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Res. 09802-2024 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo · 30/12/2024
OutcomeResultado
The precautionary measure is denied because danger in delay was not proven and the alleged serious environmental harm was not evidenced.Se declara sin lugar la medida cautelar por no acreditarse el peligro en la demora ni probarse el daño ambiental grave alegado.
SummaryResumen
The Administrative Court denies the precautionary measure filed by Julio Fonseca Pion against the State, the Municipality of Carrillo, and Hunchback Giraffe S.A. The plaintiff sought to suspend the effects of resolution 0033-2024-SETENA (which granted environmental viability to a project) and to order the company to refrain from building until it had a valid permit. The Court found the claim not frivolous (appearance of good right), but the plaintiff failed to prove danger in delay: he did not demonstrate the serious environmental harm alleged, merely questioning SETENA's rigor and the validity of the construction permit. The resolution clarifies that environmental viability does not authorize construction and that nullity of administrative acts must be decided in the main proceeding. Lack of proof of harm leads to denial of the measure, without costs.El Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo rechaza la solicitud de medida cautelar presentada por Julio Fonseca Pion contra el Estado, la Municipalidad de Carrillo y Hunchback Giraffe S.A. El actor buscaba suspender los efectos de la resolución 0033-2024-SETENA (que otorgó viabilidad ambiental a un proyecto) y ordenar a la empresa abstenerse de construir hasta contar con un permiso vigente. El Tribunal consideró que la demanda no era temeraria (apariencia de buen derecho), pero el actor no logró acreditar el peligro en la demora: no probó el daño ambiental grave que alegaba, limitándose a cuestionar la rigurosidad de SETENA y la validez del permiso de construcción. La resolución advierte que la viabilidad ambiental no autoriza construir y que el análisis de nulidad de los actos administrativos corresponde al proceso principal. La falta de prueba del daño conlleva el rechazo de la cautelar, sin condena en costas.
Key excerptExtracto clave
However, in the undersigned’s view, the plaintiff’s argument, though respectable, cannot be shared. First, as can be seen from his statement, the harm he seeks to justify is based on elements that make up or form part of an appearance of good right, since it is not appropriate at this stage to analyze whether the environmental viability was not rigorous and whether the existing construction permit is insufficient, and even though the party alleges environmental harm, he provides not a single piece of evidence to prove the harm that could be caused, while on the contrary the record shows that resolution 0033-2024-SETENA of January 17, 2024, took into account the environmental VIABILITY (License) for the project, leaving the Environmental Management stage open, granting a period of 5 years to start the work, requesting an environmental guarantee of compliance with environmental obligations for the sum of US$10,000 (TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS), or its equivalent in colones at the exchange rate at the time, corresponding to 0.1% of the declared total investment amount of the project, and also established a periodicity for submission of environmental reports every SIX MONTHS during the construction stage; aspects that support that the precautionary principle governing environmental matters was indeed taken into account, and it is clarified that such justification does not imply that in the main proceeding it cannot be proven in light of the record that the cited resolution is null, as it is reiterated that such determination can only be made in the main proceeding.Ahora bien, a criterio de la suscrita, el argumento de la parte actora, aunque respetable no puede ser compartido. En primer lugar, como se observa de su dicho, el daño que pretende justificar está basado en elementos que configuran o forman parte de una apariencia de buen derecho, puesto que no corresponde en este momento analizar, si la viabilidad ambiental no fue rigurosa y si el permiso de construcción existente es insuficiente, y si bien la parte alega un daño ambiental , no aporta con su dicho, un solo elemento que tenga por acreditado el daño que se puede llegar a causar, y más bien consta en autos que la resolución 0033-2024-SETENA del 17 de enero del 2024, tomo en cuenta que la VIABILIDAD (Licencia) AMBIENTAL al proyecto, quedando abierta la etapa de Gestión Ambiental, otorgando un plazo de 5 años para el inicio de la obra, solicitando una garantía ambiental de cumplimiento de las obligaciones ambientales por la suma a $ 10.000 (DIEZ MIL DÓLARES), o su equivalente en colones al tipo de cambio del momento, correspondiente al 0.1% del monto de inversión total declarado del proyecto, estableció además una periodicidad de presentación de informes ambientales cada SEIS MESES durante la etapa constructiva; aspectos que permiten sostener que se tomó en cuenta justamente el principio precautorio que rige en materia ambiental, y se aclara que tal justificación no implica, que en el proceso de conocimiento no se logre a la luz de los autos acreditar que en el dictado de la resolución de cita , no exista nulidad, pues se insiste, esa determinación solo puede ser vertida en el proceso de conocimiento.
