Case ID: ind_52/html/0357-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Pettit, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western Railway Co. v. Reed et al.
    
      Railroad.—Assessment of Damages to Land-Otoner.—A proceeding to assess against a railroad company damages sustained by a land-owner from the appropriation of his land for the construction of the railroad of such company cannot be maintained by such owner, under sec. 15, 1 G. & H. 509, where there has not been an instrument of appropriation filed by the company, as provided in said section.
    From, the Fountain Common Pleas.
    
      J. C. Blade, L. Nebelcer and S. M. Oambern, for appellant, Tipton & Miller, for appellees.
   Pettit, J.

This was an attempt by the appellees, under the fifteenth section of the act of May 11th, 1852, 1 G. & H. 509, to assess damages against the appellant for the construction of its road over and through the lands of the appellees. The railroad company had not fixed [filed] any instrument of appropriation, and until that was done the land-owners could not take any steps under the acts above cited. Its very terms preclude such a construction. The demurrer to the petition should have been sustained, as also the motion to dismiss the proceedings. We have a statute, 2 G. & H. 315, sec. 706, etc., under which either party may have an assessment of damages, but the proceedings under the two statutes are very different. Under the former, three appraisers are to be appointed, who are to act, etc.; while under the latter, there is to be a jury empanelled, of not less than six or more than twelve, sworn by the sheriff, etc.

The judgment is reversed, at the costs of the appellees, with directions to sustain the demurrer to the petition, and to dismiss the case.