Document: 360 U.S. 219 79 S.Ct. 1034 3 L.Ed.2d 1186 Park H. MARTIN, Successor to Joseph Lawler as Secretary of Highways the Commonwealth Pennsylvania, et al., Appellants,v.J. K. CREASY, William W. McNamee, Jack C. Marshell, al. No. 157. Argued April 2, 1959. Decided June 8, Miss Anne X. Alpern, Pittsburgh, Pa., for appellants. Mr. Edward P. Good, appellees. Opinion Court by Justice STEWART, announced WHITTAKER. 1 This action was instituted in District Western Pennsylvania owners property abutting a section highway which runs between downtown Pittsburgh and Greater Airport. The commplaint stated that Governor were about designate road 'limited access highway' under authority statute. Claiming such would deprive them their without due process law, since statute allegedly did not provide compensation loss highway, plaintiffs asked injunctive relief judgment declaring unconstitutional. 2 legislation it asserted state officials planning act is Limited Access Act 1945.1 defines limited 'a public or occupants traveling have no right ingress egress to, from across except may be provided authorities responsible therefor.'2 It authorizes Highways, with approval Governor, declare any part thereof, highway.3 Section 8 statute, amended 1947, provides: 'The owner private affected construction designation * shall entitled only damages arising an actual taking property. liable consequential where taken *.' 4 latter specifically attacked plaintiffs, who claimed light courts' interpretation other statutes, this provision construed mean paid if land taken. itself had never been courts Pennsylvania. 5 district judge issued temporary restraining order. Thereafter three-judge court convened pursuant 28 U.S.C. §§ 2281 2284, U.S.C.A. 2281, 2284. After stipulations fact filed, entered order staying proceedings permit parties seek determination rights 6 Theeup on filed equitable proceeding Common Pleas Dauphin County, That pointed out asking 'whether has occurred what awarded therefor, that, depriving found compensable right, plaintiffs' legitimate interests will constitutionally safeguarded resort viewers and, necessary, later appeals courts.' Creasy v. Lawler, Pa.Dist. & Co.R.2d 535, 537. 7 As equity, county proper determine last these questions, its answer unequivocal: 'All can protected secured before viewers, May 29, 1945. Here legislature, Act, way every decided whether he so, when, what, amounts. Should proceed, then at time proceed question damages. In orderly course procedure they appeal common pleas jury trial, still adjudicated appellate courts. At all times constitutional rights, whatever be, guarded protected.' Co. R.2d 538—539. 9 decision affirmed per curiam Supreme explicitly adopted lower court's opinion. 389 Pa. 635, 133 A.2d 178. 10 Further Court. Although stating awareness 'that federal should reluctant exercise jurisdiction cases properly tribunal attack yet State Courts,' nevertheless proceeded adjudicate merits controversy, believing might irreparably harmed during period required 'Without venturing predict ultimate Courts issue compensation,' view Legislature intend compensate landowners 'whose existing destroyed limited-access highway.' For reason repugnant Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment. A final decree issued, permanently enjoining, most sweeping terms, proceeding. Stevens, D.C., 160 F.Supp. 404, 409.4 case here direct appeal, § 1253, noted probable jurisdiction. 358 807, 38, 53. 11 clear pronouncement provides complete guar d protect 'at times.' difficult perceive basis Court's conclusion unless officers enjoined There State's create highway. compensation. must assumed meant said afforded through full measure United States Constitution preserved. Assuming, however, there support intervention Court, we think, declined controversy. 