Pull quotesCitas destacadas
"la justicia cautelar NO TIENE COMO FIN DECLARAR UN HECHO o una responsabilidad, ni la de constituir una relación jurídica, ni ejecutar un mandato y satisfacer el derecho que se tiene sin ser discutido, ni dirimir un litigio, sino prevenir los daños que el litigio pueda acarrear o que puedan derivarse de una situación anormal"
"the purpose of precautionary justice is NOT to declare a fact or a responsibility, nor to establish a legal relationship, nor to enforce an order and satisfy an uncontested right, nor to settle a dispute, but rather to prevent the damages that the litigation may bring about or that may arise from an abnormal situation"
Considerando I
"la justicia cautelar NO TIENE COMO FIN DECLARAR UN HECHO o una responsabilidad, ni la de constituir una relación jurídica, ni ejecutar un mandato y satisfacer el derecho que se tiene sin ser discutido, ni dirimir un litigio, sino prevenir los daños que el litigio pueda acarrear o que puedan derivarse de una situación anormal"
Considerando I
"y si bien la parte alega un daño ambiental , no aporta con su dicho, un solo elemento que tenga por acreditado el daño que se puede llegar a causar"
"and even though the party alleges environmental harm, he does not provide with his statement a single piece of evidence to prove the harm that could be caused"
Considerando VI
"y si bien la parte alega un daño ambiental , no aporta con su dicho, un solo elemento que tenga por acreditado el daño que se puede llegar a causar"
Considerando VI
"NO BASTA CON ALEGAR LA EXISTENCIA DEL DAÑO o perjuicio grave, actual o potencial, SINO QUE DEBE PROBARSE"
"IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO ALLEGE THE EXISTENCE OF HARM or serious injury, current or potential, BUT IT MUST BE PROVEN"
Considerando VI
"NO BASTA CON ALEGAR LA EXISTENCIA DEL DAÑO o perjuicio grave, actual o potencial, SINO QUE DEBE PROBARSE"
Considerando VI
"la viabilidad ambiental no autoriza construir"
"environmental viability does not authorize construction"
Resultando III
"la viabilidad ambiental no autoriza construir"
Resultando III
Full documentDocumento completo
**PROCEEDINGS** **I)** On February 22, 2024, the plaintiff filed a precautionary measure, requesting this Court to suspend the effects of resolution 0033-2024-SETENA issued on January 17, 2024, and to order the co-defendant company to refrain from executing any work or construction on property 5-167342-000, until it has its own current and valid construction permit (images 2-14 of the precautionary file).
**II)** By means of the resolution issued at fourteen hours and thirty-nine minutes on March seven, two thousand twenty-four, this Court rejected the precautionary measure as a provisionalísima (extremely provisional) measure and granted a hearing to the defendant parties of the precautionary measure filed (image 15 of the precautionary file).
**III)** By means of the brief filed on March 21, 2024, the State's representative answered the precautionary measure, stating literally: "[...] let us remember that the prerequisites for adopting a precautionary measure must be credited by the applicant, and their assessment corresponds to the Judge. Here, the evidence offered is devoid of purpose. There is a lack of instrumentality. The environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) does not authorize construction. In the plaintiff's thesis, there is no construction permit and therefore they condition the measure on its existence. Ergo, the condition of utility is not met as far as we are concerned [...]" (image 31 of the precautionary file).
**IV)** The MUNICIPALIDAD DE CARRILLO, in a brief dated April 11, 2024, indicated that, since no order to do or not do something within its powers was requested, its defense will be directed to the main process, without ruling on the precautionary measure (images 32-33 of the precautionary file).
**V)** The company HUNCHBACK GIRAFFE S.A, in a memorial dated April 22, 2024, answered the precautionary measure and requested its rejection (images 35-42 of the precautionary file).
**VI)** The proceedings have followed the prescriptions of the Law, and no defects or omissions are noted that would invalidate what has been done, or that could generate any type of defenselessness for the parties.
**WHEREAS** **I) GENERALITIES FOR GRANTING A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE:** as has been developed by the Constitutional Chamber (Sala Constitucional), precautionary justice responds to the need to guarantee the constitutional principle of prompt and complete justice, by preserving the indispensable real conditions for the issuance and execution of the judgment (resolution 7190-1994, at 15:24 hours on December 6). In this same sense, Article 19 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo (Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code) establishes that the purpose of imposing a precautionary measure is TO PROVISIONALLY PROTECT AND GUARANTEE THE OBJECT OF THE PROCEEDING and the effectiveness of the judgment. Legal doctrine has indicated that precautionary justice DOES NOT HAVE THE PURPOSE OF DECLARING A FACT or a responsibility, nor of constituting a legal relationship, nor of executing a mandate and satisfying the right one has without it being discussed, nor of settling a litigation, but rather of preventing the damages that the litigation may entail or that may derive from an abnormal situation (Gallegos Fedriani, Pablo. Las medidas cautelares contra la Administración Pública. 2 ed. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Ábaco, 2006). With the above being clear, the judging person, in observance of the provisions of Article 21 of the indicated procedural norm, must determine the appropriateness of a request for a precautionary measure, verifying for that purpose that the claim of the main proceeding is not frivolous or, in a manifest way, lacking in seriousness, which constitutes a preliminary evaluation of the merits to determine if in the case in question there exists what doctrine and jurisprudence have called appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho) or fumus boni iuris. The norm under analysis also establishes the appropriateness of the precautionary measure when the execution or permanence of the conduct subject to proceedings produces serious damages or losses, actual or potential, a situation that has been defined in doctrine as periculum in mora or danger in delay, that is, that by virtue of the pathological delay of the judicial process, there is an actual, real, and objective danger that serious harm will be generated to the promoting party (Jinesta Lobo, Ernesto. Manual del Proceso Contencioso-Administrativo. 1 ed. San José, Costa Rica, Editorial Jurídica Continental, 2008). Following the same line of thought, Article 22 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo establishes the obligation of the judge to carry out, in light of the principle of proportionality, a balancing of the interests at stake, that is, between the circumstances of the individuals on one hand; and the public interest and the interests of third parties that may be affected by the adoption of the precautionary measure, on the other. Additionally, and from the same cited numeral 22, it is required that the precautionary measure be instrumental and provisional.
