32 Cal. 328 | Cal. | 1867
This action was brought to recover the amount of an assessment against a certain lot in the City of San Francisco for work done in the performance of a street • contract. Issue being joined between the parties named, the cause was tried by the Court and a judgment rendered against the defendant, from which he appealed directly to this Court, relying upon the judgment roll alone as disclosing errors of law demanding a reversal of the judgment.
Upon the facts stated in the complaint, which the Court found to be true in substance, the appellant maintained that he, instead of the plaintiff, was and is entitled to judgment. The action, in form, is against the appellant and one J. P.. Schaffer, and it is charged in the complaint that after the work,, for which the plaintiff claims to be entitled to compensation, according to the terms of his contract with the Superintendent of Streets, was done, the Superintendent approved of the-same, and thereupon made a diagram exhibiting the premises upon and adjoining which the work had been done, and each
In Smith v. Davis, 30 Cal. 536, this Court said : “ The defendant can be made to pay only upon its being shown that the steps of the statute have been strictly followed. If his name was known to the Superintendent it should have appeared in the assessment. If it was not known, the Superintendent could have so stated, and the assessment would have been good.” In that case the assessment was to a person as the owner of the property who had been dead several years.
Judgment reversed and cause remanded.