COUNTY OF LANCASTER, NEBRASKA, APPELLEE, V. COUNTY OF CUSTER, NEBRASKA, APPELLANT.
No. S-22-269
Supreme Court of Nebraska
Filed February 24, 2023
313 Neb. 622
Cassel, J.
___ N.W.2d ___
Rules of the Supreme Court: Appeal and Error. Parties who wish to secure appellate review of their claims must abide by the rules of the Nebraska Supreme Court. Any party who fails to properly identify and present its claim does so at its own peril. - ____: ____. Depending on the particulars of each case, failure to comply with the mandates of
Neb. Ct. R. App. P. § 2-109(D) (rev. 2022) may result in an appellate court waiving the error, proceeding on a plain error review only, or declining to conduct any review at all. - Appeal and Error. Where the assignments of error consist of headings or subparts of arguments and are not within a designated assignments of error section, an appellate court may proceed as though the party failed to file a brief, providing no review at all, or, alternatively, may examine the proceedings for plain error.
- ____. Plain error is error plainly evident from the record and of such a nature that to leave it uncorrected would result in damage to the integrity, reputation, or fairness of the judicial process.
- Jurisdiction: Statutes. Subject matter jurisdiction and statutory interpretation present questions of law.
- Judgments: Appeal and Error. An appellate court independently reviews questions of law decided by a lower court.
- Jurisdiction: Appeal and Error. It is the power and duty of an appellate court to determine whether it has jurisdiction over the matter before it, irrespective of whether the issue is raised by the parties.
- ____: ____. If the court from which an appeal was taken lacked jurisdiction, then the appellate court acquires no jurisdiction.
- Statutes: Appeal and Error. Statutory language is to be given its plain and ordinary meaning, and an appellate court will not resort to
interpretation to ascertain the meaning of statutory words which are plain, direct, and unambiguous. - Statutes. It is not within the province of a court to read a meaning into a statute that is not warranted by the language; neither is it within the province of a court to read anything plain, direct, or unambiguous out of a statute.
- ____. If the language of a statute is clear, the words of such statute are the end of any judicial inquiry regarding its meaning.
- ____. To the extent conflict exists between two statutes, the specific statute controls over the general.
- Jurisdiction: Counties: Contracts. Compliance with
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-135 (Reissue 2022) is mandatory, and the county board has exclusive original jurisdiction, in cases against the county involving claims arising out of contract and containing quasi-judicial questions of fact. - Contracts: Intent: Words and Phrases. The term “implied contract” refers to that class of obligations that arises from mutual agreement and intent to promise, when the agreement and promise have simply not been expressed in words.
- Restitution: Unjust Enrichment. An “implied-in-law contract,” also known as a “quasi-contract,” is not a contract.
- Claims: Restitution: Unjust Enrichment. Quasi-contract claims are restitution claims to prevent unjust enrichment.
- Restitution: Unjust Enrichment. Quasi-contractual obligations do not arise from an agreement; instead, the law imposes them when justice and equity require the defendant to disgorge a benefit that he or she has unjustifiably obtained at the plaintiff‘s expense.
- Counties: Statutes: Liability. The liability of one county to another for the support of a poor person is purely statutory.
- Contracts: Statutes: Legislature: Intent: Presumptions. Although a statute can be the source of a contractual right, a contract will be found to exist only if the statutory language evinces a clear and unmistakable indication that the Legislature intends to bind itself contractually. The general rule is that rights conferred by statute are presumed not to be contractual.
- Counties: Statutes. By statute, a county has a mandatory duty to provide for poor persons whether or not they are residents of the county.
- Counties: Statutes: Liability. The right to enforce the liability of one county to another county for expenses paid by the former in caring for a poor person whose residence is in the latter county requires compliance with statutory terms and conditions.
- Statutes: Liability. When a statute gives a right and creates a liability which did not exist at common law, and at the same time points out
a specific method by which the right can be asserted and the liability ascertained, that method must be strictly pursued.
Appeal from the District Court for Lancaster County: ANDREW R. JACOBSEN, Judge. Affirmed.
Steven R. Bowers, Custer County Attorney, for appellant.
Eric Synowicki, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney, and Daniel James Zieg for appellee.
