Hot off the Bench - Code Enforcement

Hale v. City of Laramie, 2025 WY 133 (Wyo. Dec. 15, 2025)

In a dispute between a commercial property owner and the city, the Wyoming Supreme Court remanded the case to the district court “to fully consider and decide” whether to vacate an existing injunction.  The injunction prohibits the owner from finishing and using his building until it is properly permitted.

The Court recognized the city’s need to be able to enforce its permitting requirements.  It rejected the owner’s request to vacate the injunction.  The Court, however, found that the district court had failed to address the evidence presented to it regarding an injunction remained appropriate. 

“A trial court is not at liberty to refuse to decide the issues on the evidence presented by the parties and instead insist on some other evidence, in this instance the agreement of the parties.”

Rather than resolve the dispute, the Court instructed the district judge to do so.  “Where injunctive relief is sought, it is the trial court that grants or denies it, based upon the facts – not the appellate court.”