State ex rel. Johnson v. Merchants & Miners Bank

279 Mo. 228 | Mo. | 1919

GRAVES, J.

These are two actions to recover delinquent, taxes. They are consolidated and tried together below, and are so presented here. The first is a case against a state bank, and the second case is against a national bank.

It is claimed that the State Board of Equalization raised the assessed value of bank stock in Jasper County from forty per cent of their value to fifty per cent of their value, whilst said State Board of Equalization left other personal property stand at an assessed valuation of forty per cent of the value.

The tax bills in these cases were based upon the assessed valuation as certified to the county by the State Board of Equalization. The suits cover delinquencies for the five years prior to their institution. During these years and for some time prior, the banks had been paying on a forty per cent assessed valuation, instead of the fifty per cent assessed valuation as fixed by the State Board. This is the claim of the defendants. As a fact they paid about three-fourths of their taxes each year and these suits are to collect the unpaid portions for the five years next before the institution of these actions.

The tax bills Avere based upon the valuation fixed by the State Board of Equalization, and the relator is entitled to recover in this action, unless the judgment of the State Board of Equalization can be successfully attacked in this proceeding. Evidence Avas admitted over the objection of plaintiff, Avhich Avas offered for the purpose of nullifying the judgment of the Board of Equalization. But after hearing it all the trial court entered judgment for relator. In our vieAV of the laAv further details are unnecessary.

Judiciai Act.

I. It is settled doctrine in this State that boards of equalization, including the county boards of equalization, as well as the State Board of Equalization, act judicially.

As to the State Board of Equalization the statute, Section 11410, thus reads: “The State Board of Equalization shall have power to send for persons, and papers, to administer oaths through its officers or agents, and to take all evidence it may deem necessary to ascertain the value of the property in the different counties in the State.”

So the very statute itself indicates the judicial character of its acts. This court has so ruled as to the State Board in State ex rel. v. Western Union Telegraph Co., 165 Mo. l. c. 517, Avhereat it is said: ‘ ‘ The defendant cannot- avail itself of these cases, for the reasons, first, that it seeks to raise the question of discrimination by a defense to an action at law to collect the taxes, and thereby collaterally attacks the judgment of the board of equalization; second, that such questions can only be raised by a direct attack, in equity, and then only upon the condition precedent that it pays or tenders the amount justly due and only asks to have the collection of the excess restrained. This the defendant has not done in this case.”

The county boards of equalization perform judicial functions, as is clearly indicated by Article 3 of Chapter 117, Revised Statutes 1909. And this court has so held. Thus in Black v. McGonigle, 103 Mo. l. c. 198 et seq., is said: “According to the plain letter of the statute, the board has not only the power to hear complaints, but it has' the power, of its own motion, to equalize the valuation for the purposes named in the law, namely, so that each tract of land shall be entered at its ‘true value.’ In performing these duties the board acts judicially; this has been often held, and the very nature of the duty to perform makes it a judicial one. [St. Louis Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Charles, 47 Mo. 465; Railroad v. Maguire, 49 Mo. 483; Cooley on Taxation (1 Ed.), 291.]”

To like effect in the case of State ex rel. v. Bank, 234 Mo. l. c. 197, whereat we thus spoke: “In making the order raising the valuation of the property for taxation in Christian County for the year 1905, the County Board of Equalization was acting in a judicial capacity, and, under the well-settled rule of law applicable to judgments, its action was not subject to collateral attack. [Black v. McGonigle, 103 Mo. 192; State ex rel. v. Vaile, 122 Mo. 33; State ex rel. v. Western Union Tel. Co., 166 Mo. 502; State ex rel. v. Lumber Co., 198 Mo. 430.]”

So also in State ex rel. v. Lumber Co., 198 Mo. l. c. 439, we said: “But the County Board of Equalization had jurisdiction over the lands taxed for levee purposes (Sec. 8449, R. S. 1899), and the authority to raise the assessments for benefits against all the lands (Sec. 9131, R. S. 1899), and in so doing it acted judicially. [Black v. McGonigle, 103 Mo. 192; St. Louis Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Charles, 47 Mo. 465; Railroad v. Maguire, 49 Mo. 483; Cooley on Taxation (1 Ed.), 291; Ward v. Board of Equalization, 135 Mo. 309.] In raising the rate of taxation against the lands in the levee district it was sufficient for the board to designate a percentage of increase. [1 Cooley on Taxation (3 Ed.)j 786.] It is not claimed that the Board of Equalization failed in any of its duties. Its proceedings were regular, proper notice given, and the result legally published and certified as required by the statute. The act of the board in raising the assessment being judicial in its character is not subject to attack in this collateral way.”

Other cases along the same line are State ex rel. v. Vaile, 122 Mo. l. c. 47; Railroad v. McGuire, 49 Mo. l. c. 483; Black v. McGonigle, 103 Mo. l. c. 198; State ex rel. v. Board of Equalization, 256 Mo. l. c. 461. In the latter case, supra, Bond., J., said: “The functions of the board of equalization in judging the assessments of property are judicial, and if in the exercise of that power it shall act without rightful jurisdiction, and this should appear from the fact of its record, then certiorari is the proper remedy to quash its record and proceedings.”

So that from the beginning to this time we have held the proceedings of these boards (both county and State) to be judicial in character. Not only so, but we have given their proceedings in fixing values the force of judgments. Other cases from this State might be cited, but these are illustrative of the whole line of our cases. Of course if such bodies in acting (as stated by Bond, J., supra) exceed their constituted power or jurisdiction, and such fact appears upon their records, then we can reach their judgments by certiorari. Such is the rule as to courts.

