Plaintiffs appeal by right the trial court’s order granting defendant’s motion for summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(8) and denying plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary disposition under MCR 2.116(C)(10). We hold that all plaintiffs lack standing to assert the political questions they raise in their complaint. To the extent that the individual plaintiffs have standing to allege a violation of their civil rights or the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law, the trial court correctly concluded that plaintiffs’ complaint failed to state a claim on which relief can be granted and that the corporate plaintiffs’ derivative claims also fail. We affirm.
I. SUMMARY OF FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
SEMCOG is the acronym of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, a multipurpose regional planning commission formed under MCL 125.11 et seq. SEMCOG is composed of local units of government from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Monroe, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties; membership is voluntary. The federal government has designated SEMCOG as a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the purposes of planning regional transportation projects and eligibility for federal funding. See 23 USC 134 and 49 USC 5303. Plaintiffs contend that the organizational structure of SEMCOG accords the city of Detroit less voting power than the city might otherwise have because of its population as compared to that of other governmental members of SEMCOG.
In essence, plaintiffs claim that because the majority of Detroit’s residents are African-American, the dispar *404 ate voting power of the city as a SEMCOG member violates Michigan’s Civil Rights Act (CRA), MCL 37.2101 et seq., and the Equal Protection Clause of the Michigan Constitution, Const 1963, art 1, § 2. Plaintiffs further argue that the city of Detroit’s alleged illegal disparate voting rights cause SEMCOG to unfairly favor federal funding of road maintenance projects over federal funding of mass transit. Plaintiffs also allege that this bias against funding mass transit violates the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act (PWDCRA), MCL 37.1101 et seq., and plaintiffs’ constitutional right to travel. The city of Fern-dale asserts that inadequate funding of mass transit harms its citizens, basing its claims on the alleged discriminatory structure of SEMCOG.
In its written opinion granting defendant’s motion for summary disposition, the trial court summarized the governing structure of SEMCOG as follows:
The governing structure of SEMCOG is organized into a General Assembly and an Executive Committee. The General Assembly meets at least twice annually to adopt the annual work program, annual budget, and membership fee schedules, amend by-laws, and approve regional plans. Delegates must be elected officials of the designating governmental unit. The Executive Committee (EC) is a subset of the General Assembly and is composed of 46 members. The EC is the main policy committee of SEMCOG, and it meets periodically to review regional studies and to take action on policies and legislation. With the exception of the City of Detroit, membership on the EC is primarily limited to the seven member counties of the region. Membership on the EC is not based on a one person-one vote basis but rather on a modified one government-one vote basis in which additional delegates are allocated to the most heavily populated counties and to the City of Detroit. For example, the City of Detroit is allocated three delegates on the EC for its population of *405 more than 900,000 people. Livingston County, which has a population of less than 200,000 people, is allocated four delegates. Detroit is presently more than 80% African-American, while Livingston County on the opposite extreme is less than 1% African-American. In August 2003, the SEMCOG By-laws Committee was apparently asked to correct the under-representation of the City of Detroit. However, in October 2003, SEMCOG ratified the voting structure and refused to change the by-laws.
Plaintiffs filed their four-count complaint on November 19, 2003. In count I, plaintiffs allege that SEMCOG’s governing structure violates § 302 of the CRA, MCL 37.2302, because it discriminates against residents of Detroit on the basis of their race. In count II, plaintiffs allege that the disparate voting power accorded Detroit in SEMCOG denies African-American residents of the city the equal protection of the laws in violation of Const 1963, art 1, § 2. The city of Ferndale asserts in count III derivative claims based on the alleged racial discrimination set forth in counts I and II. Plaintiffs allege in count IV that the racial discrimination asserted in counts I and II causes SEMCOG to be biased against funding mass transit, which in turn violates the PWDCRA and plaintiffs’ constitutional right to travel. Plaintiffs contend, as stated in their brief on appeal, that “SEMCOG has a duty under the [PWDCRA] to provide for public transportation for those with disabilities” and that defendant violates plaintiffs’ constitutional right to travel by not adequately funding mass transit.
