20 Mich. 168 | Mich. | 1870
It is objected by the city that this proceeding by certiorari is not warranted, because the plaintiff in the writ had a complete remedy by appeal, of which he neglected to avail himself, and thus having suffered the time for appealing to pass without an effort to resort to that mode before sueing out the certiorari, the judgment of the Recorder’s Court became conclusive.
The authority to award the writ in this class of cases results from the Constitution and cannot be taken away by legislative enactment. It is true that legislative provisions in given instances, may supersede the necessity for reviewing questions in this form, but the propriety of proceeding by certiorari in those cases, to which by the principles of the common law it is rightly adapted, must depend upon a sound judicial discretion. Upon this point we reiterate what was said in Farwell v. Taylor, 12 Mich., 113, that “the power is one which should be exercised sparingly in cases where other adequate remedies can be had; and when a decision can be taken up by appeal, and on that appeal the jurisdictional questions as well as those arising on the merits can be fully disposed of, a certiorari should not be allowed, unless circumstances exist, which show that a failure of justice will result from denying it.”
The proceeding now sought to be reviewed was one promoted by the city to condemn the property of Specht to a public use, and it is materially different in its nature and course, as also in its consequences, from an ordinary litigation between party and party, and the courts in such cases have never been accustomed to make rigid application of the rules recognized in ordinary actions, under the head of waiver. Indeed the legal tribunals have generally found it necessary to the ends of justice, in matters of this kind, to incline somewhat towards indulgence, and, without enlarging their jurisdiction, to amplify the remedy.
The law under which the city assumes to act in this case is not an exception to this rule. — Laws of 1869, pp. 1686, 1707, mo.
While adequate power is given to the city by the charter, the various steps to be taken in the exercise of that power are carefully delineated, and appear to have been devised with no inconsiderable care. And according to the uniform course of decision there could be no substantial departure from any of the fundamental requirements there made without vitiating the proceeding.
On turning to the papers before us we can discover no evidence that the plaintiff in certiorari appeared in any stage of the business, and we cannot presume that he did so. We notice this circumstance, simply for the reason that the counsel for the city was understood as insisting that the party appeared before the jury and presented his claims, and that therefore he should be considered as having submitted himself to the jurisdiction. Without determining the scope of the remedy by appeal, we are satisfied that, in this case, “ circumstances exist which show that a failure of justice will result,” if we refuse to review these proceedings, and we are therefore disposed to retain the case.
The Common Council of Detroit are empowered to take private property for alleys, etc., but the necessity for using it and the compensation to be made must be determined by a jury. — Section 1 as amended in 1869, of chap. 7 of Charter.
When the Council have determined to take property for
It is seen that this notice made by the City Attorney, by direction of the Council, and filed in the Recorder’s Court'with the evidence as to publication, posting and service, is the foundation of the proceedings in that Court. It is that which immediately puts the Court in motion, specifies the things to be done by the jury, and informs those interested of the precise character of the matter in hand. It takes the place of process as against those whose rights- are to be affected, and serves as a qualified guide in the subsequent proceedings; and if it be defective in any essential particular, the Court- will obtain no jurisdiction.
The charter declares that the notice in question shall state “that the Common Council have determined to make such improvement, describing it by metes and bounds, courses and distances, and to talco therefor such private property within said limits as may he necessary, and that on a certain day therein to be mentioned, and not less than ten days after the date of the last of said publication he will apply to the Recorder’s Court of said city to have a jury of twelve freeholders drawn and empanneled to determine the necessity for using said property, and the just compensation to he paid therefor, and incase of opening, widening, straightening, or altering any alley or alleys, said notice shall also contain the further statement that said jury will also apportion and assess the compensation to he paid to the several owners, or persons entitled to receive the same to and upon all lots, premises, or suh-divisions thereof, within the hloclc in which the alley in question is situated, and which will ,be benefited by the proposed improvement.” — § 2 as amended in 1869 of ch. 7 of Charter.
The resolution of the Council directing the attorney in this case to give the notice simply instructed him to apply to the Recorder’s Court for the drawing and empanneling of a jury required in such cases, “ and to give notice in accordance with the city charter,” and the notice actually given, after stating that the Council had determined to open and extend an alley of the width and course, and between the points which were described, and to take therefor such private property, within certain limits, as.should be necessary for said improvement, proceeded as follows: — “And that on Thursday, the 8th day of July, 1869, in accordance with the instructions of said Common Council, I shall apply to
The broad and essential difference between the notice given and that required by the Charter is seen at once. The Charter required that the notice should state that the jury would be called to determine the just compensation to be paid for using the property taken, and this was wholly omitted. In case of an alley the notice was further required to state that the jury would also apportion and assess the compensation to be paid to and upon all lots, premises or sub-divisions thereof, within the bloclc in which the alley is situated and which will be benefited by the proposed improvement, but in lieu of this, it was stated in the notice that the compensation would be apportioned and assessed to and upon all lots, premises or sub-divisions thereof, which would be benefited by the proposed improvement, omitting altogether the qualifying words as to locality contained in the charter. The provisions of the Charter in these respects are material and imperative, and the departures from them in the notice were not merely verbal or formal, but substantial and fundamental. The errors they involve are so evident and decisive as to require neither reasoning nor authority to make them more clear and emphatic. As these defects are fatal to the proceedings, we are not inclined to consider the other objections raised on the argument of the case.
The proceedings in the Court below must be quashed with costs.