HEAVICAN, C.J., MILLER-LERMAN, CASSEL, FUNKE, PAPIK, and FREUDENBERG, JJ., and POLK, District Judge.
CASSEL, J.
I. INTRODUCTION
Upon moving to a different county in Nebraska, an indigent individual applied for general assistance. That county furnished assistance and requested reimbursement from the county where the individual formerly lived. After denial of the request, the furnishing county sued and obtained a summary judgment. The other county appealed but failed to properly assign error. Because we conclude that compliance with the county claims statute1 is not mandatory and jurisdictional when seeking reimbursement under the general assistance statutes,2 the district court possessed subject matter jurisdiction. Having elected to review for plain error and finding none, we affirm the district court‘s grant of summary judgment.
II. BACKGROUND
1. GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The county board of each county is “the overseer of the poor.”3 Each Nebraska county has general assistance programs to provide benefits to indigent persons who are not eligible
The general assistance shall come out of the treasury of the county in which the poor person has legal settlement at the time of applying for such assistance.6 A person “who has resided one year continuously in any county, shall be deemed to have a legal settlement in such county.”7
A county may be required to provide for a poor person even if he or she does not have legal settlement in that county.8 “[W]henever any poor person not having a legal settlement in the county is found in distress, without friends or money, so that he or she is likely to suffer, it shall be the duty of the county board to furnish such temporary assistance . . . as it shall deem necessary.”9 Upon the poor person‘s application for relief, if the county board is unable to ascertain the person‘s last place of legal residence, “the county board shall proceed in its discretion to provide for such poor person in the same manner as other poor persons are directed to be provided for.”10 A different statute similarly provides that if a person applies for aid in a county in which he or she has not established a legal settlement, the person “shall be duly taken care of by the proper authority of the county where he or she may be found.”11
2. APPLICATION FOR GENERAL ASSISTANCE
On May 2, 2019, Michael Taul signed and submitted a “Lancaster County General Assistance Application.” Taul‘s application listed an address in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, which the application showed to be his daughter‘s address. But it also stated that he lived in Broken Bow, Nebraska, for 10 years, from “06/09” to “05/19.” Broken Bow is located in the County of Custer (Custer County). Taul listed medical problems, stated that he was physically incapable of working, and asserted that he could not afford to pay his bills or to see a doctor. An eligibility worker approved Taul‘s application.
3. ASSISTANCE
Lancaster County provided general assistance services for Taul. The total amount provided from May 6 to November 11, 2019, amounted to $31,422.08. Taul became ineligible to receive further general assistance upon being approved for and receipt of Supplemental Security Income.
4. REQUEST FOR REMOVAL AND REIMBURSEMENT
On July 11, 2019, the Lancaster County clerk sent a letter to the Custer County clerk concerning Taul. The letter stated that documentation showed Taul‘s legal settlement was in Custer County. It further stated:
Pursuant to
Neb. Rev. Stat. §[]68-144 , this letter shall serve as official notice to Custer County . . . that . . . Taul has become chargeable as a poor person in a county, which he or she has not established a legal settlement as [sic] the time of applying for aid. Lancaster County . . . is requesting the authorities of Custer County . . . to promptly remove . . . Taul from Lancaster County . . . and to pay the expense accrued by Lancaster County . . . in taking care of . . . Taul. Any assistance provided by Lancaster County . . . to . . . Taul will be billed to Custer County . . . for reimbursement.
The Custer County Attorney acknowledged receipt of the letter. He requested that the Lancaster County clerk provide documentation “required to make the determination for [Taul‘s] application.” The Lancaster County clerk responded via letter and provided additional information.
A year later, the Lancaster County clerk sent a request for reimbursement to the Custer County clerk. It included an itemization of expenses paid on Taul‘s behalf and requested $27,179.11. On October 13, 2020, the Custer County clerk provided written notice to the Lancaster County clerk that the Custer County Board of Supervisors “disallowed your claim.”