**II) ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMITTING A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE:** in this regard, it has been said that for the fulfillment of precautionary protection, as a fundamental right derived from constitutional numeral 41, which is the right to obtain prompt and complete justice, the jurisdictional body must assess for its effective materialization, in addition to the fulfillment of the prerequisites known in doctrine as appearance of good law (Fumus Boni Iuris), danger in delay (Periculum in Mora), as well as the balancing of interests at stake, which will be detailed below; the verification of the presence or existence of what have come to be called the structural characteristics of the precautionary measure. This refers to instrumentality, provisionality, urgency, and summaria cognitio or summary nature of the procedure. Both the indicated prerequisites and the mentioned characteristics must be present for the granting of the measure that has been requested for the purpose of provisionally protecting and guaranteeing the object of the proceeding and the effectiveness of the judgment. Regarding the prerequisites necessary for granting the precautionary measure, we find the following: a) appearance of good law: for the appropriateness of the precautionary measure, there must be "seriousness in the lawsuit," that is, a probability of success such that the lawsuit does not appear at first glance manifestly lacking in seriousness, or where appropriate, frivolous. For doctrine, this is nothing other than the probable subsequent estimation of the plaintiff's material right in the judgment, through the analysis typical of a highly summary proceeding which in no way can or should determine a ruling on the merits of the matter raised, but instead, only an approximation to it with the elements present at the time of issuing the decision that grants or denies the measure; b) danger in delay: it consists of the objectively grounded and reasonable fear that the substantial legal situation alleged will be seriously harmed or damaged in a grave and irreparable manner, during the course of the time necessary to issue a judgment in the main proceeding. This prerequisite requires the presence of two elements: the grave harm or loss and the delay in the main proceeding, without leaving aside, of course, that within this prerequisite is what doctrine has called the "Bilaterality of the Periculum in Mora" or as it is commonly known, the balancing of the interests at stake. The prerequisite alludes to the characteristic that the harm complained of must be susceptible to occurring—actually or potentially—if the measure required is not adopted. Damages that must be established as grave, in addition to being derived from the alleged situation. The accused injuries must at least be proven through the rational principle of evidence, so it is not enough to allege the harm in the stated terms, but the circumstances must be credited for it to be considered a harm and for it to be grave. In this sense, it must be emphasized that it is not enough to allege the existence of the grave, actual or potential harm or loss, but it must be proven, which, as referred to above, is a procedural burden that the interested party must assume to prove their claim. On the delay in the main proceeding: This prerequisite refers to the situation generated by jurisdictional processes that require, for their development and subsequent termination, the performance of a series of acts through which not only due process is guaranteed, but also the issuance of a ruling that, if it cannot be carried out promptly, is at least just. Putting an end to a main proceeding takes time, and it is precisely here that precautionary protection acquires special relevance, as while that decision arrives, serious harm is being avoided, which if it were to occur would make the right being claimed illusory. With the entry into force of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, much progress was made in solving those proceedings that took years and even decades; today, despite all the efforts made, although proceedings last less, due to the benefits of orality, different stages must be completed, scheduling must be done, in contrast with quite saturated agendas, etc., which make proceedings last a reasonable time, but time nonetheless. On the bilaterality of the periculum in mora: Under this denomination, reference is made to the balancing of the interests at stake, linking this to the public interest that may be susceptible to needing protection, against the interest of third parties and of course the interest of the person who comes forward by means of a precautionary measure, these must be comparatively assessed, the denial of the measure being imposed when the harm suffered or likely to be produced to the community or third parties is greater than that which the applicant for the measure could experience.
**III) STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE:** As indicated, in addition to the prerequisites already mentioned, it is necessary that the measure to be adopted structurally possesses the following characteristics: instrumentality, which means they maintain a marked relationship of accessoriness with the final judgment, since ultimately, they serve as an instrument to maintain the validity of the object of the proceeding in the terms raised; provisionality, which is nothing other than what is agreed regarding the precautionary measure will remain in effect and conditioned on what is resolved in the main proceeding. It is worth noting that it can also be terminated or modified at any time, given the variability of the conditions that originally gave rise to it, or indeed, a measure that was previously rejected may be adopted, as established in numeral 29 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, so its effectiveness is exhausted at the moment the judgment on the merits is issued, or what amounts to the same thing, its effects are subject to the disposition adopted in the main proceeding; urgency to avoid the danger in delay; and summary nature (sumaria cognitio) <that is>, that this type of measure is adopted by virtue of a highly summary cognition carried out by the jurisdictional body without prejudice to the merits of the matter, which in no way could substitute the stages of the main proceeding. Starting from the foregoing normative framework of analysis and the elements required for the granting of a precautionary measure, we proceed to carry out the study of the specific case.
**IV) ARGUMENTS OF THE PLAINTIFF:** The plaintiff filed a precautionary measure considering that the environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) that was granted is invalid, because it is impossible to build a ten-story tower when the maximum permitted height is 1.5 times the width of the right of way (derecho de vía). They maintain that there are sufficient reasons to question whether the Gobierno Local de Carrillo will "allow" works in the year 2024 based on a permit from a decade ago, issued in favor of a third party and which warned it expired after a year. They argue that there is a very serious risk that by the end of the judicial process we will have a ten-story tower built in front of the sea, WITHOUT a rigorous environmental impact assessment (evaluación ambiental) and WITHOUT a construction permit; in their opinion, SETENA did not verify the substance of what was declared by the co-defendant company, but rather, unfortunately, contented itself with reviewing the existence of a formal list of requirements and without verifying the existence of 60 springs (pajas de agua). They categorize the conduct of the Municipalidad de Carrillo as complacent; since in their opinion it omitted to fulfill its duties and intends to justify its lack of action on the "existence" of a construction permit dating back 10 years, which was issued in favor of a third party and whose content warned it expired twelve months after its issuance. In their opinion, it would be much more harmful not only for the environment, but also for the investing public who places their trust in a project whose environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) is highly questionable, and whose construction permit is non-existent. They allege that in the specific case there is a reinforced appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho reforzada), so the assessment of the danger in delay necessarily leans in favor of protecting the environment, and they allege 3 factors generating harm: the first, the intention to build dozens of stories in height, when the current rule is that it may not exceed 1.5 times the width of the right of way (derecho de vía); second, the lack of verification of the alleged availability of water for sixty condominiums; and the third factor is that there is no construction permit for this project.