Plaintiffs identify themselves in their complaint as MOSES, Inc. (Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength), a coalition of faith-based nonprofit organizations operating in the Detroit and Wayne County areas; Transportation Riders United, Inc. *406 (TRU), a Detroit-based nonprofit organization that advocates for mass transit and other transportation issues; the city of Ferndale, a member of SEMCOG; Richard Bernstein and Anthony Fillipis, persons with disabilities who reside in southeast Michigan; Phyllis Williamson and Lawrence Birchfield, African-American residents of Detroit who use public transportation; and Marcia Yakes, a Detroit resident with disabilities who uses public transportation.
SEMCOG filed its motion for summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(8), and plaintiffs subsequently filed their motion for partial summary disposition pursuant to MCR 2.116(C)(10). The trial court heard oral arguments on the motions and subsequently authored an opinion stating its reasons for granting defendant’s motion and denying plaintiffs’. The court entered its order accordingly on October 4, 2004.
In its opinion, the trial court first addressed count II, plaintiffs’ constitutional claim. The court reasoned that the constitutional equal protection principle of one person, one vote, i.e., that each qualified voter has a right to cast a ballot that carries a weight equal to that of every other qualified voter, does not apply when government officials may lawfully be appointed to their positions. The court relied on
Sailors v Kent Co Bd of Ed,
The trial court also relied on this Court’s decision in
Van Zanen v Keydel,
In short, the one person-one vote doctrine applies to state and local government units which are composed of members elected by the voters. However, a state or local government may select some government officials by appointment. And where appointment is permissible, the one person-one vote doctrine does not apply. [Id. at 384.]
Applying the principles discussed in these cases to plaintiffs’ equal protection claim, the trial court determined that it must fail because each member government lawfully appointed its representatives to SEMCOG. The trial court wrote:
In the instant case, as a limited-purpose unit of local government with the purpose of regional planning, SEM-COG’s powers and functions are substantially similar to those of the HCMA in Van Zanen or the board of education in Sailors. Moreover, SEMCOG actually lacks several of the *408 powers possessed by the HCMA. Specifically, SEMCOG is not empowered to levy taxes, condemn private property, or issue bonds. Furthermore, although SEMCOG is empowered to allocate about $1 billion in federal transportation funds, when determining whether appointment is constitutional, the Court examines the nature of the activities in which a governmental unit is engaged, not simply the amount of money that the governmental unit is entrusted to allocate. Accordingly, the Court finds that the one person-one vote doctrine does not apply to SEMCOG.
The trial court also rejected plaintiffs’ argument that simply showing an action’s disparate effect could prove a racial discrimination claim under Michigan’s Equal Protection Clause, Const 1963, art 1, § 2. The court relied on
Harville v State Plumbing & Heating, Inc,
The trial court next determined that plaintiffs had failed in count I to state a claim of racial discrimination in violation of § 302 of the CRA, MCL 37.2302. Plaintiffs MOSES, TRU, Yakes, Williamson, and Birchfield *409 brought this claim, but only the last two plaintiffs claimed to be members of the protected class, African-American residents of Detroit, so the trial court dismissed the CRA claims of the other plaintiffs. 1
Regarding the merits of plaintiffs’ CRA claims, the trial court recognized that a § 302 discrimination claim could successfully be established either by showing purposeful discrimination or by showing disparate impact, citing
Reisman v Regents of Wayne State Univ,
Next, the trial court addressed the claims of plaintiffs Bernstein, Fillipis, Williamson, and Yakes, who assert
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in count IV of plaintiffs’ complaint that the racial discrimination alleged in counts I and II causes institutional bias by SEMCOG against funding mass transit, which in turn violates the PWDCRA by denying plaintiffs their civil right to “full and equal utilization of public accommodations, [or] public services,” and denying plaintiffs their constitutional right to travel. The trial court observed that only Bernstein, Fillipis, and Yakes alleged any form of disability, but these plaintiffs failed to allege that their disabilities are unrelated to their ability to utilize and benefit from mass transit. Accordingly, citing
Miller v Detroit,
The trial court also found that plaintiffs had failed to state a claim on which relief could be granted with respect to their constitutional right to travel. The trial court observed that in
Shavers v Attorney General,
The trial court next determined that the claims the city of Ferndale alleged in count III of plaintiffs’ complaint must be dismissed because they “substantially mirror the claims of Counts I and II,” which the court had already determined failed to state a claim for which relief could be granted.