The Lancaster County clerk subsequently sent a formal “Demand for Reimbursement” to the Custer County clerk. By letter dated November 25, 2020, the Custer County Attorney informed Lancaster County that the Custer County Board of Supervisors denied the claim under
5. COMPLAINT AND ANSWER
In April 2021, Lancaster County sued Custer County in the district court for Lancaster County. The complaint alleged
In Custer County‘s responsive pleading, it set forth several affirmative defenses. One claimed that Lancaster County failed to follow
6. SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Lancaster County moved for summary judgment. Following a hearing, the court entered an order sustaining the motion. The court determined that it had subject matter jurisdiction over the action, reasoning that the claim submission and appeal procedures in
Custer County filed a timely appeal, and we moved the case to our docket.13
III. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
Custer County‘s brief contains no section for assignments of error. It does not comply with our appellate court rules.
[1,2] Parties who wish to secure appellate review of their claims must abide by the rules of the Nebraska Supreme Court.16 Any party who fails to properly identify and present its claim does so at its own peril.17 Depending on the particulars of each case, failure to comply with the mandates of
Custer County‘s brief contains headings in the argument section which allege error by the trial court, but argument headings are insufficient. We have consistently rejected headings in the argument section as a sufficient substitute for assignments of error contained in the proper place and properly designated.19
[3] Where the assignments of error consist of headings or subparts of arguments and are not within a designated assignments of error section, an appellate court may proceed as though the party failed to file a brief, providing no review at all, or, alternatively, may examine the proceedings for plain error.20 We will review for plain error.
IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW
[4] Plain error is error plainly evident from the record and of such a nature that to leave it uncorrected would result in damage to the integrity, reputation, or fairness of the judicial process.21
[5,6] Subject matter jurisdiction and statutory interpretation present questions of law.22 An appellate court independently reviews questions of law decided by a lower court.23
V. ANALYSIS
1. JURISDICTION
(a) Appellate Court Duty
[7,8] It is the power and duty of an appellate court to determine whether it has jurisdiction over the matter before it, irrespective of whether the issue is raised by the parties.24 If the court from which an appeal was taken lacked jurisdiction, then the appellate court acquires no jurisdiction.25 Because of that duty, we consider Custer County‘s argument related to jurisdiction, even though our review is otherwise limited to a search for plain error.
(b) Parties’ Jurisdictional Paths
The parties disagree on whether the district court had subject matter jurisdiction. They offer different jurisdictional paths.
(i) Lancaster County: § 68-145
Lancaster County relies on the general assistance statutes. It highlights the language of
(ii) Custer County: § 23-135
Custer County contends that Lancaster County had to follow the procedure in
(iii) District Court‘s Determination
The court determined that the claim submission and appeal procedures in
(c) Principles of Statutory Interpretation
[9-11] The parties’ arguments require interpretation of statutes. Statutory language is to be given its plain and ordinary meaning, and an appellate court will not resort to interpretation to ascertain the meaning of statutory words which are plain, direct, and unambiguous.29 It is not within the
(d) Specific Statute Versus General Statute
[12] To the extent conflict exists between two statutes, the specific statute controls over the general.32 During oral argument, the parties took different positions regarding which statute,
(e) When Is County Claim Procedure Mandatory?
The county claims statute has ancient roots. The Legislature enacted a precursor to
[13] We have adhered to this interpretation. Compliance with the county claims statute is mandatory, and the county board has exclusive original jurisdiction, in cases against the county involving claims arising out of contract and containing quasi-judicial questions of fact.35
(f) Does Claim for Reimbursement Arise From Contract?
A claim must arise out of contract in order for compliance with the county claims statute to be required. Lancaster County contends that the right to reimbursement arises under statute, not contract. Custer County disagrees.
No express contract between Lancaster County and Custer County is involved. But Custer County argues that there is a contract between Taul and Lancaster County based on the application for general assistance. Custer County highlights that the application contained a subrogation provision for the applicant‘s claim against a third party, which provision is required by statute.36 However, the application did not establish a contractual relationship between Lancaster County—the claimant here—and Custer County.