**V) ARGUMENTS OF THE DEFENDANT REPRESENTATIONS:** A. STATE: "[...] let us remember that the prerequisites for adopting a precautionary measure must be credited by the applicant and their assessment corresponds to the Judge. Here, the evidence offered is devoid of purpose. There is a lack of instrumentality. The environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) does not authorize construction. In the plaintiff's thesis, there is no construction permit and therefore they condition the measure on its existence. Ergo, the condition of utility is not met as far as we are concerned [...]" B. MUNICIPALIDAD DE CARRILLO: indicated that, since no order to do or not do something within its powers was requested, its defense will be directed to the main proceeding, without ruling on the precautionary measure. C- HUNCHBACK GIRAFFE S.A: Maintains that the lawsuit lacks seriousness, since it seeks the nullity of an environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) that was granted under technical criteria, and that in its judgment, there is no reasonable and objectively founded possibility of harm to the environment, and that the suspension sought rather causes the loss of four thousand one hundred nine million seven hundred seventy-nine thousand seven hundred eighty-six colones, when the permits have complied with the legal technical requirements for it.
**VI) ON THE SPECIFIC CASE:** starting from what has been previously set forth, we proceed to carry out the specific study of the elements required by Articles 21 and 22 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, in accordance with the arguments of both parties and the evidentiary elements provided to the file, observing that it is a procedural burden for the interested party, in accordance with Articles 220 of the mentioned Code and 41 of the Código Procesal Civil (Civil Procedure Code), to prove the affirmations made in support of their claims. First of all, regarding the APPEARANCE OF GOOD LAW (APARIENCIA DE BUEN DERECHO): as explained in the preceding whereas clauses, and from the arguments expressed by the parties involved in this matter, this judge considers that IT IS POSSIBLE to analyze in a main proceeding whether there is nullity in the environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) under discussion by allowing the construction of a ten-story tower when the maximum permitted height is 1.5 times the width of the right of way (derecho de vía); or indeed, whether the Gobierno Local de Carrillo will "allow" works in the year 2024 based on a permit from a decade ago, issued in favor of a third party and which warned it expired after a year. As observed, the plaintiff carries out a reasoned exposition of their theory of the case, questioning the scant basis which, in their opinion, motivates the administrative act they seek to annul. In this way, without needing to make a value judgment on the merits of the dispute, which must be resolved in the corresponding judicial instance and not in this precautionary proceeding, in accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, the action exercised is not frivolous or lacking in seriousness. Note that in the brief filing the precautionary action, the plaintiff touches upon matters suitable to be addressed in the main proceeding, concerning potential anomalies or deficiencies that occurred in the processing of the concession, aspects that ONLY in a main proceeding could be determined, since it is not proper in this instance to analyze what those anomalies are (if any); doing so would violate the entire purpose of the precautionary procedure. In this sense, it must be considered that this exists to provisionally guarantee and protect THE OBJECT OF THE PROCEEDING AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JUDGMENT AND OF SUBSTANTIAL LEGAL SITUATIONS, but not to analyze the merits of the proceeding that must be discussed; doing otherwise will only permeate it with improper tones that would generate as a consequence that those who come to this instance do so with the claim of resolving a proceeding on its merits, without it being so, and all in attention to the expedited nature with which the precautionary procedure must be analyzed. Therefore, if there is any type of nullity, it will be up to the judge of the instance to determine it, and not, as indicated above, in a precautionary venue.
Notwithstanding the above, it is clear to this authority that the plaintiff sets forth a theory of the case that is not manifest or lacking in seriousness, which allows the prerequisite of appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho) to be taken as established, since it is their right to present their position and stance before the particularities of the administrative process, which, as has been reiterated, correspond to aspects inherent to the merits of the matter, which must be analyzed in the corresponding main proceeding. Added to this, we cannot set aside that the competence of this jurisdiction, derived both from what is established in Article 49 of the Constitution and from what is established in the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, enables the exercise of a full review of the legality of the administrative function, which implies declaring the legal non-conformity of those formal or material conducts that are contrary to the block of legality. The appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho) itself is a judgment of probabilities that the judging person makes about the eventual outcome of the proceeding, which, when we are before a precautionary measure, and even more so one like the present that is ante causam, it is premature to warn of its appropriateness or not, because the arguments and evidence that will support the main proceeding could be different from those that occupy us today; all of the foregoing, in application of the constitutional principle that guarantees that any person who feels affected by an administrative action may seek redress in this Jurisdiction, access to Justice being moreover recognized as a fundamental right (Articles 41 and 49 of the Political Constitution).
Thus, at least in this instance and without prejudice to the merits of the matter, the truth is that, in the opinion of this judge, what has been related has the necessary seriousness to consider the prerequisite of appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho) as accredited.
