City of Grand Rapids v. Bogoger
City of Grand Rapids v. Bogoger
Opinion of the Court
Tbe city of Grand Rapids, acting under secs. 925 — 155 and 925 — 171, Stats. (1898), condemned a strip of land owned by tbe respondents and twenty feet in width for tbe purpose of widening nn existing street. Tbe common council confirmed an award of damages in tbe sum of $4,500 in excess of benefits. Tbe respondents, being dissatisfied, appealed from this confirmation of tbe award to tbe circuit court. Pending this appeal they accepted a city order for $4,500 tendered by tbe city, and surrendered’ up possession of tbe twenty-foot strip. Tbe appeal was taken on October 15, 1908, and tbe tender by tbe appellant and acceptance of tbe money by respondents and tbe surrender of possession was on May 19,1909, while the appe'al was pending and before it came to trial.
Tbe appellant relies on Pulling v. Columbia Co. 3 Wis. 337, in support of tbe proposition that by tbe acceptance of this sum respondents waived further right to prosecute tbe appeal. Tbe appellant’s counsel is correct in this contention if, upon tbe appeal pending, tbe circuit court could have reduced the award so confirmed below $4,500. Tbe respondents rely on tbe case of Fiedler v. Howard, 99 Wis. 388, 75 N. W. 163, in support of their right to. accept the $4,500 and prosecute their appeal for tbe remainder of their damages, if any. Tbe respondents are right if tbe circuit court on this appeal bad no power to reduce the compensation and damages of tbe respondents below $4,500. Whether tbe award could be reduced on appeal is therefore tbe question for consideration.
Tbe appraisal and award is in thé first instance made by
The only question for trial on the appeal was-, therefore, what damages, if any, the plaintiff was entitled to over and above those confirmed by the city council. Under such circumstances the acceptance of the city order for $4,500, the amount of the award confirmed by the. council, did no-t waive the right of appeal.
By the Court. — -Judgment of the circuit court affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- City of Grand Rapids v. Bogoger and wife
- Cited By
- 8 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Municipal corporations: Condemnation of land for street: Confirmation of assessment: Right to appeal: Reduction of award: Acceptance: Waiver. 1. By confirming, pursuant to sec. 925 — 166, Stats. (1898), an assessment of damages by reason of the condemnation of land for a street, a city waives the objection that the award is excessive, and is therefore not a “party aggrieved” by such assessment, within the meaning of sec. 925 — 177, and cannot appeal therefrom. 2. Upon appeal by the landowner from such an assessment the award cannot be reduced, and acceptance, pending the appeal, of the amount awarded is not a waiver of the right to prosecute the appeal.