197 N.W. 871 | N.D. | 1923
Lead Opinion
This is an appeal from an order of the district court of Grand Porks county, which granted the prayer of the plaintiff petitioner, directing and commanding the city council of the city of Reynolds to grant the petition of Charles N. Ola ver “for the disconnection and exclusion of said land from the city limits,” and which commanded the city council of the city of Reynolds “to enact an ordinance disconnecting said lands from within the city limits.”
Proceedings in the trial court were upon certiorari. The appellants, on the oral argument, strenuously contend that certiorari does not lie, and relv on the case of Baker v. Lenhart, ante, 30, 195 N. W. 16.
The petititoner, Charles N. Claver, with other members of his family, petitioned the city council of Reynolds, North Dakota, that certain described territory be excluded from the city. It is alleged in the peti
. An examination of § 3909, Comp. Laws 1913, which was amended by chapter 79 of the Session Laws of 1919 and again by chapter 32, Session Laws 1921, discloses the fact that when it is made to appear to the council, by a petition asking that certain described territory be detached from the city is wholly unplatted and no municipal sowers, water mains, pavements, sidewalks or other city, town or village improvements Have been made or constructed therein, it is the duty of the city council to disconnect and exclude such territory. It is not disputed in this case that no such improvements existed upon this territory sought to be detached liy the appellants, and the council, notwithstanding these facts, refused to pass an ordinance detaching the territory.
Til view of the objection made by the appellant to the propriety of the remedy and jurisdiction of the trial court to issue a writ of certiorari in this case, we find it unnecessary to examine the numerous constitutional objections urged by appellant against the validity of chapter 32 of the Session Laws of 1921. In the recent case of Baker v. Lenhart, ante, 30, 195 N. W. 16, the majority of this court held that the proceedings of the city commission of the city of Bismarck, acting upon a petition for the detaching of territory under facts substantially tlio same as in the case at bar, and pursuant to chapter 32, Session Laws 1921, could not he reviewed by certiorari; that under our
If the statute be construed to vest in the landowner, at his pleasure, the power to withdraw territory from and thereby to change the boundaries of a municipal corporation, and that the city council or the city commission have only a ministerial duty to perform in that regard, it seems difficult to sustain the act against the charge that it is an attempt to delegate legislative power in contravention of the constitution and in violation of the rule laid down in Morton v. Holes, 17 N. D. 154, 115 N. W. 256.
The judgment of the trial court is reversed and the writ dismissed.
Concurrence Opinion
(concurring). I concur in the opinion prepared by Air. Justice Johnson. This ease involves an application to detach a certain tract of land from the city of Reynolds, in this state. Such application was presented to the city council under the provisions of chapter 32, Laws 1921. The city council denied the application and refused to pass an ordinance disconnecting the tract of land in question. Uie petitioner thereupon applied to the district court for a writ of certiorari for the purpose of reviewing the action of the city council. In the petition for such writ he alleges that on October 3d, 1921, he presented a petition to the city council of the city of Reynolds ashing that a certain tract of land therein described be excluded from said city; that said petition was verified, and was signed by himself and the mem
The district court issued a writ of certiorari ex parte. Upon the return day the defendants appeared and filed a return to such writ. The return admitted the presentation of the application for detachment of the territory, also admitted that the city council had refused to pass the ordinance disconnecting the territory in question, and alleged that the property sought to be detached was part of the territory included within the limits of the city of Reynolds at the time of its incorporation as a city. Such return further alleged that chapter 32, Laws 1921, was unconstitutional, in this, that it violated certain constitutional provisions specifically enumerated in the return. After hearing, the district court entered its judgment to the effect “that the proceedings of the city council of the city of Reynolds in refusing to grant the petition for the disconnection and exclusion of the S.W.¿ of section 1, township 148, north of range 51, from within the limits of the city of Reynolds, be modified and annulled;” and in said judgment it was further ordered and adjudged that “said defendants as members of the city council of the city of Reynolds grant the petition of Chas. N. Claver to disconnect and exclude the S.W.£ of township 148, north of range 51 from within the limits of the city of Reynolds, North Dakota, and to
In the recent case of Baker v. Lenhart, ante, 30, 195 N. W. 16, the question as to the extent of review on certiorari, as well as the question as to the extent of review of the decision of a city council made under chapter 32, Laws 1921, upon an application for the disconnection of territory from the city, were fully considered; and the conclusion was there reached that the city council, and that body alone, was vested with power to receive and act upon a petition for the detachment of territory from a city; that such body is vested with power to hear evidence and draw conclusions therefrom; and that no other body or tribunal has been vested with power to review the city council’s determination of such application. The rule announced in that case is applicable here and is decisive of this case.