Regarding DANGER IN DELAY (PELIGRO EN LA DEMORA): now, as indicated in the preceding whereas clause, for the appropriateness of precautionary protection, it is required by legal provision that the execution or permanence of the administrative conduct subject to the proceeding produces grave, actual or potential damages or losses in the legal situation of the promoter; which must reach a magnitude of gravity, and that gravity can only be verified with the pertinent, necessary, and convincing evidence to demonstrate it, a procedural burden that, in accordance with Article 41 of the Código Procesal Civil, which by remission of numeral 220 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo is applicable; corresponds to whoever formulates a claim, regarding the constitutive facts of their right, and in the opinion of this judge, the plaintiff justifies their standing to file the proceeding in the sense that we are in the presence of a "very serious risk," insofar as a ten-story tower is to be built facing the sea without a rigorous environmental assessment (evaluación ambiental) and without a construction permit, because in their opinion SETENA contented itself with reviewing the existence of a formal list of requirements and without verifying the existence of 60 springs (pajas de agua). Now, in the opinion of the undersigned, the plaintiff's argument, although respectable, cannot be shared. In the first place, as observed from their statement, the harm they seek to justify is based on elements that configure or form part of an appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho), since it is not appropriate at this time to analyze whether the environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) was not rigorous and whether the existing construction permit is insufficient, and while the party alleges environmental harm, they do not provide with their statement a single element that accredits the harm that could be caused; rather, it is evident in the record that resolution 0033-2024-SETENA of January 17, 2024, took into account that the AMBIENTAL VIABILITY (LICENSE) for the project was granted, opening the Environmental Management (Gestión Ambiental) stage, granting a period of 5 years for the start of work, requesting an environmental guarantee (garantía ambiental) for compliance with environmental obligations for the sum of $10,000 (TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS), or its equivalent in colones at the exchange rate at the time, corresponding to 0.1% of the total declared investment amount of the project, and it also established a periodicity for the presentation of environmental reports every SIX MONTHS during the construction stage; aspects that allow us to maintain that the precautionary principle that governs environmental matters was indeed taken into account, and it is clarified that such justification does not imply that in the main proceeding, it may not be proven in light of the record that in the issuance of the cited resolution, nullity does not exist, as it is insisted, that determination can only be rendered in the main proceeding. On the other hand, the party alleges as part of the harm the non-existence of a construction permit, but as stated, that determination can only be rendered in the main proceeding, especially when resolution US-266-2024 of February 29, 2024, is also in the record, in which a conditional conforming use (uso conforme condicionado) was granted; and indeed, the party intends to justify the existence of a reinforced appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho reforzada), and that therefore the analysis of harm must be less rigorous, in the opinion of this judge, that situation is not observed in the specific case. While it is true, the term reinforced appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho reforzada) means that the existence of good law, when it is manifestly evident, without it becoming a prediction of what will be resolved on the merits, and that therefore, in the absence of adequate accreditation of serious harm to be faced or if there are doubts about the interests at stake, it allows the judge to dispense with the rigorousness of proving serious harm or balancing the interests and grant the precautionary measure, insofar as the requirements influence each other; in the specific case, it can be seen how considering that reinforced appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho reforzada) necessarily implies analyzing the merits of the various administrative acts that appear in the record, which, due to a principle of presumption of validity of the administrative act, cannot be determined in a precautionary venue whether or not nullity of them exists, and in the specific case, there is the SETENA resolution and the land-use (uso de suelo) permit; meanwhile, the plaintiff directed their theory to making subjective assessments about the entities involved in the proceeding, without providing at least one reliable piece of evidence that accredits or leads to presuming what the eventual environmental harm being caused is. Indeed, see that the plaintiff points out that it is more damaging "[...] for the investing public who places their trust in a project whose environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) is highly questionable, and its construction permit is non-existent [...]" ; in this sense, this judge considers that if any interested party eventually sees their right violated, or considers they have been harmed by the investment they made, it will be that person who must come—when such a situation occurs—to the judicial courts; and the involved companies or municipalities must assume responsibilities if so determined; however, as of today, it is a hypothetical assumption that has not even materialized; for this reason, and reiterating that a reinforced appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho reforzada) tells us that an injury to the plaintiff's right is perceptible at first sight, that reinforced appearance not being configured in the specific case, it was the duty of the plaintiff to provide useful and pertinent evidentiary elements to prove the harm; and on the contrary, the 9 evidentiary elements offered are neither useful nor pertinent, at least in a precautionary venue, and it will be in the main proceeding where it may be determined whether any anomaly existed in the processing of the permits for the construction they seek to prevent. Another aspect that cannot be set aside is that the party points out that if the construction is finished, a possible favorable judgment will be useless if the plaintiff has already erected a tower of dozens of stories in elevation on a land whose land-use (uso de suelo) establishes a maximum construction height of only 1.5 times the width of the right of way (derecho de vía); however, as has been justified, it is impossible to decree the nullity of an environmental viability (viabilidad ambiental) through a precautionary measure, and considering that no environmental harm has been proven, taking into account that the harm protected through this type of action is that which reaches a magnitude of gravity, and as stated, it is an aspect that is not duly accredited in the record. It is the opinion of the undersigned that the plaintiff fails completely to prove the harm that could occur, since, as stated, the party took for granted the existence of what in their opinion was a reinforced appearance of good law (apariencia de buen derecho reforzada), and does not even analyze the harm as such, much less prove it, such that, in the specific case, there are no evidentiary elements that allow sustaining that the harm is grievous, and therefore it cannot be protected through the precautionary avenue. This being the case, the analyzed prerequisite cannot be considered accredited, and for that reason the precautionary measure must be rejected as requested; given that the prerequisites or requirements for its appropriateness are not mutually exclusive, and lacking one of them, the consequence is the rejection of the same, as is hereby ordered. In this way, it is clear to this judge that there is not a single piece of evidence that allows configuring the harm, and in this regard, much has been insisted that in this instance, harm is the most elementary requirement for precautionary protection to proceed, and as noted from the beginning of this section, it corresponds to whoever formulates a claim regarding the constitutive facts of their right; and this last phrase is highlighted, since the plaintiff cannot claim harm without the slightest evidentiary element, so that it is the opposing party who comes to refute a scenario that has not been proven. For the above, this authority cannot justify the harm that the plaintiff is suffering. And as previously indicated, in a precautionary context, even when harm is alleged, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO ALLEGE THE EXISTENCE OF THE GRAVE, actual or potential HARM OR LOSS, BUT IT MUST BE PROVEN; in the specific case, there is not a single piece of evidence that proves the harm.