12 circumstances impel abstain blocking appropriate functions are present marked degree. considerations wisdom abstention so thoroughly repeatedly discussed require little elaboration. Railroad Comm. Texas Pullman Co., 312 496, 61 643, 85 L.Ed. 971; City Chicago Fieldcrest Dairies, 316 168, 62 986, 86 1355; Spector Motor Service McLaughlin, 323 101, 65 152, 89 101; American Federation Labor Watson, 327 582, 66 761, 90 873; Government Civic Employees Organizing Committee, C.I.O. Windsor, 353 364, 77 838, 894. See also Alabama Public Southern R. 341 341, 71 762, 95 1002. Reflected among concerns traditionally counseled stay hand desirability avoiding unseemly conflict two sovereignties, unnecessary impairment functions, premature questions. All those factors here. 13 least one additional complex varying effects contemplated upon different owners. Some completely deprived access; others roads service constructed; points established each landowner considered separately, particular problems present. 14 suppose accord scope statutory phrase 'actual property.'5 If, after done courts, believe 15 Reversed. 16 BRENNAN, whom CHIEF JUSTICE joins, concurring. 17 invoked justified, my view, 'only exceptional repair clearly serve important countervailing interests: either theavo idance perhaps serious question, avoidance hazard unsettling some delicate balance area federal-state relationships.' Louisiana Power Light Thibodaux, 32, 1074 (dissenting opinion). Both justified case. If directs interpret cutting off requiring payment law. Such obviate need raised 18 Furthermore, halted threshold carrying large-scale program opportunity creating program. constitutes interference domestic policy undesirable friction relationships. 19 Therefore, I concur 20 DOUGLAS, dissenting part. 21 We agreed improperly enforcement But declaratory court, determining Fifth Amendment (and made applicable Fourteenth, Chicago, B. Q.R. 166 226, 581, 41 979). 22 Congress granted over 'under Constitution,' 1331, does. exercised obstructive lead needless agencies. likewise resolution law questions—which unsettled—may make reach question. 873. And principles main actions well injunctions sought. Great Lakes Dredge Dock Huffman, 319 293, 63 1070, 87 1407. 23 irrelevant bottom Amendments. compensable, ruled, see 410—412, announcement. Particularly when appellees sought declaration told 'their ruling halt effect engineering designs new local substitute means highways; financial commitments undertaking is. 24 appellees' because inability forecast how goal limiting Whether left landlocked given goes amount 'taken,' any. nothing do landowner's his land. 25 witnessed recent hostility power citizen's diversity (Louisiana 25, 1070) invoked. Utah Wycoff 344 237, 73 236, 97 291; Harrison NAACP, 167, 1025. think created First Congress, today haven sometimes even more dispassionately than tribunals. 1875 (18 Stat. 470) guardian rights. judicial intolerance jurisdiction, Brother Brennan dissent supra, seems spreading heads decisions NAACP,1 suggest. True is, utterly disruptive state-federal relations undesirable. general rule, exposition responsibility prescribed construe statutes Federal Constitution. occasion involves constitute 'property' sense.2 but concept imbedded Bill Rights. entangled Supremacy makes projects bow 'property.' adjudication acted very project informs responsibilities. intermeddling affairs nor friction. authoritative beginning controversy saves countless days slow, painful, costly litigation separate individual lawsuits proceedings. 1945, P.L. 1108, 402, seq., amended, 10, 481, 213, 1957, 31, 234, 111, 36 Purdon's Pa.Stat.Ann. 2391.1 seq. 2391.1. 2391.2. language follows: 'Now, therefore, finally Determined, Ordered, Adjudged Decreed defendants, Lewis M. George Leader, hereby enforcing otherwise complying 'Limited-Access Act,' interfere 'Airport Parkway' Allegheny Pennsylvania.' Bowie, Limiting Highway Access, Md.L.Rev. (1940); Clarke, Limited-Access Highway, 27 Wash.L.Rev. 111 (1952); Cunnyngham, Lawyer's Viewpoint, Mo.L.Rev. (1948); Duhaime, 33 Ore.L.Rev. (1953); Enfield McLean, Controlling Use National Academy Sciences, Research Council, Board Bulletin 101 (1955), p. 70; Reese, Legal Aspects (1953), 36. 1331 1332, 1332 (diversity) 1343 (civil rights). Title 2201, permits party's Appellants expressed intention properties abut consistently argued compensation, although denied previously had. enough settle processes are, here,

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