Miller v. Campbell County

• Decision Date: 25 August 1995
• Docket Number: No. 94-200,94-200
• Citation: 901 P.2d 1107
• Parties: H. Douglas MILLER and Danene R. Miller, individually and as conservator(s) of Laura K. Miller, Lindy L. Miller and Clint T. Miller, minors; Steve Adams and Peggy Adams, individually and as conservator(s) of Christie Adams and Jamie Adams, minors; Scott G. Anderson and Tobey J. Anderson, individually and as conservator(s) of Michael Todd Anderson, Chanel S. Anderson, and Tobin P. Anderson, minors; Paul D. Bailey, Jr.; Roxanne G. Randall; Robert L. Bailey, Della A. Bailey, individually and as conservator(s) of Della Larae Bailey, a minor child; Leroy D. Barnett; Betty C. Barnett; Susan Bechtel, individually and as conservator(s) of Laurie Johnson, Lisa Johnson, and Steven Bechtel, minors; Roger Biesheuvel and Joanne Biesheuvel, individually and as conservator(s) of James Biesheuvel and Justin Biesheuvel, minors; James J. Birgen and Donna J. Birgen, individually and as conservator(s) of Joseph J. Birgen, Rebecca A. Birgen and Jeffrey J. Birgen, minors; Gabriel Bueno; Barbara Gutierrez, individually and as conservator(s) of Lori Gutierrez, Leanne Gutierrez, and Lexis Gutierrez, minors; Jimima Bulkley, individually and as conservator(s) of Elena Bulkley, a minor; Kenneth E. Burr, Twyla A. Burr, individually and as conservator of Bridgett Burr, Staci Burr, and Travis Burr; Martha M. Cain, conservator of Forrest Cain and Foster Cain, minors; Delbert H. Carson; Clio L. Carson; Ernest Champion and Kathy L. Champion, individually and as conservator(s) of Lacy J. Champion, a minor; Russell Conley and Catherine Conley, individually and as conservator(s) of Candace A. Conley and Bridgette A. Conley, minors; Chloe Jean Conrad, individually and as conservator(s) of Michelle L. Parker, and Robin A. Parker, minors; Kyle L. Craig and Julianne S. Craig, individually and as conservator(s) of Darin K. Craig and Dustin Joseph Craig, minors; Michael L. Dennis and Marieta R. Dennis, individually and as conservator(s) of Sarah M. Dennis, a minor; David L. Dorson and Vicky Dorson, individual
• Court: Wyoming Supreme Court

