Miller v. Dallas County

71 S.W.2d 377, 1934 Tex. App. LEXIS 484
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 21, 1934
DocketNo. 11459.
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 71 S.W.2d 377 (Miller v. Dallas County) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Miller v. Dallas County, 71 S.W.2d 377, 1934 Tex. App. LEXIS 484 (Tex. Ct. App. 1934).

Opinion

LOONEY, Justice.

The land in controversy is a strip 200 feet wide, situated without the limits of the city of Dallas, but within the boundaries of the City and County of Dallas Levee Improvement District, and is an extension of Cadiz street from the Cadiz underpass, constructed by the city, to the Cadiz viaduct, constructed by the county, that spans the new floodway.

We deem it sufficient to say that the pleadings present a controversy between the county of Dallas and the Industrial Properties Corporation (whose rights are practically identical), on the one side, and Royal C. Miller, his sister, Mrs. Emma Miller Exline, and her husband, A. L. Exline, joined pro forma, on the other. Appellees contend that they own an easement in the strip of land for street and road purposes, dedicated by appellants, and that appellants are estopped to obstruct or use any part of the land in any manner other than for highway purposes, and to that end appellees sought permanent in-junctive relief. Appellants answered by demurrer, denials, and pleas of not guilty. Trial was had without a jury, resulting in judgment in favor of appellants for the land (1.434 acres), but subjecting it to an easement in favor of appellees and decreeing the injunction sought, from which this appeal was prosecuted.

The propositions urged by appellants for reversal may, in our opinion, be reduced to the simple contention that the facts are insufficient to sustain the judgment.

The land in question was a part of 326.5 acres, owned by appellants, situated without the city limits, but within the boundaries of the City and County Levee Improvement District, which was created on April 3,1928. Anticipating the creation of the improvement district, engineers representing the county, the city, and the improvement district, worked out a cooperative plan for improvements, which comprehended the building of the Cadiz street underpass, the extension of Cadiz street from the city limits through the reclaimed land to the Cadiz viaduct, which spans the floodway from the east to the west levee. On January 24, 1928, Royal C. Miller submitted to the city of Dallas the following: “Owners of property donating 200 foot strip for boulevard and parkway across their land, same to-be an extension of Cadiz Street, as proposed by the City, are willing to donate same on the following conditions. First. That levee assessment be assumed or taken care of by the City or County, as to this 200 foot strip, in proportion to the assessment on the remaining tracts adjoining, of donors. Second. That the 200 foot given shall be used only for street and parkway purposes. Third. That the 40 foot concrete driveway along one side of the proposed parkway be built forthwith, and the other proposed 40 foot driveway on the other side of parkway be graded now but not paved, all as outlined by the City Plan. Fourth. That expense of paving and improving this highway and parkway is not to be assessed against adjoining property of donors. Fifth. That proper crossings through 70 foot parkway be provided for every 600 foot connecting the proposed driveways. Sixth. Provided that clearing, transplanting and grading be pushed to completion and that construction of concrete roadway be started immediately upon availability of funds voted at the recent bond election.” This proposal was signed by Mr. Miller and approved by the city authorities in charge of the subject at that time.

Shortly after the above transaction, negotiations for the sale of the entire body of land by appellants to Bowman & Cravens of Austin, Tex., were begun. In these negotiations, the purchasers were represented by Mr. T. H. Harbin, who testified that Mr. Miller represented that the 200-foot strip had been dedicated for road and street purposes, that the land offered for sale would have a frontage on said street, and that these representations were repeated by witness to Bowman & Cravens, prior to the consummation of the sale, with recommendation that the land be purchased; but for Miller’s said representations 'witness would not have recommended to Bowman & Cravens the purchase of the land, and if appellants are permitted to recover in the present action, the land conveyed to Bowman & Cravens will have no frontage on Cadiz street, as repre *379 sented by appellants. This witness also testified that, pending negotiations, he had a conversation with Mrs. Exline, who,„ in the presence of her husband, said Mr. Miller (her brother) was handling the. trade, and anything he did would be all right with them. On this point, Mr. Miller’s testimony is to the effect that, in regard to the matters under ■consideration, he consulted with his sister, Mrs. Exline, acted for her as well as for himself. He also admitted that he probably told Harbin & Stemmons that an agreement had been given the city of Dallas to use the 200-foot roadway for the purpose of extending Cadiz street. Mr. D. L. Irwin testified that he helped to handle the sale of the land by appellants to Bowman & Cravens, and that Mr. Miller represented to him that the strip of land 200 feet wide had been dedicated to the city for the extension of Cadiz street, and that, while in Austin, he heard Miller represent to the purchasers that said roadway had been dedicated.

The sale of the land by appellants to Bowman & Cravens was consummated on March 15, 1028, the deed describing the 326.5 acres contains the following clauses, to wit: “The grantors herein expressly except from the land herein described that certain tract of land containing approximately two (2) acres heretofore sold and conveyed by the said grantors to the City of Dallas for the purpose of the extension of Cadiz Street * * * . ipjje grantors (grantees) acquire the land herein conveyed subject to all existing ■easements held by the City of Dallas, County of Dallas, or other governmental agency, or by public utility companies. The lands herein described are located in and constitute a part of the City and County of Dallas Levee Improvement District, and the grantees expressly assume all obligations to said City and County of Dallas Levee Improvement District.” In regard to the strip of land excepted, as above shown,’ Mr. Miller being asked, “Was it your intention to reserve that property (the strip of land in controversy) to yourself and your sister?” answered, “No,” having theretofore stated that, “My idea was solely to retain that 200 foot strip for the City of Dallas and the Corinth Street 60 foot roadway for that too.”

On July 10, 1928, Bowman & Cravens conveyed the land to the Industrial Properties Corporation, of which L. A. Stemmons was president, who testified that Mr. Miller represented to him that a 200-foot right of way, for the extension of Cadiz street, had been granted the city, and that, had such representation not been made, he (Stemmons) would not have permitted the Industrial Properties Corporation to purchase the property. Subsequent to these transactions, the county asserted its jurisdiction over the highway, graded the entire 200-foot right of way, paved a driveway in its center 40 feet wide, and graveled from 20 to 25 feet on each side of the 40-foot pavement. In this status, appellants, on January 27, 1932, secured the adoption of a resolution by the city council of the city of Dallas, relinquishing all rights, if any, acquired by the city under the memorandum dated January 24,1928, set out above.

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Bluebook (online)
71 S.W.2d 377, 1934 Tex. App. LEXIS 484, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/miller-v-dallas-county-texapp-1934.