Faulks v. Borough of Allenhurst

4 A.2d 518, 122 N.J.L. 225, 1939 N.J. Sup. Ct. LEXIS 220

• Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey
• Decided: March 2, 1939
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Porter, J.

The prosecutors seek a writ of certiorari to review an ordinance of the respondent providing for the installation of an outfall pipe extending into the ocean for disposing of sewage by order of the State Department of Health.

It appears that other litigation has resulted between the parties concerning sewage disposal resulting in a judgment of ouster in favor of the prosecutors against the respondent in a suit in ejectment relating to a chlorinator plant which affected property rights of prosecutors. Faulks v. Allenhurst, 115 N. J. L. 456.

The respondent has instituted proceedings under the Eminent Domain statute to acquire for public uses whatever rights the prosecutors had in the premises. Those proceedings are now pending and, we are informed, are nearing completion.

Meanwhile occurred the necessity for the building of the proposed outfall pipe at or near the site of the property of prosecutors, whereon is situated the said chlorinator plant, under the order of the State Department of Health and the adoption of the resolution under attack to effectuate that purpose.

It seems to us that the respondent was under an imperative duty to safeguard the public health by constructing this outfall pipe.

Under the circumstances and the evidence before us, we conclude that the action of the respondent in the adoption of the ordinance has not been shown to have been improper or to have infringed any rights of prosecutors, but on the contrary was well within the sound discretion of the respondent.

The application for the writ is denied, with costs.