26 Barb. 301 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1857
The complaint in this action seems to have been framed to restrain the proceedings of the defendants in filling up a portion of the plaintiff’s lots, and to vacate the assessment laid for the expense of this filling, as an improper exercise of authority or discretion; although in the argument before us the chief stress was laid upon the unconstitutionality of the ordinance complained of, or the law under which it was made. In any aspect of the question, however, I am quite clear that no case is disclosed upon these papers which demands or justifies the interposition of a court of equity, by injunction. It is not every wrongful or even unconstitutional act of individuals, and still less of public bodies, and municipal corporations, which entitles the injured party to an injunction.
The case is briefly this, on the plaintiff’s own showing. He is the owner of certain lots of land on Twentieth street in the city of Brooklyn, worth, he says, not over $100 each, and unsalable at that, and which have been recently taxed $92 each for filling and grading the street. The street runs past these lots and terminates in a cul de sac, at a hill and the east bounds of the city, reaching no other road. The defendants have passed an ordinance pursuant to their charter, requiring these lots, with others adjoining, to be filled up to within four feet of the street grade, for a distance of 30 feet from the line of the street, in order, as they say, to support the sidewalks. This filling is to be done at the expense of the owners, the plaintiff and others. It may be inferred from the complaint, although it is not distinctly averred, that
This is the whole cause of action, and it is manifest that there is nothing here which calls for the relief demanded. The injury to the plaintiff's lots hy this filling up is not said to he irreparable so that an action at law and damages for the trespass will not he an ample remedy, if the proceedings of the defendants are unauthorized or unjustifiable. Indeed, there is no statement in the complaint that the filling up these lots will cause any damage or injury whatever to the lands. The gist of the matter seems to he the expense. Even if it were the mere wanton and malicious act of a tresjDasser, there is not enough in the case to require us to grant an injunction, so far as the lands or lots, or their ownership or enjoyment, are concerned.
As to the tax or assessment, the case is equally plain. If the assessment he illegal or unconstitutional, the plaintiff cannot he compelled to pay it, and he need not anticipate, in this way, his defense to a suit at law. The assessment is not yet laid, or
S. B, Strong, Birdseye and Mmott, Justices.]