88 N.Y.S. 769 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1904
Lead Opinion
The question presented on petitioner’s claim for damages iff* whether, under the provisions of chapter 1006 of the Laws of 1895, the two-year or the six-year Statute of Limitations is applicable. The appellant insists that map No. 171, filed on June 12, 1890, was-not a legal map, and, therefore, was ineffectual to discontinue old .Quarry road or Valentine avenue or a part of East One Hundred; and Seventy-eighth street. ,
This map was made under the authority of section 672 of chapter 410 of the Laws of 1882, as amended by chapter 530 of the Laws of 1885, and also pursuant to chapter 721 of the Laws of 1887. The two grounds upon which the petitioner’s claim of illegality are based-are, first, the failure of the city to show that the notice of publication which was necessary under chapter 721 of the Laws of 1887, was; published in the daily papers ; and, second, the failure to have upon the map, as provided by section 672 of chapter 410 of the Laws of 1882 (as amd. by Laws of 1885, chap. 530), a certificate made by the president of the park board or by another designated officer or commissioner before a person authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds.
It is conceded that if the map was properly filed in 1890, it effectually discontinued the street in question as a public street * but, under the decisions, there would still survive the private rights-of light, air and access which are appurtenant to a lot abutting upon-a public highway. (Holloway v. Southmayd, 139 N. Y. 390 ; Holloway v. Delano, Id. 412; Matter of Mayor, 28 App. Div. 143.) These are authorities for the proposition that, prior to the passage of chapter 1006 of the Laws of 1895, the effect of the closing of á.
Chapter 545 of the Laws of 1890 did not authorize the extinguishment of these private easements, and the Legislature of 1895 evidently intended to supplement the law of 1:890 so as to enable the city to adopt a general and comprehensive scheme" for the permanent laying out and opening of new streets and discontinuing of old streets that interfered with such plan. Taking the two acts, therefore, of 1890 and 1895 they were sufficient, where their provisions were followed in closing old streets, to destroy both public rights and private easements of abutting owners.
Whether Quarry road or East One Hundred and Seventy-óighth street was discontinued as a public street necessarily depends upon a determination whether the map as filed in 1890 Was legally filed. That it was filed in the proper office is conceded; and with respect to the publication of the notice in the papers as required by chapter 721 of the Laws of 1887, we think that the burden of showing that the legal steps prescribed as preliminary to filing were not taken, would be on the one who assailed the legality and regularity of the filing, and that at the outset he would be met by the presumption in favor of the legality of the public map which had thus been filed and acted upon as a valid document. With respect, therefore, to the notice of publication, we think that the appellant is in error in saying that the burden rested upon the city to prove such publication.
In the recent case of City of New York v. Streeter (91 App. Div. 206), wherein an action was brought to recover a personal tax, and the question presented was the extent of proof on the part of the city necessary to establish a prima facie case, it was said: “With respect to the acts of judicial tribunals as well as those of constituted boards it has been frequently held that they will be regarded as presumptively valid until questioned or assailed under the maxim Omnia prcesumuntur legitime facta donee probetur ■in eontrarium. * * * In Wood v. Morehouse (45 N. Y. 368) the court says: ‘ Neglect of duty by a public officer will not be presumed but must be proved. * * * and in support of his acts the familiar maxim, orrmia prcesumuntur rite esse aeia, stands for
And in City of New York v. Vanderveer (91 App. Div. 308), wherein also it was sought to enforce a personal tax, it was said: “ The requirement is that they (the tax books) shall be kept open and as the statute is silent with respect to the evidencing of such act * * * the legal presumption applies that the officers have performed their duty in this respect and that the burden, therefore, is cast upon the defendant to make it otherwise appear if such is the fact. (McLaughlin v. Miller, 124 N. Y. 510; Hand v. Supervisors of Columbia County 31 Hun, 531; Wood v. Terry, 4 Lans. 80.) ”
The rule is thus stated in Chase v. Lord (77 N. Y. 1), wherein a provision of chapter 308 of the Laws of 1849, for the incorporation of insurance companies was under consideration: “Thelegal presumption is that all statutory conditions have been complied with. This presumption continues until the contrary is shown. No duty rested upon the stockholder to do this, and it is incumbent on the plaintiff to establish a non-compliance with the provisions of the statute before he can charge the defendant. (Bruce v. Driggs, 25 How. Pr. 71.) ” These cases apply with equal force to the suggestion that it was incumbent on the city to prove, with respect to the filing of the map in 1890, due publication, because it appearing that the map was filed in the proper office, it will be presumed that the necessary preliminary steps have been taken by the proper officials.
The more serious question is that relating to the acknowledgment of the certificate which it is insisted should appear on the map. The
In our view, therefore, the street in question, by the filing of the rnap in 1890, was closed and discontinued as a public street.
There remained, however, as held by the authorities which we have cited, the private easements which the petitioner had and enjoyed up to their final destruction by the filing of the map under the act óf 1895. As the damages which she suffered by the destruction of these private easements were due to the filing of the map
To this extent we think the petitioner was entitled to relief; and for the reason that her petition was in all respects denied, we think that the order appealed from should be modified by denying the application so far as it relates to any damages which she lost by the discontinuance of the street as a public highway, but granting it as to damages which she may have sustained by the destruction of her private easements. As modified, the order should be affirmed, without costs.
McLaughlin, Hatch and Laughlin, JJ., concurred ; Ingraham, J., dissented.
Dissenting Opinion
I dissent so far as it is held that by chapter 1006 of the Laws of . 1895 the private easements appurtenant to the petitioner’s property over any portion of a street were destroyed, or that by reason of that act the petitioner can recover in this or any proceeding against the city any sum of money on account, of such private easemerits. These easements were appurtenant to the petitioner’s property and a part of it. The Legislature could not by a legislative act appro
Order modified as directed in opinion, and as modified affirmed, without costs.