In re Lent

47 A.D. 349, 62 N.Y.S. 227
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedJanuary 15, 1900
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 47 A.D. 349 (In re Lent) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Lent, 47 A.D. 349, 62 N.Y.S. 227 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1900).

Opinion

Hatch, J.:

By chapter 43 of the Laws of 1871 the county of Westchester was exempted from the operation of the General Drainage Statute of 1869 (Chap. 888). By chapter 282 of the Laws of 1879, chapter 43 of the Laws of 187l was repealed. The effect of this last repeal operated to revive the act of 1869 and Westchester county became again subject to its provisions, except so far as localities were subject to local regulations by local laws. (Van Denburgh v. Village of Greenbush, 66 N. Y. 1.)

This condition was not- changed by chapter 388 of the Laws of 1880; the latter act simply excepted the town of Newcastle from the operation of the act of 1869, and did not assume to change the status of any other portion of Westchester county. It is somewhat curious- to note that the law thus revived as to the town of Newcastle has been the subject of judicial condemnation as an infringement of the Constitution. (White v. White, 5 Barb. 474, 483.) The act of 1869 is, therefore, to be regarded as applicable to this county and to the town of East Chester unless it be inapplicable for some other reason. It is claimed that it is so inoperative for the reason that the subject of drainage in the town of East Chester is governed solely by the provisions of chapter 882, Laws of 1871. This is a local act made applicable to such town and covers the subject-matter. It is objected, however, that this act is inoperative for two reasons : Eirst, that it is' unconstitutional; and, second, that it is not exclusive. If the former of these claims is upheld the latter need not be considered.

[352]*352The constitutionality of the local act is challenged upon two grounds: First, for the reason that the commissioners authorized to be appointed to award damages for the land or interest which it is claimed the act authorizes to be taken, are not to be appointed by a court of record -as : required by the Constitution. Second, that the act makes no provision for notice to be given by the commissioners of the assessments made by them for cost of construction. An examination of the act shows that it provides for two separate and distinct proceedings upon the part of the commissioners authorized to be appointed by the 1st section. This and the four following sections provide for the determination by the Commissioners as to the necessity for the proposed drainage. The next four sections provide,, if the determination to construct be made and approved, for the construction of the work and the making by the commissioners of an assessment for the same-. ■ The remainder of the act relates to borrowing money, levying and collecting the assessment; etc. By the 1st section the county judge of the county ór a justice of the: Supreme Court residing in the second judicial district is authorized upon petition by any person or persons of the town to appoint three commissioners. These commissioners áre to determine upon the necessity of the proposed drainage and file notice in the office-of the; clerk of the county of such determination and give notice By publication of such filing! No other notice is required of this act. • An appeal is authorized to the Commissioners and the judge by any person aggrieved. If it shall be determined by the Commissioners or by the judge upon appeal.that the public health requires the' drainage, the commissioners shall make maps of the territory and cause the same to-be filed. (§§ 6, 7.)

By sectio'n 8 it is. provided!:

The said commissioners shall, as soo.n as practicable, ascertain and determine the costs, expenses and land damages of such drainage, make a complete and detailed statement thereof, which statement shall be duly verified by Said commissioners, or by a majority of them. They shall also determine whether any, and if any, how much of said sum shall be! assessed to and paid by any village or the town in which such drained land is situated, and they shall apportion all of said sum; (except so much thereof .as they shall determine shall be paid by any village or the townj among the several [353]*353•owners or occupants of such lands included in said map or ad jacent thereto, as they shall deem to be benefited by the said drainage, in proportion to the amount of benefit which each shall receive therefrom. And the several amounts so adjudged shall constitute liens upon the respective tracts until paid or otherwise removed.”

By section 9 it is provided :

“ The commissioners shall file in the office of' the clerk of the said county a copy of said statement and of said determination certified by them. Any person deeming himself aggrieved may appeal from the decision of such commissioners to the officer to whom the application is presented for the correction of such assessment, provided he serve upon the chairman of the said commissioners notice of such appeal within ten days after the same shall have been filed as aforesaid; which notice shall state the time and place where such appeal will be heard and wherever such statement should be corrected. The officer to whom such appeal shall be made shall thereupon proceed and without delay hear and determine the same, and by order confirm or correct the same as to him may seem proper and just.”

The State Constitution provides (Art. 1, § 7) that when private property is taken for a public' use compensation shall be made, and when compensation is not made by the State it shall be ascertained by a jury or by not less than three commissioners appointed by a court of record as shall be prescribed by law.” If this act authorizes the ■entry upon lands for the purpose of the construction of the drain, against the will of the owner, whether the right which is to be obtained is the fee of the land or an easement therein, it would •constitute a taking within the meaning of the Constitution and ■could only be done upon making compensation to the owner, to be ascertained by a jury or by. not less than three commissioners appointed by a court of record. There is a clear distinction between a court and an individual holding a judicial office which invests him with authority to hold court. Neither a justice of the Supreme Court or a county judge, constitutes a court of record; it requires other formalities and officials acting with the individual invested with the judicial office to constitute a court of record. (People ex rel. Ekerson v. Trustees, 151 N. Y. 75.) The appointment by these officers of the commissioners to ascertain compensation, if land or an interest therein is to be taken by the terms of [354]*354the.act, is, therefore, in contravention of the Constitution. For can the act be saved in this respect by any consideration that the term county judge, as used in the statute, embodies the County Court,, for by the terms of the act there is no right given to make application to any court of record either .of appeal or otherwise; it ■ studiously excludes courts and relegates all parties desiring or compelled to make application to protect their rights to the judicial officer.

We are, therefore, brought to an examination of the act in ques^tion to see if it contemplates the acquirement of lands or an interest, therein; and, if it does not, whether it can be upheld as an authority to construct the drain independent of authority to force a right of way.. It cannot be doubted that the Legislature has .power to authorize 'the-construction of a drain where no authority is granted, or assumed to be, to take lands by proceedings vñ, invitv/m

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Bluebook (online)
47 A.D. 349, 62 N.Y.S. 227, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-lent-nyappdiv-1900.