*411 The trial court declined to address the merits of plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary disposition because it had already ruled that all of plaintiffs’ claims lacked legal merit. Except as noted, the trial court did not address defendant’s argument that plaintiffs lacked standing.
n. STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review de novo several questions of law presented in this appeal, including whether plaintiffs have standing and the interpretation or application of statutes and constitutional provisions.
Nat’l Wildlife Federation v Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co,
A party’s motion for summary disposition brought under MCR 2.116(C)(8) tests the factual sufficiency of a claim on the basis of the pleadings alone. A court must grant the motion when no factual development could justify the asserted claim for relief.
Corley v Detroit Bd of Ed,
III. STANDING
Defendant observes that although the alleged under-representation of the city of Detroit in SEMCOG is central to plaintiffs’ claims, the city has chosen for rational reasons not to join plaintiffs’ lawsuit.
2
Defendant argues that plaintiffs lack standing. Defendant
*412
asserts that the general rule of standing applies to plaintiffs: a party lacks standing to vindicate the constitutional rights of a third party.
People v Rocha,
In summary, defendant argues that plaintiffs cannot establish the elements necessary to demonstrate standing; therefore, they cannot raise the claims asserted in their complaint. According to defendant, plaintiffs (1) have suffered no harm greater than that to the public at large, (2) lack a substantial relationship to the city to permit their vicariously asserting any rights the city may have but would be unable to assert, (3) have failed to substantiate an “injury in fact,” and (4) have failed to demonstrate that a proposed remedy — increased voting power of the city as a member of SEMCOG — would result in greater funding of mass transit.
Plaintiffs, of course, disagree. Plaintiffs contend they have standing to bring a declaratory judgment action testing SEMCOG’s structure, citing
House Speaker v Governor,
Plaintiffs also argue they satisfy the three-part test for standing stated in
Lee v Macomb Co Bd of Comm’rs,
We agree with defendant: plaintiffs lack standing. In general, standing requires more than having a “personal stake” in the outcome of litigation sufficient to ensure vigorous advocacy. It requires “ ‘one [to have] in an individual or representative capacity some real interest in the cause of action, or a legal or equitable right, title, or interest in the subject matter of the controversy.’ ”
Bowie v Arder,
However, whether a plaintiff is an individual or an association, the rule of MCR 2.201(B) nonetheless applies: “An action must be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest. . . .” The alleged underrepresentation of the city of Detroit in relation to its population is at the core of plaintiffs’ complaint, but plaintiffs do not allege that they have been authorized to prosecute
*415
this claim on the city’s behalf. “A real party in interest is one who is vested with a right of action in a given claim, although the beneficial interest may be with another.”
Rohde v Arm Arbor Pub Schools,
“First, the plaintiff must have suffered an ‘injury in fact’ — an invasion of a legally protected interest which is (a) concrete and particularized, and (b) ‘actual or imminent, not “conjectural” or “hypothetical.” ’ Second, there must be a causal connection between the injury and the conduct complained of — the injury has to be ‘fairly... traceable to the challenged action of the defendant, and not... the result [of] the independent action of some third party not before the court.’ Third, it must be ‘likely,’ as opposed to merely ‘speculative,’ that the injury will be ‘redressed by a favorable decision.’ ” [Nat’l Wildlife, supra at 628-629, quoting Lee, supra at 739, quoting Lujan, supra at 560-561.]
On these facts, the individual plaintiffs lack standing because they have not alleged an “injury in fact” to a legally protected interest, and the organizational plaintiffs lack standing because they have failed to allege that any of their members have suffered an injury to a legally protected interest that allows the organizations to gain standing vicariously. Nat’l Wildlife, supra at 629; Trout Unlimited, supra at 348. Plaintiffs’ claim that MCR 2.201(B)(4) creates standing here likewise *416 fails. Plaintiffs’ complaint neither seeks to “prevent illegal expenditure of state funds” nor to “test the constitutionality of a statute relating to such an expenditure . . . .” Plaintiffs’ claims sound in civil rights, not appropriations, and therefore do not fit through this narrow loophole into standing.
We also reject plaintiffs’ argument that filing an action for declaratory relief enhances their argument in favor of standing. The declaratory judgment rule, MCR 2.605, neither limits nor expands the subject-matter jurisdiction of the courts, but instead incorporates “traditional restrictions on justiciability such as standing, ripeness, and mootness.”
