BS SAFETY SYSTEMS v. EDGERTON (2023)

MEMORANDUM OPINION

¶1 This Cause is hereby recast as an application to assume original jurisdiction and request for extraordinary relief. Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Tidwell, 1991 OK 119, ¶ 11, 820 P.2d 1338 (Court may exercise its discretion to recast a non-appealable order as an original action when issues of first impression are presented).

¶2 Original jurisdiction is assumed. Okla. Const. art. 7, § 4. Maree v. Neuwirth, 2016 OK 62, ¶ 1, 374 P.3d 750. A writ of mandamus is issued directing the assigned judge in Case No. CJ-2022-03359, District Court of Tulsa County, to, within 30 days of this order, conduct a hearing on Appellant's motion to dismiss filed pursuant to the Oklahoma Citizens Participation Act (OCPA).

¶3 Under the OCPA, a motion to dismiss filed pursuant to its provisions “shall” be set for hearing no later than 60 days after service, and this time period may be extended by the trial court to 90 days upon a showing of good cause, by agreement of the parties, or if docket conditions so require. In the event the district court allows for limited discovery, the date of the hearing may be extended beyond 90 days, but not more than 120 days after service of the motion. 12 O.S. 2021, § 1433.

¶4 Under rules of statutory construction the term “may” in a statute denotes permissive or discretionary conduct, while the term “shall” denotes a command or mandate. Independent School Dist. # 52 v. Hofmeister, 2020 OK 56, ¶ 35, 473 P.3d 475. The cardinal rule of statutory construction is to ascertain and give effect to the legislative intent and purpose as expressed by the statutory language. McIntosh v. Watkins, 2019 OK 6, ¶ 4, 441 P.3d 1094. Legislative intent will be ascertained from the whole act in light of its general purpose and objective. American Airlines, Inc. v. State ex rel. Oklahoma Tax Comm'n, 2014 OK 95, ¶ 33, 341 P.3d 56.

¶5 The Legislature's intent with respect to the OCPA is clear -- to facilitate prompt resolution of a motion to dismiss by imposing clear, non-discretionary deadlines for the district court to follow. Paycom Payroll, LLC. v. The Honorable Thomas Prince, Case No. 119,654 (Rowe, J., concurring) (unpub. order, Oct. 19, 2021).

¶6 The May 4, 2023 order deeming Appellant's motion to dismiss denied by operation of law is hereby vacated. While the OCPA states that a failure to rule on a motion filed pursuant to the OCPA within 30 days of a hearing results in the denial of the motion by operation of law, nothing in the Act states that the failure to set a hearing results in a denial of the motion by operation of law. See 12 O.S. 2021, §§ 1434 and 1437. Anderson v. Wilken, 2016 OK CIV APP 35, ¶ 9, 377 P.3d 149.

¶7 Based on the foregoing, Appellee's motion to dismiss the appeal for lack of an appealable order is moot.

EDMONDSON, J.

¶8 ALL JUSTICES CONCUR.