Kleinknecht v. City of Evansville
Kleinknecht v. City of Evansville
Opinion of the Court
The appellants’ assignment of errors—
1. The court erred in overruling the- appellants’ motion for a new trial.
' 2. The court erred in not reopening said cause to hear evidence on newly discovered evidence material to the party applying, which appellants could not with reasonable diligence have discovered and produced at the trial.
The appellants have not discussed in the argument portion of appellants’ brief the second assigned error.
The appellants’ brief does not comply with Rule 2-17 (e) of the Supreme Court. In the case of Board of Med. Regist. and Exam., etc. v. Bowman (1958), 238 Ind. 532, 534, 150 N. E. 2d 883, (rehearing denied), the Court stated:
“(e) The brief shall contain under the heading ‘Argument’ a'specification of such of the assigned errors as are intended to be urged, and each cause in the motion for a new trial which is intended to be urged. After each assignment of error relied upon — except the ruling on a motion for a new trial, and after each cause for a new trial relied upon, there shall be concisely stated the basis of the objection to the ruling complained of,. . .” Peckham v. Smith, A Minor, etc. (1960), 130 Ind. App. 452, 165 N. E. 2d 609; Estate of Stuart et al. v. Kesterson et al. (1959), 130 Ind. App. 130, 159 N. E. 2nd 321 (rehearing denied, transfer denied).
Under the argument portion of appellants’ brief “B”, “C”, “D”, and “E”, these portions of the appellants’ brief do not refer to any particular assignment of cause for a new trial.
Errors assigned and causes for a new trial not treated as herein directed shall be deemed to be waived. Rule 2-17, supra.
This leaves the appellants with two questions under their motion for a new trial to be disposed of by the court.
First, the decision of the court is not sustained by sufficient evidence.
Second, the decision of the court is contrary to law.
Thus, the appellants assail the finding and judgment.
In the matter of the annexation of certain unincorporated territory to the City of Evansville, Indiana, the Superior Court of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, on July 26, 1961 entered the following finding and judgment:
“The Court now finds that the respondent City of Evansville, Indiana, has, by its evidence, demonstrated the presence of the following determinants, and each of them with relation to the territory to be annexed to said City under Ordinance No. 2396, as amended, adopted the 16th day of November, 1959, namely:
“(a) That the annexation is in the best interests of the City and of the territory to be annexed;
“(b) That the area is urban in character, being an economic and social part of the annexing City;
“(c) That the terms and conditions set forth in the ordinance, as amended, are fair and just;
“(d) That the City is financially able to provide municipal services to the annexed area within the reasonably near future;
“(e) That the area sought to be annexed is needed for the development of the City in the reasonably near future; .
“(f) That the lines of annexation are so drawn as to form a compact area abutting the municipality;
“and the Court further finds that the costs of this action should follow the judgment.
“IT IS, THEREFORE, CONSIDERED, ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED, by the Court that Ordinance No. 2396, as amended, of the City of Evansville, Indiana, by the terms of which said City annexed to the following described territory, to-wit:
“Parts of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 11 West; Section 34, Township 6 South, Range 11 West; lying in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, more particularly described as follows:
*349 “Beginning at the Southeast corner of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 34, Township 6 South, Range 11 West, also being the Southwest corner of the present City Limits; thence West along a line parallel to the South line of Section 34, Township 6 South, Range 11 West to the West line of said Section 34; thence North along said line to the North line of said Section; thence continuing North along the West line of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 11 West, to the North line of said Section; thence East along said North line to the South right-of-way line of the Louisville Nashville Railroad; thence Southeasterly along said right-of-way to a point 180 feet West of the center line of Tekoppel Avenue, said point also being the present City Limits; thence South along said City Limits line to the place of beginning;
“and which said ordinance, as amended, is found in Ordinance Book 14, at page 377 of the Ordinance Records of said City in the possession of the City Clerk thereof,be and the same hereby is sustained as against the remonstrance filed thereto by Charles Kleinknecht, et al.
“AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of this Court, forthwith, deliver a certified copy of this judgment to the Clerk of the City of Evansville, who shall record the same in the Ordinance Record of said City and make a cross reference to the page thereof upon the margin where such annexation ordinance, as amended, is recorded.”
The trial court took such action pursuant to §48-702 Burns 1963 Replacement. Said section reads in part, as follows:
“Such evidence demonstrating the presence of the following conditions shall be considered the primary determinants of the annexation’s merit:
“(a) The annexation is in the best interests of the city and of the territory sought to be annexed.
“(b) The area is urban in character, being an economic and social part of the annexing city.
