Town of Walton v. Norman
Town of Walton v. Norman
Opinion of the Court
DELIVERED THE OPINION OP THE COURT.
The appellant instituted proceedings in the Boone County Court for the purpose of condemning certain property of the appellee to be used as a sidewalk in the town of Walton. The proceedings were contested in the county court, and it seems by consent finally submitted to the county judge with
It seems that the exception in substance charged that the commissioners appointed by the county court examined the land and reported as to the value of damages, etc., but never met together and made the examination, nor conferred together, but each had made his examination separately and each in the absence of the others signed the report. The evidence introduced on the trial of that exception is not before us, hence it must be taken that the truth of the exception was sustained by the evidence.
The questions now presented for decision are, first, should the report have been quashed for the reason given? Second, if the report was properly quashed, did the circuit court err in dismissing the proceedings?
Section 835, 836 and 837, Kentucky Statutes, provide for the condemnation of land upon motion of a railroad company. Section 3668, Kentucky Statutes, provides that whenever property is needed for municipal purposes and an ordinance is enacted so declaring, the proper authorities of the city or town may, if compensation therefor can not be agreed upon, condemn same in the manner provided for the condemnation of land for railroad purposes.
Section 839 provides that when exceptions shall be filed by either party the court shall forthwith cause a jury to be em-panneled to try the issues of fact made by the exceptions. In assessing the damages the jury shall be governed by the rule prescribed in section 836 of the statute. It is also provided that either party may appeal to the circuit court, by executing bond as required in other cases, within thirty days, and the appeal shall be tried de novo.
Section 840 further provides how the appeal shall be taken. It will be seen from the foregoing that the passage of the ordinance by the municipal authorities of the town authorized an application to* be made to the county court for condemnation, which court shall proceed to appoint commissioners, as required by law, which commissioners shall make a report, as prescribed by law, and thereafter the owner of the land shall be summoned to show cause, if any he can, why the report shall not be confirmed. After legal service of the summons the owner of the land may file exceptions to the report, in which event a jury shall be empanneled to try the cause and assess the damages to which he may be entitled, and it is further provided that either party may appeal to the circuit court, where the cause shall be tried de novo.
The provision of the statutes as to the enactment of the ordinance, the appointment of the commissioners and their report was evidently intended to obviate, as far as possible, any contest as to the advisability of the condemnation of the land as well as the damage to the owner, but it is expressly provided that upon exceptions to the report of the commissioners by either party to the proceeding that a jury trial should be had for the purpose of assessing the damages.
It, therefore, seems clear to us that the quashal of the report in nowise prevented the parties from having a jury try and assess the damages, and also to try any other questions legally involved in the controversy.
It results, therefore, that the court below erred in dis* missing the proceedings, and that judgment is reversed and
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.