State ex rel. Alexander v. Coover

101 N.E. 713, 179 Ind. 477, 1913 Ind. LEXIS 57
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedMay 6, 1913
DocketNo. 21,815
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 101 N.E. 713 (State ex rel. Alexander v. Coover) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Alexander v. Coover, 101 N.E. 713, 179 Ind. 477, 1913 Ind. LEXIS 57 (Ind. 1913).

Opinion

Erwin, J.

This was an action by appellant, on a petition asking that a writ of mandate issue, ordering and commanding the said William E. Coover, State Veterinarian of Indiana, to appoint an appraiser, who with another, appointed fey relator, may appoint another appraiser, who is a freeholder of said county; that the three appraisers may then under oath or affirmation appraise a certain cow, which it is alleged had been condemned by the appellee, State Veterinarian, under the law of the State of Indiana, enacted by the General Assembly for the year 1909 (Acts 1909 p. 443).

The relator avers that he was, on April 8 and 9, 1910, and at all times mentioned in his complaint the owner and in possession of a jersey cow; that on April 8 and 9, 1910, one B. F. Maucb, a duly qualified veterinarian designated by respondent to make tuberculin tests of cattle in Clark County, Indiana, subjected the said cow to the tuberculin test; that the said cow was found by said Maucb to be infected with tuberculosis, and on completion of said tests, a so-called tuberculin test certificate, was then and there given to this relator. The certificate of said Mauck is as follows:

“This certifies that on April 8-9, 1910, I tested the following described cow for James Alexander, breed Jersey, sex, Female, name of the tuberculin used, U. S. A. amount used 2 C. C. and gave the following temperature reaction:
Date A.M. Injected
Before 4-8 P.M. 101-2/5-101-3/5-101-3/5—6 P.M.
After 4-9 A.M. 104-2/5-105-3/5-104 104-1/2
The above cow is not free from tuberculosis.”

[479]*479The order of the State Veterinarian, omitting the caption is as follows:

“You are hereby notified that the animal or animals hereinafter described are affected with or have been exposed to a contagious or infectious disease known as tuberculosis and that the said animal or animals shall not be disposed of or removed from the premises or other animals allowed upon the same premises except as ordered by the state Veterinarian or deputy as provided by an act of the legislature, approved by the governor of the state of Indiana Mar. 6th, 1901.
Description of animal.
Name Kind Age Sex-distinguishing Marks
Rosie Jersey 9 Female, light fawn.
Order:—To be kept isolated from all other cattle and swine in quarters now located until destroyed under Federal supervision, not to be used except as provided by law.”

That said test revealed the fact that said cow was affected and had been exposed to a contagious or infectious disease known as tuberculosis; and that the said animal or animals shall not be removed from the premises, or other animals allowed upon the premises, except as ordered by the State Veterinarian or deputy as provided by the State legislature. Relator avers that the respondent has deemed it necessary to protect the health of the public by the slaughter of the said cow infected with tuberculosis. Relator avers further that he made demand on the respondent, that proceedings be taken to compensate him for the said cow and he endeavored to agree with the respondent on the value of said cow, and that no agreement can be made between them as to the value of said cow. He avers that he has demanded of the respondent that he appoint an appraiser, who is a freeholder of Clark County, who with another appraiser, who is a freeholder in said county, the latter appointed by the relator, may select.another appraiser who is a freeholder in said county; that all of said appraisers under oath or affirmation may then set a value on the said cow taking into eon[480]*480sideration its actual value at the time of the appraisement, and that the respondent refused and still refuses his said demand. lie avers further that the said cow has been quarantined by the said State Veterinarian and respondent herein; that the cow shows physical evidence of tuberculosis, and has been condemned by the respondent. Relator then sets out certain averments which show that the cow in question did not come within any of the exceptions provided in said statute for which payment shall not be made. Relator further avers, that he has been denied the cow for breeding purposes, and that he has been denied the privilege of keeping the said cow for dairy purposes, that he is a resident and citizen of the said county of Clark; that he has no other adequate remedy than this mandate applied for herein.

Upon the filing of this petition the court issued a writ of mandate ordering and commanding that the respondent appoint -an appraiser who is a freeholder of said county, who with another appraiser, who is a freeholder of Clark County, the latter appointed by the relator, may together appoint a third appraiser, who is a freeholder of said county, and that the three appraisers may then, under oath or affirmation appraise the said cow taking into consideration its actual value at the time of the appraisement; and he do as in the writ directed, or show cause why the same should not be done. To this complaint and alternative writ of mandate the appellee filed a demurrer, which demurrer was for want of facts to constitute a cause of action, and which said demurrer was by the court sustained, and relator refusing to plead further, judgment was rendered against the said relator, that he take nothing by his petition and that the respondent have and recover of and from the relator his costs.

[481]*4811. [480]*480The only question presented by the assignment of errors in this case, is, as to whether the circuit court erred [481]*481in sustaining the demurrer to the relator’s petition and alternative writ of mandate. The statute under which this action is brought and under which relator claims his right to recover is §1, Acts 1909 p. 443, and reads as follows: “That when it shall be deemed necessary to kill any animal or animals or to destroy any property to prevent further spread of disease or to protect the health of the public by the slaughter of animals infected with tuberculosis, the state veterinarian or his agent may adjust the claim with the owner or his agent: Provided, The amount to be paid is less than twenty-five dollars; if the claim exceed twenty-five dollars or an agreement can not be made with the owner or claimant for the amount thereof, three appraisers, who shall be freeholders in the county, shall be appointed, one by the state veterinarian or his agent, one by the owner or claimant, and a third by the two appointed, as aforesaid, who shall under oath or affirmation appraise the animal, or animals, or property * * *. ’ ’

The right to maintain the action in question depends upon the construction to be given to said section. The order of the veterinarian made in this cause, after describing the animal and its location reads as follows, to wit: “To be kept isolated from all other cattle and swine in quarters now located until destroyed under Federal supervision, not to be used except as provided by law.” Appellant insists that under the law that he has a right to demand that the value of his property may be fixed by appraisers as asked for in his petition. The order in this case does not authorize the destruction of any property, nor does it direct the hilling

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
101 N.E. 713, 179 Ind. 477, 1913 Ind. LEXIS 57, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-alexander-v-coover-ind-1913.