Lapp v. Marshfield

144 P. 83, 72 Or. 573, 1914 Ore. LEXIS 73

• Court: Oregon Supreme Court
• Decided: October 20, 1914
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice McBride.

"While the testimony as to the location of the tract purchased by plaintiff from the state is not so clear and satisfactory as could be desired, we are of the opinion that the testimony of the witness Cathcart tends to place it where it is indicated upon the map offered in evidence. Although the deed from the state is irregular and perhaps not so definite as to the boundaries of the tract conveyed as is usually the case, nevertheless it contains those elements of description by which a surveyor going upon the ground would be able to find the property. For the purposes of this case, and in the absence of any "contrary testimony, we may fairly assume that plaintiff’s boundaries are where they are indicated on the map.

1. The laying off of the tract into smaller rectangular tracts would seem to be authorized by section 71 of the charter, which provides, among other things:

“The council shall have power to determine what shall constitute a lot or part thereof as the terms are used in this act. ’ ’

In any event it does not appear that plaintiff has been in any way injured by this method of assessment, which at the most would be only irregular and not void in equity.

2. Neither is there any validity to plaintiff’s contention that his land does not abut on the street to be improved, and is therefore immune from assessment. The city charter of Marshfield provides that assessments of this character may be made upon adjacent property. This includes lands which, while not immediately abutting on the improvement, lie so near thereto as to be benefited by it: Page & Jones, Taxation by Assessment, § 622; Kirkpatrick v. City of Dallas, 58 Or. 511 (115 Pac. 424); Town of Woodruff Place v. Raschig, 147 Ind. 517 (46 N. E. 990); Hennessy v. Douglas County, 99 Wis. 129 (74 N. W. 983). The evidence indicates that the land claimed by plaintiff will be benefited by the improvement.

3. The most difficult question presented is the inclusion of plaintiff’s land with land.owned by others in the same assessment. Some authorities seem to hold such an assessment absolutely void, even in equity: McQuillin, Municipal Corporations, § 2082; Hunt v. State, etc., 26 Ind. App. 518 (58 N. E. 557). Other authorities seem to hold that an assessment of that character, while irregular, is not void, but voidable, and that the defect may be waived by failure to object at the proper time and place: McQuillin, Municipal Corporations, § 2082; Thomson v. People, 184 Ill. 17 (56 N. E. 383); Becker v. Baltimore & Ohio R., 17 Ind. App. 324 (46 N. E. 685.) On principle the rule that such assessment is an irregularity, merely rendering the assessment voidable, would seen most equitable under such circumstances as appear in this case. That every step necessary to make a valid improvement was complied with is not questioned. The council had jurisdiction to make the assessment on all the property included in the assessment district. It exercised that jurisdiction erroneously by assessing the lands of two proprietors jointly instead of severally. Plaintiff made no objection to the assessment, and did not call attention to the error in time for the authorities to make a new assessment, but waited until the improvement was completed, and then and now says that he is unable to segregate the amount justly due by him from that of other owners, or from land not owned by anybody,, when it is apparent on the face of the map introduced by bim that any competent surveyor or mathematician can compute the amount in an hour. He attempts to excuse his failure to make a tender on the ground that he cannot compute the quantity of land included in the improvement, expresses a desire- and ability to pay what is due, and in the same breath says he owes nothing. The case of Welch v. Clatsop County, 24 Or. 452 (33 Pac. 934), lays down a salutary rule to be applied to cases of this kind by requiring the party claiming relief against an illegal or irregular tax to tender what is fairly and equitably due before equity will relieve him.

“Nothing,” observes Lord Camden, “can call a court of equity into activity but conscience, good faith and reasonable diligence. When these are wanting the court is passive and does nothing.”

However, as it seems inequitable to require the plaintiff to pay assessments upon property he does not own in order to preserve the property which he claims to own, taxing the costs of this appeal against him will be a sufficient penalty for his lack of diligence in this proceeding. We will make the computations which he ought to have made and direct that upon the payment of that sum the property claimed by him and indicated on the map in evidence be released from the lien of the assessment, leaving the balance subject to the assessment lien for the collection of which an alias warrant may issue to the marshal. This will preserve the rights of the city and at the same time avoid doing any possible injustice to the plaintiff. 'A computation of the amount due upon the tracts claimed by plaintiff shows the amount to be $591.

It is therefore ordered that if the plaintiff shall, within 30 days after the entry of this judgment, pay to the defendant the sum of $591, a decree shall be entered enjoining defendant from selling the property claimed by him in his complaint; but in default of such payment the suit shall be dismissed. In either event the defendant will recover costs and disbursements.

Modified.

Mr. Justice Eakin, Mr. Justice Bean and Mr. Justice McNary concur.