People ex rel. Robinson v. Pittsburgh R.R.

53 Cal. 694

Opinion

By the Court:

The demurrer to the complaint was improperly sustained. In its proceedings for the condemnation of Los Medanos Rancho for railway purposes, the defendant (assuming to exercise the eminent domain) purported to act as agent of the State in the appropriation of private property for public use. It now appears by the complaint, however, that this assumption was a mere false pretense; that the use for which these lands were taken was, in fact, a mere private use, and one to which the eminent domain is of course inapplicable. The proceedings in condemnation amounted to an imposition upon the Court before which they were had.

It is certainly competent for the State, upon discovering the misuse of its authority, whereby the private property of one of its citizens has been wrongfully taken for the private use of another, to interpose by its Attorney-General to correct the abuse.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded, with directions to overrule the demurrer to the complaint. Remittitur forthwith.