Bredehoft v. County of Platte
Bredehoft v. County of Platte
Opinion of the Court
This case originated on a claim for damages filed
The plaintiffs were the owners of real estate adjoining the section-line road here involved. The evidence shows that in July 1895 the county road in question was established. The width of the road was not set out in the proceedings. Under the controlling statute in existence at that time all public roads were required to be 66 feet wide. Comp. St. 1895, § 4509. The regularity of the proceedings opening the road in 1895 is not here questioned. It is the contention of the plaintiffs that the record and memoranda on file with the county clerk of Platte County show that the county paid adjoining landowners for a 33-foot road only, and that adjoining landowners are entitled to compensation for the additional land taken and damages resulting to the remaining lands because of such further taking.
The evidence shows that the road used since 1895 and prior to the construction of the 66-foot road in 1957 was from 33 to 40 feet wide on the basis of the fences which appear to have been continuously maintained since 1895. We do not deem the location of the fences to be material since the plaintiffs could acquire no prescriptive right against the county.
The case is controlled by our decision in Taylor v.
It is conclusively presumed therefore that the county established a road 66 feet in width in 1895. When plaintiffs’ predecessors in title accepted the compensation for the land taken and damages to the remaining lands, the taking of the section-line road 66 feet in width became complete.
The plaintiffs argue that the records and memoranda found in the files indicate that the damages paid were calculated on a basis of a 33-foot road. Assuming the correctness of this contention, it cannot aid the plaintiffs. If plaintiffs’ predecessors in title were dissatisfied with the compensation tendered, their remedy was to appeal. Plaintiffs cannot go behind the compensation paid, even if it was calculated on a basis not now acceptable. All the parties are conclusively presumed to know that the road taken was 66 feet in width when a lesesr width was not specified in the proceedings establishing the road. Anderson v. Nelson, 86 Neb. 752, 126 N. W.
The trial court arrived at the same conclusion. The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ted Bredehoft v. County of Platte, State of Nebraska, a corporation
- Status
- Published