Attackral

II. It being conceded (as it must be) that the action of the State Board of Equalization was judicial in character, then it must be held that its judgment cannot be attacked in this collateral proceeding. That the attack upon the judgment of the State Board of Equalization is collateral is clear from the books.

In 23 Oyc. 1062, the difference between direct and collateral attacks is clearly stated, thus: “The term ‘collateral’ as used in this connection is opposed to ‘direct.’ If an action or proceeding is brought for the very purpose of impeaching or overturning the judgment, it is a direct attack upon it. Such is a motion or other proceeding to vacate, annul, cancel, or set aside the judgment, or any proceeding to review it in an appellate court, whether by appeal, error, or certiorari, or a bill of review, or, under some circumstances, an action to quiet title. On the other hand, if the action or proceeding has an independent purpose and contemplates some other relief or result, although the overturning of the judgment may be important or even necessary to its success, then the attack upon the judgment is collateral.” The same authority on the same page says: “The rule against collateral impeachment of judicial decisions applies to the determination of State and county officers or boards of officers, who, although not constituting a court, are called upon to act judicially in matters of administration, such as boards of county commissioners, boards of land commissioners, or railroad commissioners, or a State Board of Equalization, ’ ’

Our rule as to what is collateral attack accords with Cyc. supra. Thus in Lovitt v. Russell, 138 Mo. l. c. 482, Gantt, P. J., said: “Now it must be borne in mind that the proceedings, under review and collaterally assailed in this case, were in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, a court of general jurisdiction. No principle of law is more universally accepted in this country than that the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction so long as it stands unreversed cannot be impeached in a collateral proceeding, on account of mere errors, or irregularities, not going to the jurisdiction. [Union Depot Co. v. Frederick, 117 Mo. 138; Lingo v. Burford, 112 Mo. 149; Gray v. Bowles, 74 Mo. 419; 1 Black on Judgment, sec. 261.] The plaintiff did not proceed in the circuit court by bill in equity and ask to have the judgment set aside for fraud, nor did she attempt to set it aside for irregularity by motion or petition for review.” See also the cases cited in our paragraph one, supra.

There is no doubt that the State Board of Equalization was acting within its jurisdiction when it fixed values for bank stock in Jasper County, and its judgment can not be attacked in this collateral proceeding.

In State ex rel. v. Vaile, 122 Mo. l. c. 47, Black, P. J., said: “A board of equalization in performing its duties, acts judicially, and its orders cannot be impeached collaterally, save for want of jurisdiction or for fraud. [Black v. McGonigle, 103 Mo. 193, and cases cited; Black on Tax Titles (2 Ed.), sec. 141.] But it is a board of special and limited powers, and when it steps outside of its jurisdiction its acts are void.”

If attacked for want of jurisdiction, the fact must appear on the face of the record. So appearing, the judgment is void, and a void judgment may be attacked collaterally. But if the judgment is only voidable and not void it can only be attacked in a direct proceeding. This is hornbook law.

Judgments may be set aside for fraud, but the fraud must be such as entered into the very concoction of the judgment. But we need not discuss this, because a judgment cannot be attacked for fraud in a collateral proceeding. It must be by a direct bill in equity. It follows that the objections made by relator to all the oral evidence introduced to impeach the judgment of the State Board of Equalization should have been sustained, because such judgment cannot be thus impeached in this collateral proceeding. Wtith this evidence stricken from the record there is nothing left to either of these cases for the defendants. The members of the State Board of Equalization could not impeach their own judgment in this collateral proceeding. Nor can the judgment of the County Board of' Equalization be impeached in this collateral proceeding. This removes from the record all evidence having in view that purpose.

Under the law these hoards, both State and county (in this collateral proceeding), are presumed to have performed their duties under the law. This presumption is a finality in collateral proceedings. The face of the record does not disclose want of jurisdiction in the State Board of Equalization, and its judgment is not void. Its attack in this collateral proceeding cannot he sustained under the law. When we have stripped from the record in this case all the incompetent evidence (duly objected to below) there is absolutely nothing left to the defenses made by defendants. The many matters discussed need not he noted at all, because this is not a case wherein they could properly arise. The judgment nisi should he affirmed, and it is so ordered.

All concur except Woodson, J., not sitting.

On Motion to Modify Opinion and Judgment.

GRAVES, J.

Motions to modify our opinion and the judgments herein have been filed. Those motions should be sustained. As stated in the opinion these two actions are to recover unpaid balances due upon taxes for the five years next preceding the bringing of the actions. It would appear that the circuit court omitted to credit the payments of a portion of the taxes paid by the two hanks. Counsel for plaintiff admits the error, hut in our deep interest in the vital question in the case, we overlooked this matter. Counsel offers to remit from the judgments so as to make them correct. This will be permitted.

So that in the first case, the judgment will he cut down to $93.96, which includes ten per cent for the tax attorney’s fees. In the other case, the judgment will be cut to $96.36, which includes ten per cent for the tax attorney’s fees. ' ' ''

In the cases the. tax hills (five in each) show these amounts as the balance due, including the penalties and tax attorney’s fees. The opinion is hereby modified, as are also the judgments. In the first case, judgment is entered here for the sum of $93.96, and in the second case, judgment is entered here for the sum of $96.36.

All concur except Woodson, J., who is absent.