*350 “(e) The terms and conditions set forth in the ordinance are fair and just.
“(d) The city is financially able to provide municipal services to the .annexed area within the reasonably near future.
“(e) The area sought to be annexed, if undeveloped, is needed for development of the city in the reasonably near future.
“(f) The lines of the annexation are so drawn as to form a compact area abutting the municipality.
“If the judge of the court shall find that the primary 'determinants enumerated above apply to the annexation, it shall take place notwithstanding, further, the provisions of any other statute of this state.”
The following stipulation was entered into:
“Comes now the plaintiffs and remonstrafcors, by their attorneys, Johnson and Carroll; and comes now the defendant, City of Evansville, Indiana, by its attorneys (attorney), Jerome L. Salm; and now the parties in open court stipulate and agree as follows:
“1. That within the area sought to be annexed by the City of Evansville in the within cause, there were eight hundred and fifty-nine (859) separate owners of land herein.
“2. That more than fifty-one percent (51%) of the owners of land.in the said territory sought to be annexed deemed .themselves aggrieved and injuriously affected by and filed their remonstrances in writing against the annexation of said territory, together with a copy of the ordinance, in the Superior Court of Vanderburgh County within thirty (30) days after the last publication of the ordinance seeking to annex the said territory.
“3. That by reason of the timely filing of written remonstrances and compliance with the statutes of the State of Indiana by the plaintiffs and remonstrators herein, the Superior Court of Vanderburgh County has jurisdiction of the parties and subject matter.”
Ordinance No. 2396, as amended, reads as follows:
“ORDINANCE ANNEXING CERTAIN CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY THEREIN DESCRIBED TO THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.
“BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA:
“Section 1. The following described territory, which adjoins and is contiguous to the corporate limits of the City of Evansville, and which lies in Vanderburgh County, State of Indiana, is hereby annexed to and declared to be part of said City: •
“Parts of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 11 West; Section 34, Township 6 South, Range 11 West; lying in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, more particularly described as follows:
“Beginning at the Southeast corner of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 34, Township 6 South, Range 11 West, also being the Southwest corner of the present City Limits; thence West along a line parallel to the South line of Section 34, Township 6 South, Range 11 West to the West line of said Section 34; thence North along said line to the North line of said Section; thence continuing North along the West line of Section 27, Township 6 South, Range 11 West, to the North line of said Section; thence East along said North line to the South right-of-way line of the Louisville Nashville Railroad; thence Southeasterly along said right-of-way to a point 180 feet West of the center line of Tekoppel Avenue, said point also being the present City Limits; thence South along said City Limits line to the place of beginning.
*352 “Section 2. The effective date of this annexation shall be December 1, 1959 and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after December 1,1959.
“Section 3. Publication' of this ordinance as required by law is hereby ordered.
“PASSED by the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana this 16th day of- November, 1959, and on said day signed by the President of the Common Council and attested by the City Clerk.
“s/s Joseph F. O’Day
President
“ATTEST:
“s/s John O. Steinmetz
City Clerk
“Presented by me, the undersigned City Clerk of the City of Evansville, Indiana, to the Mayor of said City this 18th day of November, 1959, at 10:20 o’clock A.M. for his consideration and action thereon.
“s/s John 0. Steinmetz
City Clerk
“Having examined the foregoing ordinance, I do now, as Mayor of said City of Evansville, Indiana approve said ordinance and return the same to the City Clerk, this 18th day of November, 1959, at 10:31 o'clock A.M.
“s/s J. William Davidson
Mayor of the City of Evansville, Indiana
“APPROVED AS TO FORM:
“s/s James W. Angermeier
City Attorney”
The Executive Secretary and Planning Director to the Evansville, Vanderburgh County Regional Plan Commission testified, in part, that City’s Exhibit No. 2 is a map of the city of Evansville and surrounding
He further testified that the notation “1.7 sq. mi.” shown on the cross-hatched section of City’s Exhibit No. 2, which is the area described as included in Annexation Ordinance No. 2396, as amended, represents the area of that cross-hatched section as 1.7 square miles and is the area included in Ordinance No. 2396, as amended. Also he stated that the words “Est. Pop. 2881” in the cross-hatched section of this Exhibit No. 2 represent the estimated population of the cross-hatched area.