Associated Builders & Contractors v Dep’t of Consumer & Industry Services Director,
We conclude that plaintiffs here lack standing on any ground, individually and collectively.
IV “INJURY IN FACT”
A. EQUAL PROTECTION CLAIM
In count II of their complaint, plaintiffs allege that affording the city of Detroit less voting power in SEMCOG than the city’s proportionate share of population might dictate denies the city’s African-American residents the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by Const 1963, art 1, § 2. 4 Plaintiffs apparently concede that the trial court correctly ruled that the constitutional principle of one person, one vote does not apply to SEMCOG because its constituent *417 governmental units lawfully appoint their representatives to that body. See Van Zanen, supra at 384. Plaintiffs point to no legal authority, other than the principle of one person, one vote, by which Detroit or its citizens of whatever religion, race, color, or national origin would enjoy a legally protected right to greater representation in the governance of SEMCOG.
It is not enough for an appellant in his brief simply to announce a position or assert and error and then leave it up to this Court to discover and rationalize the basis for his claims, or unravel and elaborate for him his arguments, and then search for authority either to sustain or reject his position. [Mitcham v Detroit,355 Mich 182 , 203;94 NW2d 388 (1959).]
If a party fails to adequately brief a position, or support a claim with authority, it is abandoned.
Yee v Shiawassee Co Bd of Comm’rs,
B. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CLAIM
Plaintiffs argue they have stated a claim of racial discrimination under the second clause of Const 1963, art 1, § 2 because the racial demographics of southeast Michigan are well known, and SEMCOG has refused to accord Detroit greater representation in its governance. We disagree.
Initially we note our agreement with the trial court that a racial discrimination claim under the second clause of Const 1963, art 1, § 2 cannot be established on the basis of a disparate effect alone.
Harville, supra
at 319. Moreover, this Court must follow the rule of law established by a prior published decision of this Court
*418
issued on or after November 1, 1990. MCR 7.215(J)(1);
Horace v City of Pontiac,
More important, and fatal to plaintiffs standing to assert a racial discrimination claim under either Const 1963, art 1, § 2 or § 302 of the CRA, MCL 37.2302, is that Detroit residents have no fundamental right to directly elect the city’s representatives to SEMCOG.
Van Zanen, supra
at 384; see, also,
Moore v Detroit School Reform Bd,
Furthermore, plaintiffs’ claims are based on two more false premises. First, that the city of Detroit is
*419
entitled to greater representation in SEMCOG’s governing structure on the basis of its population. Plaintiffs have failed to support such a claim. Moreover that argument fails for the reason that Detroit’s citizens have no right to directly elect the city’s representatives to SEMCOG. Second, plaintiffs argue that Detroit is the alter ego of its residents and embodies the racial characteristics of its majority racial group.
5
On this basis, plaintiffs argue that disparate treatment of Detroit equates to a disparate impact on or treatment of its major racial group, African-Americans. Again, plaintiffs fail to support this premise with any legal authority; consequently, they have abandoned it.
Mitcham, supra
at 203;
Yee, supra
at 406. Further, opposite authority exists. See
Hearne v Chicago Bd of Ed,
Even if Detroit could assert a right to a greater voice in the governance of SEMCOG, the effect of the denial of such a right would fall equally on all of Detroit’s residents of whatever religion, race, color, or national origin. Accordingly, there is no discrimination “because of... race” either in SEMCOG’s structure or the representation accorded to Detroit. Const 1963, art 1, § 2; Harville, supra at 315-319.
Likewise, plaintiffs cannot establish either a disparate impact or disparate treatment racial discrimination claim under § 302 of the CRA, MCL 37.2302. To establish a disparate treatment racial discrimination claim, plaintiffs “must show that [at least one of the plaintiffs] was a member of the class entitled to protection under the act [here, African-Americans] and that he [or she] *420 was treated differently than persons of a different class for the same or similar conduct.” Reisman, supra at 538. To establish a disparate impact racial discrimination claim, plaintiffs must show that “a facially neutral employment practice burdens a protected class of persons more harshly than others.” Id. at 539. But in this case, the alleged disparate treatment or disparate impact resulting from the alleged underrepresentation accorded Detroit falls equally on all of Detroit’s residents. Consequently, plaintiffs lack standing because they have not alleged “ ‘an “injury in fact” — an invasion of a legally protected interest which is (a) concrete and particularized, and (b) “actual or imminent, not ‘conjectural’ or ‘hypothetical.’ ” ’ ” Lee, supra at 739, quoting Lujan, supra at 560.