Page 1107

901 P.2d 1107

H. Douglas MILLER and Danene R. Miller, individually and as conservator(s) of Laura K. Miller, Lindy L. Miller and Clint T. Miller, minors; Steve Adams and Peggy Adams, individually and as conservator(s) of Christie Adams and Jamie Adams, minors; Scott G. Anderson and Tobey J. Anderson, individually and as conservator(s) of Michael Todd Anderson, Chanel S. Anderson, and Tobin P. Anderson, minors; Paul D. Bailey, Jr.; Roxanne G. Randall; Robert L. Bailey, Della A. Bailey, individually and as conservator(s) of Della Larae Bailey, a minor child; Leroy D. Barnett; Betty C. Barnett; Susan Bechtel, individually and as conservator(s) of Laurie Johnson, Lisa Johnson, and Steven Bechtel, minors; Roger Biesheuvel and Joanne Biesheuvel, individually and as conservator(s) of James Biesheuvel and Justin Biesheuvel, minors; James J. Birgen and Donna J. Birgen, individually and as conservator(s) of Joseph J. Birgen, Rebecca A. Birgen and Jeffrey J. Birgen, minors; Gabriel Bueno; Barbara Gutierrez, individually and as conservator(s) of Lori Gutierrez, Leanne Gutierrez, and Lexis Gutierrez, minors; Jimima Bulkley, individually and as conservator(s) of Elena Bulkley, a minor; Kenneth E. Burr, Twyla A. Burr, individually and as conservator of Bridgett Burr, Staci Burr, and Travis Burr; Martha M. Cain, conservator of Forrest Cain and Foster Cain, minors; Delbert H. Carson; Clio L. Carson; Ernest Champion and Kathy L. Champion, individually and as conservator(s) of Lacy J. Champion, a minor; Russell Conley and Catherine Conley, individually and as conservator(s) of Candace A. Conley and Bridgette A. Conley, minors; Chloe Jean Conrad, individually and as conservator(s) of Michelle L. Parker, and Robin A. Parker, minors; Kyle L. Craig and Julianne S. Craig, individually and as conservator(s) of Darin K. Craig and Dustin Joseph Craig, minors; Michael L. Dennis and Marieta R. Dennis, individually and as conservator(s) of Sarah M. Dennis, a minor; David L. Dorson and Vicky Dorson, individually and as conservator(s) of Sean Dorson and Amber Dorson, minors; John N. Downey and Patricia G. Downey, individually and as conservator(s) of Christopher S. Downey, Catherine N. Downey, Coral Downey and Conrad J. Downey, minors; Dennis P. Duncan; Marianne L. Duncan; Glenn R. Edwards and Jean M. Edwards, individually and as conservator(s) of Craig A. Edwards, Cory G. Edwards and Carey J. Edwards, minors; Steven W. Feddersen and Vicki J. Feddersen, individually and as conservator(s) of Brandi Feddersen, Amber Feddersen, Crystal Feddersen, and Lance Feddersen, minors; Howard E. Foskett and Nguyen Foskett, individually and as conservator(s) of Jack Foskett and Patty Foskett, minors; Donald P. French and Martha French, individually and as conservator(s) of Kaylene French and Marlaina French, minors; Thomas Fries and Luann Fries, individually and as conservator(s) of Krista Fries, Jarred Fries, and Janell Fries, minors; Ron R. Hedlund, individually and as conservator(s) of Veronica Ray Hedlund, a minor; Steven G. Hill and Josefina Hill, individually and as conservator(s) of Andrew J. Hill, Christopher J. Hill, and Joseph L. Hill, minors; James H. Kelley and Alinda K. Kelley, individually and as conservator(s) of James B. Kelley and Windy K. Kelley, minors; Charles R. Kiesel and Dawn M. Kiesel, individually and as conservator(s) of Jennifer D. Kiesel, a minor; George A. Labbe; Marilynn C. Labbe; Mary Godley Little; Samuel E. Lord, Sr.; Jeraldine D. Lord; Wayne J. Manning and Marie Manning, individually and as conservator(s) of Thomas Manning, a minor; Kenneth L. McCoy and Kathleen G. McCoy, individually and as conservator(s) of Benny Dial, Brian McCoy, Kevin McCoy and Jeremiah McCoy, minors; Randall D. Meyer and Cynthia A. Meyer, individually and as conservator(s) of Stacey Meyer, Travis Meyer and Alicia Meyer, minors; Raymond G. Miller and Connie J. Miller, individually and as conservator(s) of Shawn L. Miller, Shane T. Miller and Bryan G. Miller, minors; Matt E. Niemitalo; David E. Nelson, individually and as conservator(s) of Misty K. Nelson, David J. Nelson and Adam C. Nelson, minors, Bonnie O'Blasney, individually and as conservator(s) of Jeremy O'Blasney, a minor; Randall L. Omvig and Ellen G. Omvig, individually and as conservator(s) of Jacob J. Omvig, Joshua L. Omvig, and Rachel Lou Omvig, minors; Ralph Oswald and Frances J. Oswald; Brad Russell; Roger Pfeil and Linda Pfeil, individually and as conservator(s) of Ronnie Pfeil, Robert Pfeil, Ryan Pfeil, Richard Pfeil, and Christina Pfeil, minors; Virginia Reed, individually and as conservator of Tyler Miller and Ross Reed, minors; Darrell Rogers and Katherine Rogers, individually and as conservator(s) of Randy Rogers and William Rogers, minors; Robert R. Rosier; Elsie Rosier; William M. Savage and Diane L. Savage, individually and as conservator(s) of Scott R. Miller, Wendy L. Miller, Cory J. Miller, Chris M. Savage, Laura D. Savage, Tara L. Savage and Kathy L. Savage, minors; Lyle H. Schillinger and Marjorie Schillinger, individually and as conservator(s) of Angel Schillinger, Jeremy Schillinger, Melissa Schillinger and David Schillinger, minors; William M. Schmidt and Cindy Schmidt, individually and as conservator(s) of Luke Schmidt and Zach Schmidt, minors; Robert J. Schweitzer and Debra R. Schweitzer, individually and as conservator(s) of Heather James, Christy Porter and Dennis Schweitzer, minors; Ricky D. Shank and Lavonna L. Shank, individually and as conservator(s) of Troy E. Shank and Cory D. Shank, minors; Steven P. Skinner and Solidad R. Skinner, individually and as conservator(s) of Suzanna J. Skinner and Steven P. Skinner, Jr., minors; Howard Spears and Mavis A. Spears, individually and as conservator(s) of Sherry L. Spears and Michael L. Spears, minors; Victor Suhr and Gloria Suhr; Daniel Suhr; Burl H. Tabor and Luraetta K. Tabor; Dennis J. Uran and Ginger R. Uran, individually and as conservator(s) of Shawna Uran, Beau Uran, and Abby Uran, minors; Raymond C. Wall and Adah Wall, individually and as conservator(s) of Dusty Wall, a minor; W. Ben Wieser and Linda L. Wieser, individually and as conservator(s) of David Lee Mines, a minor; Brian Witt and Cindy Witt, individually and as conservator(s) of Chance Witt, Riley Witt, and Abby J. Witt, minors; Ricky L. Swanson and Kathy Swanson, individually and as conservator(s) of Amber Swanson, Aurora Swanson and Waylon Swanson, minors; Gerald L. Wilk and Billie Jo Wilk, individually and as conservator(s) of Sabrina Wilk, a minor; Mary Lou Carroll; Carl Len Black and Jane Black, individually and as conservator(s) of Jessica L. Black and Jamie L. Black, minors; Billy Gene Brown and Peggy Jo Brown, individually and as conservator(s) of Carrie Lynn Brown, a minor; Raquel Lea Randolph; Michael William Brown; Sherrie M. Brown, individually and as conservator of Lacey Brown and Joshua Brown, minors; Steven Joe Dutton and Rachel Ann Dutton, individually and as conservator(s) of Steven S. Dutton, Alysa Rae Dutton, and Danita Jo Dutton; Thomas N. Falk, II; Bonnie Lou Falk, individually and as conservator of Thomas N. Falk, Jr., Kristofer J. Falk, Sherri Beth Falk, Nicholas S. Falk, minors; Dennes Foy and Patricia Foy, individually and as conservator(s) of Christopher Foy and Stacy L. Foy, minors; Gerald D. Green; Thomas E. Harrison and Carol Harrison, individually and as conservator(s) of Noel E. Harrison and Edward L. Harrison, minors; David Krog, individually and as conservator of Chrystal Krog and Mitchelle Krog, minors; Hugh A. Polly; Johnnie Marie Polly; Frank