It has been suggested that inasmuch as no specific question was raised in the district court as to the propriety of the remedy that that, question ought not to be considered by this court. If the question involved only the propriety of the remedy this would doubtless be true, but the question here strikes much deeper than that of propriety of the remedy. When this matter was presented to the district court (wholly aside from any question as to the propriety of remedy) there was presented as the basic question whether the petition presented a state of facts justifying judicial interference. In other words, the question was necessarily presented to the district court whether, upon the record presented, the petitioner was entitled to any judicial relief whatsoever, and under the ruling announced in Baker v. Lenhavt, supra, it is manifest that this question should have "been answered in the negative.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I most earnestly dissent. The parties on this appeal stipulated that the only question for the supreme court to pass upon is the constitutionality of the statute. Appellant in its brief specifically waived the question of the validity of the proceedings to disconnect the respondent’s land. Nevertheless, the majority opinion refuses to discuss the merits. It reverses the decision of the trial court upon a' technical procedural ground that certiorari is not the appropriate remedy. In so doing it violates well settled rules of pro
Appellants in this court, upon oral argument, after having their attention called by the court to the decision in Baker v. Lenhart, ante, 30, 195 N. W. 16, then, for the first time present the question of the propriety of the remedy. I am indeed puzzled to know upon what theory, in accordance with well settled rules of procedure in appellate practice, the majority opinion through its holding can justify the presentation of the question concerning propriety of the remedy after all tlie parties have stipulated their acquiescence in the remedy used in tlie trial court, and after they have distinctly stipulated that the one question presented for tlie consideration of the supreme court is the constitutionality of the statute. This sort of procedure ignores and waves aside many decisions in this state, some of which have been either signed or written by some of my associates who join in the majority opinion. A review of those decisions will not bc> attempted. It is sufficient to cite only a few. Minneapolis, St. P. & S. Ste. M. R. Co. v. Stutsman, 31 N. D. 597, 154 N. W. 654; Shuman v. Lesmeister, 34 N. D. 209, 158 N. W. 271; Mogaard v. Robinson, 48 N. D. 859,
“We do not understand that any question of procedure is involved upon this appeal, for upon oral argument respondents disclaimed any contention as to the remedy and in their brief it is stated: ‘It is plain that but one point is involved: Should the city council have excluded this tract upon the showing made ? We were willing that this decision should be reviewed by Judge Nuesslc, and we now submit to the judgment of the supreme court the same question.'’ ”
In this ease the city council did not make any finding that the territory involved was not within the statutory provisions applicable for detachment thereof. On the contrary, however, pursuant to-the record and the stipulation of the parties, the city council raised solely constitutional questions, thereby admitting the validity of the proceedings pursuant to the statute and the right of detachment pursuant to the statute, hut denying the validity of the statute. Jn other words, the majority opinion, Ly failing to pass upon the constitutional questions, impliedly, for the purposes of the opinion, regard the statute as constitutional since a statute is presumed to be constitutional until held to the contrary. The majority opinion further, by its disposition of the cause, impliedly recognizes that the territory involved, pursuant to the statute, should he detached and that the city council is willing to detach the same if the statute be constitutional; yet, nevertheless, relief is denied simply because tbe parties invoked the remedy of certiorari instead of some other remedy, such as mandamus or otherwise, regardless of the fact that the parties expressly have waived any question as to the propriety of such remedy. Concerning the propriety of the remedy, I dissent upon the grounds set forth in my dissenting opinion in Baker v. Lenhart, ante, 30, 195 N. W. 16.
