Harper v. Richardson

22 Cal. 251 | Cal. | 1863

Crocker, J. delivered the opinion of the Court—Cope, C. J. and Norton, J. concurring.

The complaint in this case, which is duly verified, avers that the plaintiff is the owner of a tract of land; that a petition was duly presented to the Board of Supervisors of the county where the land is situated, praying for the opening of a road on a route across his land; that viewers were duly appointed to assess the damages done to private property by such location; that he remonstrated against the proceedings, and filed his claim for damages in the sum of three hundred dollars ; that on the thirteenth day of June, 1862, the viewers reported, recommending the opening of the road, hut awarded no damages to the plaintiff on his claim; that on the fourth day of August, 1862, the Board of Supervisors ordered the road to be opened; that he has never waived his right to compensation, and never received any, and no provision has been made for paying him; and that, unless restrained, the road overseer, Richardson, will proceed and open the said road across his land, and concludes with a prayer for an injunction. A temporary injunction was granted. The answer admits the material facts stated in the complaint, and avers that the viewers duly assessed and reported all the damages sustained by private individuals by reason of the location of the road, and that on the fourth day of August, 1862, the Board of Supervisors proceeded to consider all matters touching the original petition and all subsequent proceedings thereon, in connection with the report of the viewers, and the evidence introduced by interested parties, and duly confirmed the report of the viewers, established the road as a public highway, and allowed all the damages sustained by individuals by reason of the location of the road; that the road is of great value to the plaintiff, and has enhanced the value of his land, by affording him the means of access thereto ; and avers that the plaintiff’s action is barred, and he has dedicated the land to public use, by failing to bring his action within the ten days prescribed by the Act of 1861 respecting roads. The defendants moved to dissolve the temporary injunction, which was refused, and the defendants take this appeal from the order refusing to dissolve the injunction.

The Road Law of 1861 (Stat. of 1861, 389) provides that, “ If any person or persons, claiming damages on account of the location or alteration of any road under the provisions of this act, shall be dissatisfied with the award of the road viewers, and cannot agree with the Board of Supervisors as to the amount of damages sustained, and shall refuse to receive the same, such person or persons shall, within ten days from the time of final hearing, commence an action against the county, by name, for such damages, in a Court of competent jurisdiction, which action shall be conducted in like manner as other actions in civil cases in the Courts of Justice of this State, except as hereinafter provided.” Sec. 10 of the same act provides that “ if any person over whose land such road shall pass shall fail to present his claim for damages to the Board of Supervisors, or to file his or her complaint in the proper Court as prescribed in this act, within the time prescribed, said person shall be deemed to have dedicated the land over which such road shall pass, to public use; and such person shall be forever barred from bringing or maintaining any action or proceeding for damages therefor, and the road shall be opened according to the provisions of this act.”

The plaintiff in this case was a party to the proceedings for the location of the road before the Board of Supervisors. He filed his claim for damages, and if the viewers failed to award him what he was entitled to, either by not finding him entitled to any damages, or by awarding him an insufficient amount, he could have brought the matter before the Board for their determination either before or at the time of their final action upon the report of the viewers. Whether he thus appeared or not is not stated ; but, as he was a party to the proceedings, it was his duty thus to act, if he was dissatisfied with the award • of the viewers. Then, if he could not agree with the Board as to the amount of damages, he was entitled to bring his action against the county, if brought within ten days from the time of final hearing. He has not done so; and we think it clear that he is thereby barred from bringing this action, or any action, for damages. His failure to bring his action for damages within the time limited by the statute, is a waiver of his claim therefor. It may be that he is benefited more than he is injured by the location of the proposed road, and in such case it would be proper for him to waive his claim, but he is to be the judge on that point. The statute affords him the proper remedy in case he is injured by the award, properly limits the time within which he must commence his suit to enforce that remedy, and clearly points out and declares what the effect shall be in case he fails to comply with its provisions. There is no pretense that the act is unconstitutional.

The order refusing to dissolve the injunction is reversed, and the injunction is dissolved.