West Liberty Avenue
West Liberty Avenue
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
There are two assignments of error; the first is directed to the action of the court in dismissing the exceptions filed to the report of the board of viewers, and confirming the report absolutely.
This throws no light on the particular error complained of. There were ten exceptions including numerous subdivisions filed to the report of the viewers. “As to the dismissal of which one of them is error alleged? We cannot tell. In addition to this, the exceptions dismissed are not quoted in the assignment of error”: Barr Township Road, 29 Pa. Superior Ct. 203. This is a clear violation of Rule 14 of this court. The reasonableness of this rule is discussed at some length in the above case, and its wisdom fully vindicated.
The second assignment is the discharging of a rule entered on the petition of the appellant requiring the peti
We might dismiss the case without any further reference to the exceptions filed by the appellant in the court below. We will, however, refer to them briefly.
The viewers found that the defendant’s property was especially benefited. There is nothing before us to impeach that finding: Beechwood Avenue, 194 Pa. 86.
The fact that twenty feet in the center of the street has heretofore been improved does not prevent an assessment for the remaining portion of the avenue. Such an assessment is recognized in Philadelphia, to use, v. Ehret, 153 Pa. 1.
The petition asks that viewers be appointed to assess the benefits, and the word “damages” is not used; whether the order appointing the viewers directed the assessment of damages does not appear from the printed book. As no damages were claimed by the exceptant and the payment of damages did not affect his assessment, no harm was done. Thus we held in Levi v. Oakmont Borough, 44 Pa. Superior Ct. 631, that the inclusion of the word “grading” in the petition, although the court had no jurisdiction as to grading, was not fatal as it appeared no grading except such as was incidental to the improvement was done.
The viewers were right in holding that a prior viewers ’ report confirmed absolutely was conclusive of the validity of the ordinance under which proceedings were had. It was a judgment of the court and could not be attacked collaterally.
All the assignments of error are overruled and the order of the court is affirmed.
Reference
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- Appeals — Assignments of error — Exceptions to report of viewers. On an appeal from the action of the court in dismissing exceptions to a report of road viewers, an assignment of error will not he considered which merely sets forth the general order dismissing the exceptions, if it appears that there were ten exceptions, and the assignment does not quote any of them. Road law — Evidence—Filing testimony tahen before viewers. The Court of Common Pleas cannot he convicted of error in discharging a rule to show cause why testimony taken before a jury of view should not be filed. There is nothing in the Acts of May 16, 1891, P. L. 71, or June 23, 1911, P. L. 1123, which makes the testimony a necessary part of the report. Road law — Assessments—Partial improvement of street — Report of viewers — Validity of ordinance. The fact that twenty feet in the centre of the street has been im- ■ proved does not prevent an assessment for the remaining portion of the avenue. Where a petition asks that viewers be appointed to assess the benefits, the fact that the word “damages” is not used, is not ground for setting aside a report of viewers, where it appears that no damages were claimed by the exceptant, and the payment of damages did not affect his assessment. A prior viewer’s report confirmed absolutely is conclusive of the validity of the ordinance under which the proceedings were had.