Rehearing
Respondent has petitioned for a rehearing. In such petition it is asserted that this court in its former opinion in this cause “apparently overlooked the fact that no question of jurisdiction was ever raised or presented in the trial of the case in -the court below,” and it is contended that such question cannot be raised for the first time in this court. The rule that the theory adopted in the trial court will be adhered to on appeal; and, hence, that a party may not urge on appeal, any error growing out of the trial or submission of the cause upon an incorrect theory, when such theory was of his own selection or was adopted by the trial court at his request has been affirmed by this court in many decisions. See Vannett v. Reilly-Herz Auto. Co. 42 N. D. 607, 173 N. W. 466; Minneapolis, St. P. & S. Ste. M. R. Co. v. Stutsman, 31 N. D. 597, 154 N. W. 654; Malherek v. Fargo, 49 N. D. 522, 191 N. W. 951; Brissman v. Thistlethwaite, 49 N. D. 417, 192 N. W. 85. The rule stated above, however, does not go to the extent of precluding a party from asserting that the lower court had no jurisdiction of the subject-matter of the controversy; or from asserting that, the petition or complaint of the party seeking judicial relief fails to show that he is entitled to any such relief at all. Comp. Laws 1913, § 7447. See also Street Grading Dist. v. Hagadorn, 108 C. C. A. 429, 186 Fed. 451; Huntington County v. Beaver, 156 Ind. 450, 60 N. E. 150; Smith v. Apple, 264 U. S. 274, 68 L. ed. 678, 44 Sup. Ct. Rep. 311. In his petition for rehearing, respondent assumes that the question involved is merely one of propriety of remedy. This is incorrect. There is another question which lies much deeper than that, namely, whether upon the record as it stood at the time the matter was submitted to the district court, a case was presented which justified that court in granting any judicial relief whatsoever to the petitioner.
As was said in Baker v. Lenhart, ante, 30, 195 N. W. 25:
“A proceeding for the exclusion of territory must be initiated by petition presented to the city council (or commission). That body and that body alone is vested with authority to receive and act upon such petition. In other words, the city council (or commission) is vested with power to hear evidence and draw conclusions therefrom: In making its determination the council (or commission) exercises powers
“Manifestly a city commission has power to deny as well as to grant a petition for the exclusion of territory. The power to entertain and hear a petition necessarily implies the power to deny it. It is true, the statute says that when certain facts exist the territory shall be excluded, but it vests the city commission, and it alone, with authority to ascertain whether the facts exist. In a sense there is a duty incumbent upon all boards and tribunals to decide a controversy only one way in all cases where the evidence is such' that reasonable men can draw only one conclusion therefrom. That duty rests not only upon boards, but upon courts. Thus if the evidence in a case is such that reasonable men in the exercise of reason and judgment can draw only one conclusion therefrom, it is the duty of the court in which the case is tried to decide the case in favor of the party who, the law says, is entitled to prevail. That is true whether the case is or is not submitted to a jury. If such case is submitted to the jury under proper instructions, it is the manifest duty of the jury to return a verdict in favor of the party who, under the undisputed evidence, is entitled to it; if the case is decided by the trial judge without a jury, the same duty rests upon him; yet it will hardly be asserted that the failure of the jury or the trial judge to perform their duty in such cases constitutes an excess of jurisdiction. All will agree that it will constitute only an error of judgment. And error of judgment on the part of the tribunal authorized to hear and determine is neither want nor excess of jurisdiction. Hauser v. State, 33 Wis. 678; Arnold v. Booth, 14 Wis. 180; Patterson Land Co. v. Lynn, 44 N. D. 251, 175 N. W. 212. See also Ex parte Bigelow, 113 U. S. 328, 331, 28 L. ed. 1005, 1006, 5 Sup. Ct. Rep. 542. . . .
“The subject-matter here, viz., the exclusion of territory from a city, is one fundamentally legislative in character (Glaspell v. Jamestown, 11 N. D. 86, 88 N. W. 1023), and the Legislature has said that all applications for the exclusion of territory must be addressed to and determined by the city council (or commission) of the city from which the territory is sought to be excluded, and it has vested no other body
This language is equally applicable here. In this case an application was made to the city council to have certain property detached from the city. The city council refused to pass an ordinance detaching the property. When the matter was presented to the district court the question presented to that court (wholly aside from any question as to the propriety of the remedy) was whether the petition set forth any facts warranting interference by the court. In view of the ruling announced in Baker v. Lenliart, supra, it is manifest that this question should have been answered in the negative. The district court, however, answered the question in the affirmative. It, in effect, determined the application which the statute said must be determined by the city council, and entered a judgment, commanding the city commission to pass an ordinance detaching the property.
