State v. Hollis

379 P.2d 750, 93 Ariz. 200, 1963 Ariz. LEXIS 389
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 14, 1963
Docket7391
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 379 P.2d 750 (State v. Hollis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Hollis, 379 P.2d 750, 93 Ariz. 200, 1963 Ariz. LEXIS 389 (Ark. 1963).

Opinions

JENNINGS, Justice.

In November of 1959, the Arizona State Highway Department commenced certain construction and improvements on U. S. Highway 60 near Globe, Arizona. As a result of this construction the roadway was elevated from five to eighteen feet over adjoining property and a drainage ditch was constructed next to the property line. The oVners o'f this property, Frank E. Hollis and' Eva Marie Hollis, filed suit in Gila County Superior Court against the State of Arizona to recover damages for impairment of access to their property. Following a jury trial judgment for $85,450' was awarded to plaintiffs Hollis and the State appeals.

A number of assignments of error are presented supported by eight propositions of law... Only, .one assignment complies in all respects with the rules of this Court. This, is that the court erred in denying the State’s timely -motion for change of venue from Gils* Qounty to Maricopa -County.. The basis of the motion is A.R.S. §§ 12-821 and 12-824(B), which provide as follows:

“§ 12-821.
“Persons having claims on contract or for negligence against the state, which have been disallowed, may on the terms and conditions set forth in this article, bring action thereon against the state and prosecute the action to final judgment.
“§ 12-824.
“B. Upon written demand of the attorney general, made at or before the time of answering, served upon the opposing party and filed with the court where the action is pending, the place of trial of any such action shall be changed to Maricopa County.”

Paragraph I of the amended complaint alleges that the State had agreed the highway would be constructed at grade and that the property concerned would have an unrestricted access to Highway 60. Paragraph III of the amended complaint alleges acts of trespass by the contractor who was performing the construction for the State whereby the plaintiff’s property sustained damage. It is claimed therefrom that venue should be in Maricopa County in accordance with the State’s demand because the complaint sounds in contract and tort.

The remainder of the complaint alleges that the State, without instituting [203]*203■condemnation proceedings, appropriated the plaintiffs’ access rights to their property and otherwise damaged the property by the acts of its agent. The complaint therefore states a cause of action on the theory of inverse eminent domain. Destruction and impairment by the State of ingress or egress to private property is compensable under Article 2, section 17 of the Arizona Constitution, A.R.S. Pima County v. Bilby, 87 Ariz. 366, 351 P.2d 647 (1960); Fletcher v. State ex rel. Morrison, 90 Ariz. 251, 367 P.2d 272 (1961). The authority for such an action comes directly from the Constitution. It is neither an action in contract nor one in negligence as provided by A.R.S. §§ 12-821 to 12-826, and the procedures required therein do not apply. State v. Leeson Upholstry, 84 Ariz. 44, 323 P.2d 692 (1958). The right of the State to remove a case to Maricopa County under section 12-824 (B) is limited to the actions authorized by section 12-821.

A.R.S. § 12-1116 provides that actions for condemnation shall be brought in the superior court in the county Jn which the property is located. That the landowner, in default of proper condemnation action by the State, must himself institute proceedings to secure compensation does not change the essential nature of the cause of action. It is still in the nature of a condemnation of a private property right by the State under the sovereign right of eminent domain. The property involved is located in Gila County and the action was properly brought in that county.

The remaining assignments of error unfortunately fail to meet with the requirements of the Supreme Court rules. Most of them do not specify the particular ruling or action which is complained of and therefore cannot be considered. Tidwell v. Riggs, 70 Ariz. 417, 222 P.2d 795 (1950); Rules of Supreme Court 5(c), 17 A.R.S.

Those assignments which do point out the ruling of the court are defective in that the ground of error is not stated. Thornburg v. Frye, 44 Ariz. 282, 36. P.2d 548 (1934); Rules of Supreme Court 5(.c). Insufficient assignments are not cured by reference to the argument or other, portions of the brief, for, if it be necessary-to-do this to ascertain the error complained of, the brief does not comply with the rule.requiring assignments of error. Reid v. Van Winkle, 31 Ariz. 267, 252 P. 189 (1927).

It is our conclusion however, that one of the assignments when examined in conjunction with the propositions of law is specific enough to identify the principal ground of complaint. United Ass’n of Journeymen and Apprentices etc. v. Marchese, 81 Ariz. 162, 302 P.2d 930 (1956). It concerns the admission and consideration of a lease on part of the property and was the basis for the expert testimony ás ta damages.

[204]*204The Hollis property consists of 23 acres located two to two and one-half miles from Globe. There was 1980.4 feet of frontage with a maximum depth of 730 feet. The property was located three-quarters of a mile from the junction of U. S. 60 and 70 going into Globe. The grade of the highway before the construction of the controlled access highway was about 21 inches. After the construction the grade varied along the front footage from 8 feet to 17 feet.

In March 1957 Hollis entered into a 99-year lease with one Schwarz covering the front footage consisting of 7.9 acres. The lease provided for periodic increases in the rental and Schwarz intended to develop the front footage commercially. The Schwarz lease continued in effect until May 1958. ’At about that time it was allowed to lapse. The remainder of the acreage was intended by Hollis for a drive-in theater and to this end he had development plans prepared and obtained bids on theater equipment. This was prior to the time of the taking, which was fixed as November 25, 1959. Construction was begun August 12, 1959. The property is the first level ground for a seven-mile stretch of highway coming into Globe. The surrounding area is hilly and there is little property in the area available for private development.

£8] Expert witnesses for appellee testified as to their opinion of the market value of the property. They valued the property in two parts, i. e., the front footage covered by the lease and the back acreage. Together with other elements, they considered the Schwarz lease as a factor in arriving at their opinions of the- front footage. It was admitted over obj ection for the stated purpose of showing the highest and best use of the area covered. Appellant attacks admission of the Schwarz lease on the ground that plaintiffs cannot recover for loss of profits or business loss. It is clear that there is confusion over whát constitutes business income.

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Bluebook (online)
379 P.2d 750, 93 Ariz. 200, 1963 Ariz. LEXIS 389, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-hollis-ariz-1963.