Goodnough v. Powell
Goodnough v. Powell
Opinion of the Court
(orally). — The importance of this case requires us to promptly decide it, and we have only been able to examine the authorities cited by counsel and reach our conclusion upon the facts, without preparing a written opinion. The general doctrine is well established that courts of equity will restrain by injunction the collection of taxes that are fraudulent, or that would lead to a multiplicity of suits, or produce irreparable injury, or, if the property is real estate, that would cast a cloud upon the title of the complainant; but it is equally well established that courts of equity will not interfere with the
This practice is not observed in the present suit, for the reason that the tax is not yet extended on the assessment rolls by the officer, nor its collection sought to be enforced against the claimant. If the assessment upon mortgages is fraudulent, and made with intent to discriminate against him in that particular and for the part or amount alleged, it will be time enough to hear complainant after the taxes are extended and their collection sought to be enforced against him, upon his payment of the amount of tax conceded to be due.
The judgment is affirmed and the bill dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IRA GOODNOUGH v. T. C. POWELL
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Taxes — Injunction—Tender op Tax.— The collection of a tax will not he enjoined unless the plaintiff has paid or tendered the amount which is admitted, or can be shown, to be legal. Idem — Extending Assessment on Tax Rolls.— The proper officers will not be restrained by a court of equity from extending an assessment on the tax rolls, because it is alleged to be unequal, and to be an arbitrary discrimination against certain classes of property; the party aggrieved should wait till there is an attempt made to collect the tax, and then present his complaint, after paying or tendering such a part as he admits to be properly due.