Tie adhere to the former opinion.
Rehearing denied.
Concurrence Opinion
(concurring). In view of the repeated constructions of the statute (Laws 1921, chapter 92) by this court, to the effect that the legislature had thereby committed to the local legislative bodies all questions concerning the detachment of territory from municipalities and had provided for no judicial review, and in view of the subsequent legislative recognition of this construction as being correct (Laws 1929, chapter 172). I am unable to see how the record in this case presents a constitutional question that this court should consider. (The 1929 amendment above referred to is, of course, not applicable to this case, as this case had been tried below and submitted here before it took effect, hut it provides for the continuance of the rulo of nonreview as to all municipalities of three thousand population or more.) It seems obvious to me that, if the court should consider the act constitutional, its opinion would be no more than advisory, since the legislature has provided no means for making effective a judicial determination that certain territory should be excluded. On the other hand, if the court should consider the act to be unconstitutional, the petitioner would be
‘‘Tn any case, therefore, where a constitutional question is raised, though it may be legitimately presented by the record, yet if the record also presents some other and clear ground upon which the court may rest its judgment, and thereby render the. constitutional question immaterial to the case, that course will be adopted, and the question of constitutional power will be left for consideration until a case arises which can not be disposed of -without- considering it, and -when consequently a decision upon such question will be unavoidable.”
If the petitioner is injured, lu: is injured because of the erroneous action of a local body and because the statute provides for no review of the local legislative action upon a question that is primarily legislative in character. He is not deprived of any constitutional right.
The distinction between this ease and Mogaard v. Robinson, 48 N. D. 839, 187 N. W. 142, is obvious. Tn that case no constitutional question was attempted to be raised by either party, and, as the majority of the court read the retorcí, both parties sought, both in the court below and in the supreme court, to obtain an interpretation of certain language in the statute and specifically submitted the question in both courts. It is one thing to interpret a statute at the instance of parties-who stipulate, to be bound by the construction but quite, a different thing (o decide a constitutional question which arises only he-
Dissenting Opinion
(further dissenting). Upon a mere technicality, without precedent in law and without basis in reasoning, as I view it, the majority opinion has reversed the action of the trial court, dismissed the writ and refused to consider tire only question properly before this court, namely, the constitutionality of the statute involved.
It must be conceded that such disposition of this cause upon a mere technicality has no other effect than to require the parties to perform the useless ceremony of again initiating by certiorari this very proceeding in the trial court. The only effect of the majority decision is the creation of delay and additional expense.
After the technical construction of the statute upon certiorari made by the majority decision in December, 1922, in the case of Baker v. Lenhart, ante, 30, 195 N. W. 19, the legislature, in March, 1923, and before this cause was argued in this court, enacted specific legislation concerning a proceeding by certiorari. This legislation requires the courts to review, through certiorari, the findings of a city council, in a city having a population of less than 3,000, in .a proceeding to detach farm property. Laws 1923, chap. 172. The Act applies to the defendant city and to the identical question presented in this case. This statute was enacted on March 6th, 1923. ■ It became a law on July 1st, 1923. It is now a law while this case is pending before this court and during a time when the appellant has raised for the first time in this court a procedural objection which has been entirely obviated in any event by the statutory provision.
