Hoke v. Perdue
Hoke v. Perdue
Opinion of the Court
Except in one particular this case is not distinguishable from Dean v. Davis, No. 4706 [51 Cal. 406], decided at the present term, and the judgment must be affirmed on the authority of that case, unless there be something in the particular referred to which shall lead to a different result.
In addition to the causes of action relied upon in Dean v. Davis [51 Cal. 406], the complaint in the present action alleges that if the reclamation works shall be reconstructed, they will have the effect, not to benefit the plaintiff’s land, but, on the contrary, greatly and permanently to depreciate its value. It is claimed, therefore, that this will constitute a “taking” of the land for public use without a just compensation, in violation of the constitution. But in schemes for local improvements of this character, where the expenses
In the present case the anticipated injury to the plaintiff’s land is speculative, remote and consequential. He thinks the proposed dam and levee will not be sufficient to withstand the periodical freshets; but that is only a matter of opinion, and the statute confides to the board of supervisors and their engi
Moreover, the law having confided to them the exercise of their judgment and discretion in the premises, it is not for the courts to interfere, unless it clearly appears that the proposed improvements will necessarily result in damaging the plaintiff’s land to such an extent and in such manner as to constitute a “taking” in the sense of the constitution.
We think the complaint does not state such a ease and contains no ground for equitable relief.
Judgment affirmed.
We concur: Rhodes, J.; Niles, J.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- F. HOKE v. W. H. PERDUE
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Reclamation Works—Injury Without Compensation.—In projects for local improvements, such as reclamation works, the fact that the land of some one taxpayer will be injured rather than benefited does not make out a case of taking for the public use without a just compensation in violation of the constitution.