City of Santa Barbara v. Eldred

41 P. 410, 108 Cal. 294

• Court: California Supreme Court
• Decided: July 31, 1895
• Docket: No. 19567
• Status: Published

Opinion

Temple, J.

This is the second appeal in this case (see 95 Cal. 378), and is taken from the judgment and from a refusal of a new trial.

The action was brought to collect a municipal tax, and to the complaint a general demurrer was interposed. It was overruled, and defendant answered. He now specifies a great many alleged defects in the complaint. Many of them are, in effect, that the complaint is ambiguous or uncertain. Such objections cannot be reached on general demurrer. Nor can the other objections, which merely amount to criticisms upon the sufficiency of the statement, as that the essential facts appear only infereutially, or as conclusions of law, or by way of recitals, prevail on such demurrer. There must be a total absence of some material fact to justify us in sustaining a demurrer of-this character.

The only points which I think worthy of notice on the demurrer are the objections to the assessment.

It is claimed that it is invalid because:

1. It does not show that the real estate is situated within the city of Santa Barbara. The first column after taxpayers’ names is headed “ Description of Property according to Map-book of the City of Santa Barbara.” The next column is headed “ Lot,” and the next “ Block.” In the first of these columns are the words “ City Lot.” In the second “2,” in the third “ 110.” I think this sufficient to show that the property is in Santa Barbara.

2. It is not essential to the assessment that it should state that the taxpayer owned the property assessed on the first Monday of March, or that the city had a map-book.

3. The slovenly entries by the tax-collector, intended to show that a portion of the tax had been paid, do no injury. Interpreted as claimed by appellant they are meaningless, and would do no harm.

4. There is no uncertainty in the figures which show the total value of all property after equalization.

Ordinance 113, which provides for the levy and collection of the tax, ought to have been more fully set out, at least in effect. The allegations are, however, sufficient to support a judgment, and as no special demurrer was interposed they are sufficient on this appeal.

The delinquent list as published stated that the tax and costs amounted to two hundred and forty-six dollars and ninety-one cents, when, as it is contended, the correct amount was two hundred and forty-five dollars and ninety-one cents, just one dollar too much.

The common council of the city of Santa Barbara, as they were authorized to do under the ordinance which provided for the levy and collection of taxes, passed a resolution to the effect as to all assessments upon which taxes amounted to less than three hundred dollars, that where the property has been offered for sale at least once, and there is no purchaser in good faith, the tax- . collector shall proceed to collect the same by civil action in the name of the city.

The complaint recites, that all this has been done, and that therefore the tax-collector brings this suit in the name of the city of Santa Barbara.

In his statement on motion for a new trial the defendant has not charged that the evidence is insufficient to support this finding. We cannot, therefore, grant a new trial upon that ground.

A recovery was had of the sum of eighty-one dollars and sixty-five cents for interest.

No interest is claimed in the complaint, and there is no allegation under which interest could be allowed. Furthermore the defendant has specified in his statement on motion for a new trial that the evidence does not justify the finding that interest was due. If, therefore, there was any thing in the ordinance to justify the finding, the city attorney should have seen that it was in the statement. The objection to the allowance of interest must therefore be sustained.

A new trial will not be necessitated thereby, for the judgment can easily be modified by striking out the • allowance of interest.

The defendant cannot object that the requirements of the statute were not pursued in the contract for publishing the delinquent list. His liability is created by a valid assessment, and, if that was made, no irregularity in the attempt to collect the tax will discharge him from the liability.

The publication was for the proper period.

I think there was no error in admitting the blockebooks; and the remark of the witness Gutierrez that it appeared from them that Alice Eldred owned three lots is of no moment.

The defendant admitted by not denying that he owned the property; besides the assessment put the burden upon him. (Pol. Code, sec. 3900.)

The case is remanded, with directions to the trial ■court to modify the judgment by deducting the interest allowed. In all other respects the judgment is affirmed.

McFarland, J., and Henshaw, J., concurred.