Seip and Julene Seip, individually and as conservator(s) of Afton Seip and Sunny L. Seip, minors; Teresa E. (Paxton) Lish, individually and as conservator(s) of Travis L. Carroll and Jennifer Kuhn, minors; Leo L. Sherrodd; Charlotte A. Sherrodd; Glenn E. Webb; Leona Webb; Ron Just and Susan Just, individually and as conservator(s) of Christopher J. Just, Michael A. Just and Nicholas A. Just, minors; Douglas R. Roe and Carol M. Roe, individually and as conservator(s) of Robert D. Roe and Michael R. Roe, minors; Timothy M. Strawn and Carrie L. Strawn, individually and as conservator(s) of Stefanie Strawn, Abigail Strawn, and Lucas Strawn, minors, Appellants (Plaintiffs), v. CAMPBELL COUNTY, Wyoming; Board of County Commissioners of the County of Campbell; Bill Barkley, Thomas Ostlund, and Mickey Wagensen; Campbell County Sheriff's Department, Campbell County Health Department; Campbell County Engineer's Office; Campbell County Fire Board; and Campbell County Emergency Services Agency, Appellees (Defendants).

No. 94-200.

Supreme Court of Wyoming.

Aug. 25, 1995.

Gary L. Shockey and Heather Noble of Spence, Moriarity & Schuster, Jackson, for appellants.

Dominique D.Y. Cone, Blair J. Trautwein and Rick A. Thompson of Hathaway, Speight, Kunz & Trautwein, Cheyenne, for appellees.

Before GOLDEN, C.J., and THOMAS, MACY, TAYLOR and LEHMAN, JJ.

THOMAS, Justice.

The question presented in this appeal is novel to Wyoming, and it is substantially unique in American jurisprudence. Can the collateral source rule be invoked in favor of plaintiffs who are seeking compensation for inverse condemnation? The appellants in this case (homeowners) were ordered to evacuate their residences in a subdivision of Gillette known as Rawhide Village Subdivision. The reason for the evacuation was the presence of methane and hydrogen sulfide gases emerging from the coal deposits underlying the subdivision, to the extent that one could light a match and set the street on fire. The homeowners received, in various amounts, an aggregate of $2 million from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund of the United States government and, in some instances, the Federal Housing Administration and the Veterans Administration forgave mortgage indebtedness. They also sought compensation from Campbell County (County) for inverse condemnation, but they wanted to foreclose proof of amounts they received which...