It is for this reason that this requirement cannot be deemed accredited. It must be noted that this jurisdiction has been rigorous or demanding in deeming the analyzed requirement accredited, since ALWAYS, regardless of the subject matter and/or area brought to the attention of this Court, the party availing itself of this type of proceeding MUST demonstrate with adequate, necessary, and pertinent evidence that its particular situation is urgent, but more than that, it must demonstrate that its particular situation is SERIOUS in order to obtain the interim relief (tutela cautelar), and this is overcome not merely by submitting a large amount of evidence, but rather that the evidence submitted must show WITHOUT ANY DOUBT that seriousness that it might experience in the event of enforcement of an administrative determination. Against this backdrop, it is necessary to insist that one cannot disregard that the harm that is sought to be prevented by means of this type of proceeding cannot be unreal, nor hypothetical, and even less abstract; since it must be REAL, EVIDENT, MANIFEST, AND FORCEFUL, such that if it is not clearly proven what harm will occur in the legal sphere of the party, it cannot be subject to protection (tutelable) through this type of proceeding.
Finally, regarding the BALANCING OF THE INTERESTS AT STAKE: in this section, it must be stated that in order to carry out the analysis of the balancing of interests at stake and assessment of the potential affected public interest, it is first necessary to have established the existence of serious harm to the individual who avails themselves of this type of proceeding, which, as has been indicated, could not demonstrate harm of serious magnitude, which definitively implies that this personal interest must yield. On the other hand, one cannot lose sight of the fact that there are also economic interests that would be affected by the granting of the interim measure (medida cautelar), and as indicated, given that the resolution sought to be annulled ordered, among other things, the submission of periodic environmental impact reports and a bond (caución), this undersigned judge therefore considers that such elements reinforce the thesis that the plaintiff's particular interest must yield.
THEREFORE (POR TANTO) In accordance with the foregoing sections, the interim measure requested by JULIO FONSECA PION against the STATE, the MUNICIPALIDAD DE CARRILLO, and HUNCHBACK GIRAFFE S.A. is DECLARED WITHOUT MERIT. This matter is resolved without special award of costs. In due course, archive the case file. NOTIFY. LICDA. ALANA FONSECA LOBO, JUDGE (JUEZA).
ALANA DE LOS ANGELES FONSECA LOBO - JUDGE/PROCESSING CLERK (JUEZ/A TRAMITADOR/A) Goicoechea, Calle Blancos, 50 meters west of BNCR, across from Café Dorado. Telephone numbers: 2545-0107 or 2545-0099. Ext. 01-2707 or 01-2599. Fax: 2241-5664 or 2545-0006. Email: [email protected]
Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Clase de asunto: Medida cautelar Analizado por: CENTRO DE INFORMACIÓN JURISPRUDENCIAL Sentencias del mismo expediente MEDIDA CAUTELAR ACTOR/A:
JULIO FONSECA PION DEMANDADO/A:
EL ESTADO N° 2024009802 TRIBUNAL CONTENCIOSO ADMINISTRATIVO Y CIVIL DE HACIENDA, SEGUNDO CIRCUITO JUDICIAL, SAN JOSÉ, GOICOECHEA, a las trece horas con cuarenta y ocho minutos del treinta de Diciembre del dos mil veinticuatro.- Solicitud de Medida cautelar interpuesta por JULIO FONSECA PION; contra EL ESTADO, la MUNICIPALIDAD DE CARRILLO, y HUNCHBACK GIRAFFE S.A.
RESULTANDO
CONSIDERANDO
No obstante lo anterior, está claro para esta autoridad que la parte actora expone una teoría del caso que no resulta palmaria o carente de seriedad, lo cual permite dar por sentado el presupuesto de la apariencia de buen derecho, ya que es su derecho de presentar su posición y postura ante las particularidades del proceso administrativo, las cuales como se ha reiterado corresponden a aspectos propios del fondo del asunto, los cuales deberán ser analizados en el procedimiento de conocimiento correspondiente. Aunado a ello no podemos dejar de lado, que la competencia de esta jurisdicción derivada tanto de lo establecido en el artículo 49 Constitucional como de lo establecido en el Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, que posibilita ejercer un control plenario de la legalidad de la función administrativa, lo cual implica declarar la disconformidad jurídica de aquellas conductas formales o materiales, que resulten contrarias al bloque de legalidad. La apariencia de buen derecho en sí, es un juicio de probabilidades que hace la persona juzgadora del resultado eventual del proceso, lo cual al encontrarnos ante una medida cautelar, y mas aún como la presente que es ante causam, es prematuro advertir la procedencia de la misma o no, por cuanto los argumentos y probanzas que fundamentarán la causa de conocimiento, podrían ser distintos al que hoy día nos ocupa; todo lo anterior, en aplicación del principio constitucional que garantiza que cualquier persona que se sienta afectada por una actuación administrativa, puede buscar reparación en esta Jurisdicción, siendo además reconocido el acceso a la Justicia como un derecho fundamental (artículos 41 y 49 de la Constitución Política).
