Wolfson v. Commissioners of Assessments
Wolfson v. Commissioners of Assessments
Opinion of the Court
This is an application for a mandamus to require the commissioners of assessment of Perth Amboy to award to Mrs. Wolfson the damages sustained by her by reason of a change of grade in Payette street, on which her property fronts.
Relator concedes that she is not entitled to damages unless by virtue of some statute. In 1858 the Road act changed the common law and allowed damages, but this was expressly repealed in 1918. See Sommer v. State Highway Commission, 148 Atl. Rep. 171. Consequently, relator falls back on section 65 of the charter of the city of Perth Amboy, which dates from 1870, and provides that a grade shall not be altered except by application of three-fourths of the owners, nor without paying to the owners of any buildings where damages are sustained by the alteration of grade, the amount
It is mmecessary to adopt this view of the matter, which might result in the conclusion that Perth Amboy can evade liability for damages by making a general improvement when it would be liable for damages if the improvement were local. It cannot be doubtful that the Home Eule act establishes an entirely new scheme of operation, and is intended as a general new regulation relating to all municipalities; and that in consequence the provisions of the charter entitling the owner to damages have been repealed by the Home Eule act whether the improvement be a general or a local one. Harrington’s Sons Co. v. Jersey City, 78 N. J. L. 610; Board of Education v. Tait, 81 N. J. Eq. 161.
The rule to show cause will be discharged.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.