оutside the pleadings. These documents included a copy of Ordinance 12,528, a copy of an Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit, and a copy of a Jаnuary 7, 1992, letter from City notifying Developer it was in violation of the ordinance.
Developer points out that under Rule 55.27, when information outside the pleadings are presented to and not excluded by the court, a motion to dismiss is to be treated as one for summary judgment. Citing
King Gen. Contr., Inc. v. Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
IV.Sufficiency of the Information
We now turn to City’s sole point. It alleges the trial court erred in granting Developer’s Motion to Dismiss because it failed to treat all the facts in the information as true, as the information alleged all of the proper elements for a violation of Ordinance 12,528.
When reviewing the dismissal of a cause of action, we examine the pleadings, allowing the broadest intendment, treating all alleged facts as true, and construing the allegations in favor of the pleader, to determine whether they invoke principles of substantive law.
Buchanan v. Rentenbach Constructors, Inc.,
Under Rule 37.35, in order for an information to be sufficient, it must be in writing, signed by the prosecutor, and filed in the court with jurisdiction over the ordinance violation. Rule 37.35(a). Further, the information itself must (1) state the name of the defendant; (2) plainly, concisely, and definitely state the essential facts constituting a violation; (3) state the time and place of the violation; (4) cite the chapter and section of the ordinance allegedly violated; and (5) state the name of the prosecuting county. Rule 37.35(b). An information charging a violation of a city ordinance must allege spe
*674
cific facts amounting to a violation.
City of Joplin v. Graham,
A review of the information shows that all of the procedural requirements of Rule 37.35 have been met. In addition, the information specifically alleges that Developer failed to provide adequаte siltation control devices during construction and failed to maintain the siltation areas named in the ordinance. Therefore, by treating all alleged facts as true, we find that City’s information satisfies the requirements under Rule 37.35.
We now turn to Developer’s Motion to Dismiss. This motion alleged three different theories for dismissal: (A) That violation of a municipal zoning ordinance is a misdemean- or, and subject to a one-year statute of limitations from the last date of ownership of the property in question, February 2, 1990; (B) that Developer had no ownership interest at the time of the violation, and therefore, could not violate the zoning ordinance for the property in question; and, (C) that Developer complied with the terms and conditions of the ordinance. Generally, a petition is sufficient against a motion tо dismiss if its allegations invoke substantive principles of law which entitle a plaintiff to relief and if it alleges facts which inform the defendant of what the plaintiff will attempt to prove at trial.
Murray v. Ray,
In its brief, Developer does not advance arguments for theories (B) and (C) above. These arguments, in view of the information, require more evidence to decide than that included in the information and the motion to dismiss.
Developer argues, however, that a municipal ordinance violation is a misdemeanor and that the one-year statute of limitations applies; and further, that the statute of limitations runs from the date of last ownership of the property in question. Case law clearly refutes Developer’s initial contention. It has long been held that proceedings in municipal courts for violations of municipal ordinаnces are civil actions to recover a debt due the city or to impose a penalty for the infraction.
Kansas City v. Stricklin,
Finally, Developer cites us to no valid authority that the statute of limitations begins to run at the time the acts complained of are committed. In fact, the statute of limitations begins to run from the time the damages are capable of ascertainment. § 516.100, RSMo 1994;
Harting v. City of Black Jack,
We reverse and remand to the trial court for further proceedings.
Notes
. We note that this court recently held, in
St. Louis County v. Corse,