Así las cosas y al menos en esta instancia y sin prejuzgar sobre el asunto, lo cierto es que, a criterio de esta juzgadora, lo relatado guarda la seriedad necesaria para tener por acreditado el presupuesto de apariencia de buen derecho.
En cuanto al PELIGRO EN LA DEMORA: ahora bien, como se indicó en el considerando anterior, para la procedencia de la tutela cautelar se requiere según disposición legal, que la ejecución o permanencia de la conducta administrativa sometida al proceso produzca daños o perjuicios, graves, actuales o potenciales, en la situación jurídica del promovente; el cual deberá alcanzar una magnitud de gravedad, y esa gravedad únicamente se podrá constatar con la prueba pertinente, necesaria y contundente para evidenciarlo, carga procesal que de conformidad con el artículo 41 del Código Procesal Civil, el cual por remisión del numeral 220 del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo resulta aplicable; le corresponde a quien formule una pretensión, respecto a los hechos constitutivos de su derecho y a criterio de esta juzgadora, la parte actora justifica su legitimidad para interponer el proceso en el sentido de que nos encontramos en presencia de un " gravísimo riesgo ", en el tanto se ha de construir frente al mar una torre de diez pisos sin que medie una evaluación ambientar rigurosa y sin permiso de construcción, porque a su criterio SETENA se conformó con revisar la existencia de un listado formal de requisitos y sin verificar la existencia de 60 pajas de agua. Ahora bien, a criterio de la suscrita, el argumento de la parte actora, aunque respetable no puede ser compartido. En primer lugar, como se observa de su dicho, el daño que pretende justificar está basado en elementos que configuran o forman parte de una apariencia de buen derecho, puesto que no corresponde en este momento analizar, si la viabilidad ambiental no fue rigurosa y si el permiso de construcción existente es insuficiente, y si bien la parte alega un daño ambiental , no aporta con su dicho, un solo elemento que tenga por acreditado el daño que se puede llegar a causar, y más bien consta en autos que la resolución 0033-2024-SETENA del 17 de enero del 2024, tomo en cuenta que la VIABILIDAD (Licencia) AMBIENTAL al proyecto, quedando abierta la etapa de Gestión Ambiental, otorgando un plazo de 5 años para el inicio de la obra, solicitando una garantía ambiental de cumplimiento de las obligaciones ambientales por la suma a $ 10.000 (DIEZ MIL DÓLARES), o su equivalente en colones al tipo de cambio del momento, correspondiente al 0.1% del monto de inversión total declarado del proyecto, estableció además una periodicidad de presentación de informes ambientales cada SEIS MESES durante la etapa constructiva; aspectos que permiten sostener que se tomó en cuenta justamente el principio precautorio que rige en materia ambiental, y se aclara que tal justificación no implica, que en el proceso de conocimiento no se logre a la luz de los autos acreditar que en el dictado de la resolución de cita , no exista nulidad, pues se insiste, esa determinación solo puede ser vertida en el proceso de conocimiento. Por otro lado, la parte alega como parte del daño la inexistencia de un permiso de construcción, pero como se dijo esa determinación solo puede ser vertida en el proceso de fondo, máxime cuando consta también en autos la resolución US-266-2024 del 29 de febrero del 2024, en el cual se otorgó un uso conforme condicionado; y si bien, la parte pretende justificar la existencia de una apariencia de buen derecho reforzada, y que por ello entonces el análisis del daño debe ser menos riguroso, a criterio de esta juzgadora, esa situación no se observa en el caso concreto. Si bien es cierto, el termino de apariencia de buen derecho reforzada, se traduce en que la existencia del buen derecho cuando resulta palmariamente evidente, sin que llegue a ser una predicción de lo que se va resolver por el fondo, y que por ello, al no contar con una adecuada acreditación del daño grave a afrontar o existen dudas sobre los intereses en juego, le permite a quien juzga poder prescindir de la rigurosidad de la prueba del daño grave o la ponderación de los intereses y otorgar la medida cautelar, en la medida que los requisitos se influyen entre sí; en el caso concreto puede verse como el entrar a considerar esa apariencia de buen derecho reforzada implica necesariamente entrar a analizar el fondo de los diversos actos administrativos que constan en autos, los cuales por un principio de presunción de validez del acto administrativo, en vía cautelar no puede determinarse si existe o no la nulidad de los mismos, y el caso concreto, se cuenta con la resolución del SETENA, el permiso de uso de suelo; mientras tanto la parte actora, encaminó su teoría a realizar apreciaciones subjetivas sobre los entes involucrados en el proceso, sin aportar al menos un elemento de prueba fehaciente que acredite o haga presumir cual es el eventual daño ambiental que se está ocasionado. Incluso, véase que la parte actora señala que resulta más dañoso "[...] para el público inversionista que deposite su confianza en un proyecto cuya viabilidad ambiental es altamente cuestionable, y su permiso de construcción es inexistente [...]" ; en ese sentido, considera esta juzgadora que, si algún interesado a la larga ve violentado su derecho, o considera se le ha causado perjuicio con la inversión que realizó, será esa persona quien debe acudir- cuando ocurra tal situación- a estrados judiciales; y las empresas o municipalidades involucradas, deberán asumir responsabilidades si así se determina; sin embargo, al día de hoy se trata de un supuesto hipotético que no se ha siquiera materializado; por ello y reiterando que la una apariencia de buen derecho reforzada, nos dice que a simple vista se aprecia una lesión al derecho de la parte actora, no configurándose