Case ID: la-ann_26/html/0340-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Morgan, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

No. 4805.
    Louis Barthel v. City of New Orleans.
    The collecting of certain rates fixed upon for the lease of a stall in St. Mary’s Market, is not a tax upon plaintiff’s occupation, "which is unequal, oppressive and in violation of the Constitution. It is a rent which he pays per day for the stall he occupies, besides a certain sum on each beef, sheep, etc., which he offers for sale. The ordinance was in force when he rented the stall; it is then a contract entered into between himself and the city, the performance of which he can not injoin the city from exacting.
    Appeal from tbe Superior District Court, parish of Orleans. Haw-hims, J.
    
      0. Boselius, M. Grivot, for plaintiff and appellee. George 8. Lacey, City Attorney, for defendant and appellant.
   Morgan, J.

Plaintiff has injoined the defendant from collecting certain rates fixed upon for the lease of a stall in St. Mary’s Market. He contends that it is a tax upon liis occupation, which is unequal and oppressive and in violation of the constitution.

What the city demands of him is a rent and not a tax. He is to pay a certain price per day for the stall which he occupies, and a certain sum on each beef, sheep, etc., which he offers for sale. We do not see in what' this violates the constitution. The ordinance was in force when he rented the stall. It was then a contract entered into between himself and the city, the performance of which he can not injoin the city from exacting.

It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that the judgment of the district court be avoided, annulled and reversed, that there be judgment in favor of defendant, and the injunction herein issued be dissolved, the costs to be borne by plaintiff.

Rehearing refused.