State ex rel. Alexander v. Stevens

94 N.E.2d 660, 228 Ind. 675, 1950 Ind. LEXIS 182
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 31, 1950
DocketNo. 28,633
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 94 N.E.2d 660 (State ex rel. Alexander v. Stevens) 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. Stevens, 94 N.E.2d 660, 228 Ind. 675, 1950 Ind. LEXIS 182 (Ind. 1950).

Opinion

Jasper, J.

This is an action for mandate brought by the State of Indiana on relation of Stedman Alexander and twenty-eight others to compel appellees to construct a new elementary grade school building to replace one destroyed by fire, and to enjoin appellees from attempting to abandon the elementary grade school without complying with the law for the abandonment of such school, and to further enjoin appellees from expending all funds received from insurance on the burned school building for other than replacing the elementary grade school building.

The cause was tried upon the amended and supplemental complaint and three paragraphs of answer, appellants’ demurrer having been sustained to paragraphs four, five, six, and seven of answer, and overruled as to the second and third paragraphs of answer, to which second and third paragraphs of answer a reply was filed by appellants.

The second paragraph of answer alleged that the appellee trustee had discontinued and temporarily abandoned the elementary school at Stewartsville, where elementary branches only are taught, under authority granted by virtue of § 28-2803, Burns’ 1948 Replacement, and that the pupils of the Stewartsville elementary school were being transported to a joint grade and high school located at Poseyville, in Robb School Township.

The third paragraph of answer stated in substance that Robb School Township does not own, possess, or have on hand, funds sufficient to construct an elemen[678]*678táry school house, and that the issuance of bonds to the full constitutional debt limit, supplemented by all other money available, would not raise sufficient money to build an elementary school house.

The court found the facts specially, stated its conclusions of law thereon, and rendered judgment for appellees.

Appellants assign as error the overruling of their demurrer to the second and third paragraphs of answer to the re-amended and supplemental complaint, error of the court in its conclusions of law numbered one, two, and three, and thé overruling of appellants’ motion for a new trial.

Prior to the filing of the amended and supplemental complaint, the original complaint for mandate, to compel the sale of bonds of both the school and civil townships to build a joint elementary and high school building, was tried before a-jury. A verdict and judgment were rendered for appellants, an appeal was taken, and the judgment was reversed. See Stevens, Trustee v. State ex rel. Alexander (1947), 224 Ind. 688, 693, 694, 70 N. E. 2d 632. In this last-mentioned case, the court found that it is contrary to law to mandate the civil township to issue bonds with the school township, it being discretionary with the civil township to do so. The court also discussed § 28-2801, Burns’ 1948 Replacement, and said, among other things:

“In the instant case the district elementary school is being rebuilt.”

Appellants’ contention that appellees, because of the above quote, have taken a conflicting stand in this case, is not well founded. The original judgment was not reversed because of that statement by the court. The judgment of the trustee [679]*679to discontinue and temporarily abandon the school could be exercised at any time as long as it came within § 28-2803, Burns’ 1948 Replacement. Conditions could have and evidently did change to such an extent, from the time when he intended to rebuild the elementary school, that, in his judgment, it was necessary to discontinue and temporarily abandon the Stewartsville school under the statute. The last-cited case was not reversed because of the intention of the trustee to rebuild the elementary school, nor was that point in issue except in so far as this court used the last-quoted words to discuss the permanent abandonment of a district school under § 28-2801, Burns’ 1948 Replacement.

Further, the cause now in issue on the amended and supplemental complaint was for the building of an elementary grade school, whereas the original complaint for mandate was for the building of a joint elementary grade and high school. The essential elements and evidence necessary to support the amended and supplemental complaint were different than in the original complaint, and therefore the contention that the law of the case is as set out in Stevens, Trustee v. State ex rel. Alexander, supra, is not well taken. New issues and new facts were introduced in the case after it was remanded. As to such new issues and facts, we are not bound by the former opinion, but must apply the law applicable to the new and changed pleadings and facts. Deep Vein Coal Co. v. Dowdle (1946), 224 Ind. 244, 255, 66 N. E. 2d 598.

Appellants further contend that the first conclusion of law upon the findings of fact was error.

Finding of fact number seven was to the effect that on July 18, 1947, the township trustee again discontinued and temporarily abandoned the Stewartsville grade and elementary school, and that the same [680]*680has never been re-established and remains discontinued and temporarily abandoned.

Finding of fact number ten was to the effect that the school children of Robb Township are now attending school at Poseyville, which is in such township.

Finding of fact number fifteen was as follows:

“That on an undesignated date in April, 1946, two members of the Advisory Board of said Robb Township met and entered in the record of the Advisory Board minutes as follows:—
“ ‘The Advisory Board met in the office of the Trustee at Poseyville at 7:30 P.M. and the school situation was discussed and the following resolution was passed.
.“‘Whereas the School District in Robb Township formerly served the grade and high school located at Stewartsville in said township is now being served by the high school and grade school located in Poseyville in said township, the building in Stewartsville which was formerly used to house the school having been destroyed by fire several years ago; and
“ ‘Whereas the continuance of said school district for school purposes would necessitate the construction of a new school building; and
“ ‘Whereas it appears to be in the interest of the taxpayers of Robb Township that the pupils who otherwise would be served by the school at Stewartsville be transported to and attend school in Poseyville, the transportation of the pupils being much more economical than the maintenance of a separate school at Stewartsville; now
“ ‘Therefore be it resolved by the Advisory Board of Robb Township that the school districts be temporarily abandoned and that there will be but one school district in Robb Township.
“‘(Signed) Walter T. Williams Ulla Crawford.’
“That immediately following said minutes in the record of the Advisory Board of said Robb Town[681]*681ship, the defendant Stevens, Trustee, made the following endorsement on said day:—
“ T, Kenneth B. Stevens, in pursuance of the foregoing resolution, hereby temporarily abandon the school districts in the township and declare that thereafter until further action is taken there will be but one school district in Robb Township.
“‘(Signed) K. B. Stevens, Trustee.’

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Bluebook (online)
94 N.E.2d 660, 228 Ind. 675, 1950 Ind. LEXIS 182, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-alexander-v-stevens-ind-1950.