When this cause was argued in the trial court no thought was present in the minds of any of the parties to present any procedural or juris
Tbe majority opinion upon its petition for rehearing attempts now to justify its technical decision by asserting that there is'more involved upon this appeal than tbe mere question of tbe propriety of the remedy ; that tbe jurisdiction of tbe subject matter is involved and tbe question whether or not upon tbe record tbe trial court was justified in granting any judicial relief whatsoever. In support of its position thus stated tbe majority opinion quotes tbe statute, § 7447 Comp. Laws, 1913, which simply provides that when certain objections, such as concerning jurisdiction, are not taken by demurrer or answer, the Same are deemed to be waived excepting only tbe objection to the jurisdiction of tbe court. Tbe majority opinion further cites two foreign cases: One, a case in 108 C. C. A. 429, 186 Fed. 451, to the effect that tbe question of tbe jurisdiction over the subject matter and the competency of tbe trial court to grant relief may always be raised in the appellate court. In that case a suit in equity was prosecuted in a subject matter where there existed an adequate remedy at law. In the other case, from Indiana, 156 Ind. 450, 60 N. E. 150, it was bold that the Circuit Court bad no jurisdiction upon an appeal made from the board of commissioners for the reason that its order was not appealable and hence that tbe question of tbe jurisdiction of such circuit court could be raised at any stage of the proceedings and in tbe
Furthermore, the futility of the argument made concerning the right to raise the question of the jurisdiction of the lower court over the subject matter and of the sufficiency of the complaint to grant relief, in the appellate court, regardless of what has occurred in the trial court, is made evident by the decision of this court, written by Mr. Justice Christianson. Lynch v. District Ct. 48 N. D. 433, 185 N. W. 303. In that case, an original application was made to this court for a writ to prohibit the trial court from proceeding xxnder a writ of certiorari. Mr. Justice Christianson said, or qxxoted with approval, the following:
“Jurisdiction does not depend upon the correctness of the decision made. . . . ‘Jurisdiction of the subject-matter is the, power to deal with the general abstract question, to hear the particular facts in any ease relating to this question, and to determine whether or not they are sufficient to invoke the exercise of that power. It is not confined to cases in which the- particular facts constitute a good cause of action, but it includes every issue within the scope of the general power vested in the court, by tbe law of its organization, to deal with the abstract. Nor is tbis jurisdiction limited to making correct decisions. It empowers the coxxrt to determine every issxxe within the scope of its authority, according to its own view of the law and the evidence, whether its decision is right or wrong.’
,. “The district court has jurisdiction to issue writs of certiorari to justices of the peace aixd other inferior courts, officers, boards, or tribunals. N. D. Const. § 103; Comp. Laws, 1913, § 8445.”.
..Again, in the case at bar the facts of the, complaint are admitted by the defendant. These facts, so alleged and admitted, show without question that the land affected is entitled to he detached pursxxant to the statute. The defendant- does not deny the right of detachment if the statute involved he constitutional. Does the majority opinion hold that a writ of prohibition might have properly been granted to have restrained the issuance of a writ of certiorari in tiffs case by tbe trial court ? ,
In Minneapolis, St. P. & S. Ste. M. R. Co. v. Stutsman, 31 N. D. 597, 154 N. W. 654, the board of railroad commissioners ordered the, construction of a certain crossing over railroad tracks in P'ingal. The railroad appealed to the district court. In that court no question concerning the jurisdiction of that court over either the subject-matter or the parties AA'as ever raised. A decision Avas rendered upon the merits against the board. Upon appeal the board for the first time sought to question the jurisdiction of the commissioners and of the district court to hear and determine the controversy. The supreme court upon appeal held that, “this proceeding-stood exactly as though t-hc parties-had formulated their issue fof decision and thereupon submitted the same to the district court for trial and decision upon the merits, and Avith that court having jurisdiction at law of the subject matter so submitted for arbitrament; upon proper proceedings unquestionably, that court Avould haA’e had jurisdiction to determine and adjudge, that this railroad company should build this crossing over its tracks at the place in question. That being so, as a matter of law, Ave are not concerned in the stops leading up to the submission of that, question to that court on the merits, further than to know that the same was done and
In Vannett v. Reilly-Herz Auto. Co. 42 N. D. 607, 173 N. W. 466, plaintiff commenced an action to recover $250.00 and attached certain automobiles. A bank set up a third party claim to the automobiles. A hearing was had. The trial court made its order and judgment sustaining the title of the bank to the automobiles. Plaintiff appealed. Before the supreme court plaintiff complained that the bank had no Tight to move for discharge of the attachment; that it was necessary Tor it to assert its right by independent action for the possession or -conversion of the property. The supreme court held, through the opinion of Mr. Justice Christianson, viz.: “It is unnecessary to determine ■the procedural question raised. Manifestly the appellant is in no position to predicate error upon the method of procedure; for he formulated the procedure. The Scandinavian American Bank merely acquiesced in the procedure proposed by the plaintiff. Why plaintiff should complain because the court determined the matter which he asked it to determine upon the motion which he noticed is incomprehensible. Tie who consents to an act is not wronged by it.’ Acquiescence in error takes away the-right of objecting to it.’ ” See Malherek v. Fargo, 49 N. D. 522, 191 N. W. 951.