This witness testified that City’s Exhibit No. 3 is a map on a scale of one inch to 400 feet, showing the territory proposed to be annexed within a red line and showing the general layout of the land in that area, which map was prepared under his control. He testified that the marks on City’s Exhibit No. 3 in the area delineated in red markings show streets in the area; and black dots, rectangles and squares on the map represent physical buildings in the area, showing the same to be houses or commercial buildings; the large rectangular shaped buildings adjacent represent the Bucyrus-Erie Industrial Plant; and four red dots and two rectangles nearly in the center of the map, north and south, and immediately east of the area outlined in red represent sewage disposal plant of the City of Evansville and
He testified that City’s Exhibit No. 4 is an overlay of the base of City’s Exhibit No. 3 and represents plats and subdivisions in the area.
In his testimony he stated that City’s Exhibit No. 5 is an overlay of City’s Exhibits Nos. 3 and -4, and shows all the physical property built in the territory sought to be annexed, depicts the area sought to be annexed by Ordinance No. 2398, as amended; that the rectangles and squares marked in red represent dwelling units, stores, and schools physically constructed in the territory sought to be annexed; that there are approximately 660 dwelling units and approximately 27 commercial units and one school and one or two farm houses shown in this City’s Exhibit No. 5.
He further testified that City’s Exhibit.No. 6 is an overlay of City’s Exhibits Nos. 3, 4, and 5, and is
The City Civil Engineer of the City of Evansville testified that he is familiar with the boundaries to the area annexed to the City of Evansville under Ordinance No. 2396, as amended; that the description
He testified that he .was familiar with the water lines in the area sought to be annexed; that they are of sufficient size at present.
He further testified that the length of the water lines in that area is 2600 lineal feet of 8-inch, 5500 lineal feet of 6-inch, 29,000 lineal feet of 4 inches and under, all connected to the water system of the City, opened out of a central filtration plant within the city limits and poured through water mains within the city limits.
He further testified that he had counted the number of street lights that would be required for the area sought to be annexed and had determined that number to be 73; that the cost to the City, under the present contract for power would be $22.50 per year per light; that the total cost of these street lights would be about $1500.00 per year.
The Construction Superintendent of the Evansville Water Works testified that it was his function and duty to determine the pressure that is on the water lines inside and outside the City where served by: the City Water Works; that his department checkedthe fire plug located at the intersection of Eed Bank Eoad and Highway 62 west of the City of Evansville and the pressure at that point was 54 pounds; that this was abnormal since the normal pressure is around 40 pounds; that this was due to a new transmission line laid west of the City; that the pressure was running anywhere from 30 to 40 pounds; that it was felt that was inadequate; and a twelve-inch line from the city-limits to Speaker Eoad west of the City was laid three weeks, later entirely across the annexation area; that this twelve-inch line was tied into the old line; that there was an 8-inch on one and a 12-inch on the other;
The City Comptroller and Finance Officer of the City of Evansville testified that he was responsible for financing or the finances of the City of Evansville
He further testified that the outstanding bond obligation of the City of Evansville as of December 31, 1960 was $3,900,000; that the total of the City’s bonding capacity as of December 31, 1960, was $3,941,177 based upon a total assessed valuation of the City of $197,058,850; that the bonding capacity is calculated at 2c/c of that figure; that the unused bonding capacity of the City of Evansville on January 1, 1961 was
The General Supervisor of Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company testified that he was familiar with its facilities and the location of its meters and services; that he was familiar with the area sought to be annexed; that he had undertaken to determine the number of • electric and gas services located in the area; that there were 1116 electric meters; that there were 346 gas meters as of January 17, 1961; that these connections made by his company within the area sought to be annexed are served by the facilities located within the City of Evansville.
A practicing attorney in the City of Evansville, who is also a member of the staff of the City Attorney’s office, testified that he had examined the records of 'the Assessor’s office to determine the assessed valuation of real estate within the area sought to be annexed; that he was familiar with that area; that the work was done by him in the County Assessor’s office of Vanderburgh County; that the total assessed valuation of the real estate and real estate improvements within the area sought to be annexed was $1,528,675.00; that this was taken from the records for the year 1960 for taxes payable in 1961.
He further testified that that figure did not include
The Chief of Police of the City of Evansville testified that the City of Evansville furnishes policé protection to the area sought to be annexed and has done so since it was first taken in by ordinance, the last year approximately; that there had been no additional costs to the City to provide this protection; that the area is covered with the same number of men and the same number of cars presently available; that in the event the area was annexed, there would be no additional policing costs; because in his opinion it is adequately policed now; that a cruiser car, accident investigation ear, and a radar car is used; that there are several detective cars floating in and out of the area along with supporting investigation units, the Juvenile Division and Vice Squad car; that in his opinion the area sought to be annexed required no additional man power or equipment.