C. PLAINTIFFS’ REMAINING CLAIMS
The plaintiffs with disabilities, in count iy and the city of Ferndale, in count III, raise primarily public policy questions regarding governmental spending priorities. As a threshold matter, because even the plaintiffs who are African-American Detroit residents lack standing to assert the alleged racial discrimination and vote-dilution claims of counts I and II, so too the disabled plaintiffs and the city of Ferndale lack standing to assert those claims. Concerning the claims relating to funding allocation in counts III and iy even if SEMCOG were ordered to change its allegedly discriminatory structure, such a remedy would not guarantee plaintiffs’ ultimate goal: increased funding for mass transit. Thus, plaintiffs also fail to satisfy the third element of the three-part test to meet the constitutional minimum requirements for standing, that “ ‘it must be “likely,” as opposed to merely “speculative,” that the injury will be “re *421 dressed by a favorable decision.” ’ ” Nat’l Wildlife, supra at 629, quoting Lee, supra at 739, quoting Lujan, supra at 561.
Additionally, plaintiffs in count IV have failed to satisfy the first element of standing by alleging an “injury in fact” or an invasion of a legally protected interest. Article 3 of the PWDCRA prohibits the denial of the
full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodation or public service because of a disability that is unrelated to the individual’s ability to utilize and benefit from the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations or because of the use by an individual of adaptive devices or aids. [MCL 37.1302(a).]
Further, the PWDCRA requires that “a person shall accommodate a person with a disability for purposes of employment, public accommodation, public service, education, or housing unless the person demonstrates that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship.” MCL 37.1102(2). Thus, when a person offers goods or services to the public, the PWDCRA imposes an affirmative duly to accommodate disabled persons if accommodation can be accomplished without undue hardship on the person offering the goods or services to the public.
Id.-, Cebreco v Music Hall Ctr for the Performing Arts, Inc,
*422 For the same reason, plaintiffs lack standing with respect to the claim involving their constitutional right to travel. The trial court correctly ruled that the constitutional right to travel does not impose on the government any obligation to provide its citizens with any particular mode of transportation. Shavers, supra at 613 n 37. “The right to travel protects movement in the sense of migration, not the individual’s choice of a particular means of transportation.” Id.
V CONCLUSION
In summary, we hold that plaintiffs lack standing because they have individually and collectively failed to allege a concrete, particularized, and actual rather than speculative injury in fact or an invasion of a legally protected interest that would be redressed by the remedies sought.
Although plaintiffs contend that the trial court erred procedurally by not allowing plaintiffs to amend their complaint or conduct further discovery, they do not suggest that the essence of their complaint would be altered if such requests were granted. Consequently, we conclude that granting a motion to amend would be futile.
Ormsby v Capital Welding, Inc,
In the course of reviewing whether plaintiffs have satisfied the constitutional requirement of standing by alleging an “injury in fact,” we have, like the trial court, addressed the merits of whether plaintiffs have stated claims for which relief may be granted. Generally, we
*423
agree that the trial court reached the correct result by concluding that plaintiffs have not stated claims for which relief may be granted. We will affirm the trial court when it reaches the correct result even if for a wrong or different reason.
Gleason v Dep’t of Transportation,
We affirm.
Notes
The trial court noted that MOSES and TRU faded to allege that they represented members of a protected class.
Defendant notes that although city residents comprise 20 percent of the population in the SEMCOG planning region, the city receives 30 *412 percent of available federal transportation funds. Also, Detroit is the only-city member of SEMCOG with direct voting power on the executive committee.
MCR 2.201(B)(4) provides:
An action to prevent illegal expenditure of state funds or to test the constitutionality of a statute relating to such an expenditure may be brought:
(a) in the name of a domestic nonprofit corporation organized for civic, protective, or improvement purposes; or
(b) in the names of at least 5 residents of Michigan who own property assessed for direct taxation by the county where they reside.
“No person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws; nor shall any person be denied the enjoyment of his civil or political rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of religion, race, color or national origin. The legislature shall implement this section by appropriate legislation.” Const 1963, art 1, § 2.
Plaintiffs assert in their brief that “ ‘Detroit’ is a proxy for ‘African-American.’ ”