In Brissman v. Thistlethwaite, 49 N. D. 417, 192 N. W. 85, a writ of certiorari was issued. It concerned certain criminal proceedings had before a justice of the peace. On the return day a demurrer was interposed upon the ground that the district court had no jurisdiction over the subject matter or the person, but upon overruling the demurrer, counsel for the defendant, in open court, specifically waived the issuance of a writ of certiorari and submitted entirely the matter in issue to the district court. Upon appeal to this court the question of jurisdiction and the propriety of the remedy were invoked by the -defendant. This court, through the opinion of Mr. Justice Christian-son, in part said:
“It is contended, however, on this appeal that the action of the justice of the peace is not reviewable on certiorari, and that the district court erred in granting such writ.”
“If in this case the hearing had proceeded and the justice of the
“The ordinary presumptions on appeal are applicable on appeal from a judgment in a certiorari proceeding’. 11 C. J. 221. The appellate court will only consider the errors which are urged before it and specifically pointed out, and the review is confined to matters or objections urged below. 11 C. J. 221.”
“When the record presented on this appeal is viewed in light of the fundamental rules above referred to, we are of the opinion that the question of the propriety of the remedy is not before us.
In Mogaard v. Robinson, 48 N. D. 859, 187 N. W. 142, the trial court in a certiorari proceeding refused to disturb the action of a city council in not recognizing a petition for the detachment of farm territory. Upon appeal to this court the propriety of the certiorari proceeding was recognized and the order of the trial court reversed with directions to enter an appropriate judgment for detachment of the territory involved. In that case the court said, “We do not understand that any question of procedure is involved upon this appeal for-upon oral argument respondent disclaimed any contention as to the remedy and in their brief it is stated: — ‘It is plain that but one point is involved: Should the city council have excluded this tract upon the showing made? We were willing that this decision should be reviewed by Judge Nuessle and we now submit to the judgment of the supreme court these same questions.’ ”
If the proceeding for the detachment of farm territory is wholly a legislative proceeding that permits of no judicial review then this court should determine the merits and hold the statute involved to be unconstitutional. If the majority decision now is right, the reasoning of the decision in the first case of Mogaard v. Garrison, 47 N. D. 468, 182 N. W. 758, a mandamus action, was wrong and should be
Accordingly, in my opinion, the determination thus made hy the majority decision is a reproach to the administration of justice. With full and due respect for the opinions of nay ¿ssociates I, nevertheless, must and do earnestly protest against the majority determination thus made upon a mere technicality.
The answer to the concurring opinion of my associate, Mr. Justice Birdzell. may he said to be contained in the court’s opinion,, written by himself, in the case of Mogaard v. Robinson, 48 N. D. 859, 187 N. W. 142 ; in that case it seemed to be, and was, the proper thing to review judicially the action of the city council. If, then, the action of the city council was legislative, as now, the concurring opinion fur
But, my associate, at the tail-end of his concurring opinion, states that the distinction between this case and Afogaavd v. Robinson is obvious. It might be well again to show how obvious the distinction is by quoting, in the language of the appellant, the questions for decision by the court in that ease as follows, to wit: “The questions for decision by the court are: (a) Is certiorari the proper proceeding? (b) Are the determinations of fact and law by the city council subject to review? If so, to what extent? (c) What construction is to lie given that part of the statute providing for the exclusion of. unplatted lands where a sewer outlet extends upon or over the same?” Further, it may be well to call attention to the brief of respondent in such case, namely, the Nogaard Case, wherein on page. 21 an attack is made upon chap. 32, Laws 1921 (involved in this action) upon the ground that the same was special or class legislation in violation of the State Constitution. Also, attention may he calk’d to a case cited by flic appellant in such Alogaard Case, namely, the Red River Valley Brick Co. v. Grand Forks, 27 N. D. 8, 145 N. W. 725, wherein the following language from such case concerning’ judicial determination is quoted: — “The question as to whether the power conferred upon the city council has been legally exercised, whether the statute under which it acts is constitutional, what the effect of any irregularities or omissions in pursuing the method prescribed by the statute may be, and other similar questions, are for judicial determination. I am pleased to note that at least and at last one member signing the majority opinion of this court has" expressed an opinion partially at least upon the merits of the cause submitted to this court.”
