Clark v. Bor. of Washington
Clark v. Bor. of Washington
Opinion of the Court
The bill in equity in this case was filed originally in the Supreme Court; and upon its presentation to our Brother Clark at chambers, he granted a rule upon the defendants to show cause why this court should not take jurisdiction of the case, and why leave should not be given to move for a special injunction against the defendants, as prayed for, returnable before the court in banc on the first Monday of October, 1891. The rule was heard upon the return-day.
An examination of the bill shows that it was filed to restrain the defendants from constructing a sewer so as to empty the sewage upon complainants’ land. It is further averred that the act of May 15,1889, under which the borough claims this right, is unconstitutional, and the ninth paragraph of said bill sets forth:
“ That, the Court of Common Pleas having decided, in a similar case, said act constitutional, for your orators to be compelled to seek such relief through the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, would be productive of great and harmful delajr, as your orators are further informed and believe the credit of the borough of Washington, Pa., is uncertain.”
There are but two points suggested here, viz., the delay, and the uncertainty of the credit of the borough of Washington. In the absence of a more specific allegation, we may assume that the borough of Washington will be fully able to compensate the plaintiffs for any damages they may sustain. As regards the alleged delay, we have only to say that this rule was granted on July 7, 1891. Had this bill been filed in the court below on that day, we see no reason why we could not have heard the cause upon appeal on the same day we heard the rule. We see nothing in the case to require us to take original jurisdiction.
Rule discharged.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- M. D. CLARK v. BOR. OF WASHINGTON
- Cited By
- 7 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. The Supreme Court has power to take original jurisdiction of a bill to restrain a municipal corporation from doing an act contrary to law, but will do so only in extreme cases. Not only must the case be important in its character, but a special reason why that court should entertain the bill, must be shown. (a) A bill to restrain the taking of land by a borough under a statute claimed to be unconstitutional, averred that the act had been held valid by the Common Pleas of the county in a similar case, and to bring the question before the Supreme Court in the ordinary way, would involve delay that would be harmful to the plaintiffs : 2. The allegation as to the injurious result of delay being vague, it not appearing that the question could not have been brought before the Supreme Court by appeal, at as early a day as a motion for an injunction could there be heard, and no exceptional circumstances being shown, the Supreme Court declined to take original jurisdiction.