en el caso concreto esa apariencia reforzada, era deber de la parte actora aportar elementos de prueba útiles y pertinentes para acreditar el daño; y por el contrario los 9 elementos de prueba que ofreció, no resultan útiles ni pertinentes, al menos en vía cautelar, y será en el proceso de conocimiento donde se logre determinar si existió alguna anomalía en la tramitación de los permisos para la construcción que se pretende evitar. Otro aspecto que no puede dejarse de lado, es que la parte señala que si la construcción termina, de nada servirá una eventual sentencia estimatoria si la actora ya ha levantado una torre de decenas de pisos de elevación en un terreno cuyo uso de suelo establece una altura máxima de construcción de sólo 1,5 veces el ancho del derecho de vía; no obstante, tal y como se ha venido justificando, resulta imposible entrar a decretar una nulidad de una viabilidad ambiental vía cautelar, y tomando en cuenta que no se ha acreditado un daño ambiental , tomando en cuenta que el daño que se tutela por medio de este tipo de gestiones es aquel que alcanza una magnitud de gravedad, y como se dijo, es un aspecto que no se encuentra debidamente acreditado en los autos. Es criterio de la suscrita que la parte actora falla de manera totalitaria en acreditar el daño que podría presentarse, puesto que como se dijo, la parte dio por sentado, la existencia de lo que a su criterio era una apariencia de buen derecho reforzada, y ni siquiera analiza el daño como tal y mucho menos lo acredita, de forma tal que, en el caso concreto no hay elementos probatorios que permitan sostener que el daño es gravoso, por lo que no puede ser tutelado mediante la vía cautelar. Siendo así no se puede tener por acreditado el presupuesto analizado, y por tal motivo la medida cautelar debe de ser rechazada en los términos pedidos; toda vez que los presupuestos o requisitos para la procedencia de la misma no son excluyentes entre sí, y a falta de uno de ellos la consecuencia es el rechazo de la misma, como en efecto se dispone. De esta forma es claro para esta juzgadora que no hay un solo elemento de prueba que permita configurar el daño, y al respecto mucho se ha insistido, que en esta instancia el daño es el requisito más elemental para que proceda la tutela cautelar, y tal y como se señaló desde el inicio de este apartado, le corresponde a quien formule una pretensión, respecto a los hechos constitutivos de su derecho; y se resalta esta última frase, puesto que no puede pretender la parte actora alegar un daño sin el más pequeño elemento probatorio, para que sea parte contraria quien venga a desvirtuar un escenario que no se ha acreditado. Por lo dicho anteriormente, no puede esta autoridad justificar el daño que la parte actora está sufriendo. Y tal y como se indicó anteriormente, cautelar aún y cuando se alegue un daño, NO BASTA CON ALEGAR LA EXISTENCIA DEL DAÑO o perjuicio grave, actual o potencial, SINO QUE DEBE PROBARSE; en el caso concreto no hay una sola prueba que acredite el daño. Es por ello que no se puede tener por acreditado este presupuesto. Se debe de indicar, que esta jurisdicción ha sido rigurosa o exigente para tener por acreditado el presupuesto analizado, ya que SIEMPRE, independientemente del tema y/o materia puesta a conocimiento de este Tribunal, la parte que acude a este tipo de gestiones, DEBERÁ demostrar con la prueba adecuada, necesaria y pertinente que su situación particular es urgente, pero más que ello deberá demostrar que su situación particular es GRAVE para poder alcanzar la tutela cautelar, y esto se supera no solamente aportando gran cantidad de prueba, sino que la prueba que se aporte venga a evidenciar SIN NINGÚN CUESTIONAMIENTO, esa gravedad que podría experimentar en el caso de ejecución de una determinación administrativa. Con este panorama, es necesario el insistir que no se puede dejar de lado que el daño que se pretende evitar por medio de este tipo de gestiones, no puede ser irreal, tampoco hipotético y menos abstracto; ya que el mismo debe de ser REAL, EVIDENTE, MANIFIESTO Y CONTUNDENTE, de modo tal que si no se comprueba con claridad que daño va a producir en la esfera jurídica de la parte, no puede ser tutelable por medio de este tipo de gestiones.
Finalmente, acerca de la PONDERACIÓN DE LOS INTERESES EN JUEGO: en este apartado debe de indicarse que para realizar el análisis de la ponderación de intereses en juego y valoración del eventual interés público afectado, es necesario que previamente se haya establecido la existencia del daño grave al particular que recurre a este tipo de gestiones, lo cual como se ha indicado no pudo evidenciarse un daño de magnitudes de gravedad, lo que definitivamente implica que ese interés personal deba ceder. Por otro lado, tampoco puede perderse de vista que existen intereses económicos que también se verían afectados con el otorgamiento de la medida cautelar, y como se indicó, siendo que la resolución que se pretende dejar sin efecto, dispuso entre otras cosas el otorgamiento de informes de impacto ambiental de manera periódica y una caución, considera entonces la suscrita, que tales elementos refuerzan la tesis de que el interés particular del actor deba ceder .
POR TANTO
De conformidad con lo expuesto en los apartados precedentes se declara SIN LUGAR la medida cautelar solicitada por JULIO FONSECA PION; contra EL ESTADO, la MUNICIPALIDAD DE CARRILLO, y HUNCHBACK GIRAFFE S.A. Se falla este asunto sin especial condenatoria en costas. En su oportunidad archívese el expediente. NOTIFÍQUESE. LICDA. ALANA FONSECA LOBO, JUEZA.
ALANA DE LOS ANGELES FONSECA LOBO - JUEZ/A TRAMITADOR/A Goicoechea, Calle Blancos, 50 metros oeste del BNCR, frente a Café Dorado. Teléfonos: 2545-0107 ó 2545-0099. Ext. 01-2707 ó 01-2599. Fax: 2241-5664 ó 2545-0006. Correo electrónico: [email protected]
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