[14] Nor is there an implied contract between Lancaster County and Custer County. “The term ‘implied contract’ refers to that class of obligations that arises from mutual agreement and intent to promise, when the agreement and promise have simply not been expressed in words.”37 Here, there was no mutual agreement and intent to promise between Lancaster County and Custer County. And an implied contract, which refers to an “implied-in-fact contract,” should not be confused with an “implied-in-law contract.”38
[15-17] An “implied-in-law contract,” also known as a “quasi-contract,” is not a contract.39 Quasi-contract claims are restitution claims to prevent unjust enrichment.40 Quasi-contractual obligations do not arise from an agreement; instead, the law imposes them when justice and equity require the
[18,19] The liability of one county to another for the support of a poor person is purely statutory.43 Although a statute can be the source of a contractual right, a contract will be found to exist only if the statutory language evinces a clear and unmistakable indication that the Legislature intends to bind itself contractually. The general rule is that rights conferred by statute are presumed not to be contractual.44
Courts in other states considering an action by one county or town against another for support of the poor have concluded that a county‘s liability for the support of indigent individuals is not contractual. These courts have stated that the obligation is purely statutory and that a demand for the support of the poor has none of the elements of a contract, express or implied.45
We conclude Lancaster County‘s claim for reimbursement from Custer County is one arising in statute. It is quasi-contractual in nature—an “obligation[] created by law for reasons of justice.”46 Accordingly, compliance with the county claims statute is not mandatory.
In neither case did we discuss jurisdiction, mention the county claims statute, or proclaim that compliance with the county claims statute was the exclusive way to reach the district court. We observe that another case made no mention of a claim‘s being filed with a county board or of the action being an appeal from a board‘s decision.50 We do not read these cases as requiring the filing of a claim. We see no reason why Lancaster County could not have pursued that route, if it had chosen to do so. But as discussed above, only in cases against the county involving claims arising out of contract and containing quasi-judicial questions of fact does the county board have exclusive original jurisdiction.51
(g) Compliance With Chapter 68 Procedure
[20-22] By statute, a county has a mandatory duty to provide for poor persons whether or not they are residents of the county.52 The right to enforce the liability of one county to another county for expenses paid by the former in caring for a poor person whose residence is in the latter county requires compliance with statutory terms and conditions.53 We have stated that “when a statute gives a right and creates a liability which did not exist at common law, and at the same time points out a specific method by which the right can be asserted and the liability ascertained, that method must be strictly pursued.”54
The statutes set forth duties for the county where the poor person is found and for the county of the poor person‘s legal settlement. The clerk of the county board where the poor person has become chargeable has the duty to mail a notice to the clerk of the county board of the poor person‘s legal settlement that “such person has become chargeable as a poor person, and requesting the authorities of such county to promptly remove such poor person and to pay the expense accrued in taking care of him or her.”55 If the poor person cannot be removed, “then the county taking charge of such individual may sue for, and recover from the county to which such individual belongs, the amount expended for and in behalf of such poor person and in taking care of such person.”56
The ancient “pauper” statutes contained similar provisions. The precursor statutes referred to “send[ing] a notice by mail to the clerk” of the county commissioners or county board
Lancaster County complied with the statutory procedure. The Lancaster County clerk mailed a “Notice of Removal and Payment” to the Custer County clerk. It stated that Taul “has become chargeable as a poor person in a county, which he or she has not established a legal settlement as [sic] the time of applying for aid.” The notice requested that Custer County authorities promptly remove Taul from Lancaster County and pay the expense Lancaster County accrued in taking care of Taul. Custer County did not remove Taul. (We doubt that Custer County could have done so without Taul‘s voluntary participation and consent.) Nor did Custer County pay expenses incurred by Lancaster County. Thus,
As authorized by
2. PLAIN ERROR REVIEW
Having resolved the jurisdictional issue, we proceed to the merits. But because no errors were properly assigned, we review for plain error only. We find none.
The district court granted Lancaster County a summary judgment. The court concluded that it had jurisdiction and that
We see no error plainly evident from the record. Accordingly, we affirm the grant of summary judgment in Lancaster County‘s favor.
VI. CONCLUSION
We conclude that compliance with the county claims statute is not mandatory and jurisdictional when a county which furnished general assistance to an indigent individual complies with the general assistance statutes in seeking reimbursement from the indigent individual‘s county of legal settlement. Because Lancaster County so complied and we see no plain error, we affirm the district court‘s summary judgment.
AFFIRMED.
Stacy, J., not participating.