The Chief of the Evansville Fire Department testified that he was familiar with the area sought to be annexed; that the Fire Department services that area; that the Fire Department has always served it unless there would be a major fire inside the City; that to his knowledge the inhabitants of the area had never been refused service; that during the year the department made six runs; and that so far in 1961 they had made five runs; that Station No. 7 located at Howell and No. 5 at St. Joe and Michigan service that area; that No. 7 is about three miles from the farthest point in the area; that at the nearest point
A city planning and zoning expert and consultant testified that he was familiar with the area sought to be annexed; that in his opinion the annexation of the area is in the best interests of the City and of the annexed area; that the area is urban in character; that the área is needed for the development of the City in the reasonably near future; that the boundaries'of the annexed area are contiguous with the western boundaries of the City of Evansville; that the boundary lines are drawn in a logical fashion; that the annexed area forms a compact area abutting the present city boundaries.
A survey was made by various witnesses of the homes located in the area sought to be annexed to the City of Evansville under Ordinance No. 2396, as amended, and the evidence showed that there were 264 persons living within this area who work at factories and business establishments in the City of Evansville.
The director of Industrial Research for the Evansville Chamber of Commerce testified that he was familiar with the area sought to be annexed under Ordinance No. 2396, as amended, as delineated in red on City’s Exhibit No. 3; that from his observation of the area and of the surrounding territory the three basic fae
The court will consider the evidence most favorable to the appellee, together with all the inferences reasonably deducible therefrom and favorable to its cause. We will not weigh the evidence since' that function is entrusted to the trial court. The only function this court exercises on appeal is to see if there is some competent evidence, whatever its weight, to support the trial court’s primary determinants. Silverstein v. Central Furniture Co., Inc. (1959), 131 Ind. App. 170, 162 N. E. 2d 690, (rehearing denied, transfer denied); Haley v. Williams, Trustee etc. et al. (1954), 125 Ind. App. 377, 123 N. E. 2d 921 (rehearing denied); Noyer, Exr., et al. v. Ecker et al. (1954), 125 Ind. App. 63, 119 N. E. 2d 902, (rehearing denied, transfer denied); Heffington v. Tichenor (1946), 116 Ind. App. 475, 65 N. E. 2d 500.
. After a careful review of the entire record and briefs herein, we are of the opinion that there is sufficient evidence to sustain the findings by the trial court of the primary .determinants applied to the annexation set forth in the judgment made by the trial court, and is not contrary to law.
For the reasons given herein, the trial court did not err in overruling appellants’ motion for a new trial. Finding no reversible error in the record before us, we therefore affirm the trial court.
Judgment affirmed.
070rehearing
The appellants having filed their petition for rehearing, the appellee filed its motion to dismiss appellants’ petition for rehearing on the ground that it does not comply with Rule 2-22 of the Rules of the Supreme Court.
This rule in part states that:.
“Application for a rehearing of any cause shall be made by petition, separate from, the briefs, . . . stating concisely the reasons why the decisión is thought to be erroneous. Such application may, if desired be supported by briefs. . . .” (Our emphasis).
The appellants’ petition for rehearing comprises eight (8) paragraphs or specifications. No separate supporting briefs were filed along with the petition. Not only do the appellants, in their petition, state that our decision is erroneous and attempt to present reasons why, they also combine arguments in support of their grounds for rehearing, reiterate arguments on the merits of the case, cite Rules of the Supreme Court as well ás case authority, and make reference to portions of their original brief.
Such arguments intermingled with reasons why the decision is thought to be erroneous, all of which are contained within one petition, preclude the conciseness of such reasons as is required by Rule 2-22.
As stated in the case of Automobile Underwriters, Inc. v. Smith (1961), 241 Ind. 302, 306, 171 N. E. 2d 823,
“Consistent with the purpose of the rule, alleged errors in the opinion, not supported by a concise statement of the reasons in support thereof, are considered waived.”
In addition, the Supreme Court of Indiana has held that reasons for an erroneous decision contained within a petition which are not concisely stated separately from the argument are ignored. Miller, etc. v. Ortman, etc., et al. (1956), 235 Ind. 641, 136 N. E. 2d 17.
In. a more recent case it has been recognized' that any argument must be submitted separately from the petition for rehearing. See Automobile Underwriters, Inc. v. Smith, supra.
Since the appellants’ petition fails to conform with Rule 2-22 by not concisely stating reasons why. the decision is thought to be erroneous separately from given arguments, the appellee’s motion to dismiss .appellants’ petition for rehearing is granted.
Petition for rehearing dismissed.
Note. — Reported in 204 N. E. 2d 872. Rehearing Denied in 206 N. E. 2d 886.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Kleinknecht, Et Al. v. City of Evansville
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published