Case Name: The State of Washington, on the Relation of William Hanson et al., Plaintiff, v. The Superior Court for Yakima County et al., Respondents
Court: Washington Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Washington
Decision Date: 1921-10-24
Citations: 117 Wash. 399
Docket Number: No. 16734
Parties: The State of Washington, on the Relation of William Hanson et al., Plaintiff, v. The Superior Court for Yakima County et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Washington Reports
Volume: 117
Pages: 399–400

Head Matter:
[No. 16734.
Department Two.
October 24, 1921.]
The State of Washington, on the Relation of William Hanson et al., Plaintiff, v. The Superior Court for Yakima County et al., Respondents.
Eminent Domain (39) — Necessity fob Appropriation — Evidence —Sufficiency. Necessity for tbe appropriation of land for a public highway is established in condemnation proceedings by evidence showing the purpose is to avoid two bad curves, thereby decreasing the length of the highway, preventing bad curvature, and avoiding considerable congestion.
Certiorari to review a judgment of the superior court for Yakima county, Nichoson, J., entered September 6, 1921, adjudging a public use and necessity in condemnation proceedings, after a bearing before tbe court.
Affirmed.
McAulay & Meigs, for relators.
The Attorney General and John A. Homer, Assistant, for respondents.
Reported in 201 Pac. 1.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Certiorari to review the order of necessity in a condemnation by the state of a short strip of land for the construction of a part of the Inland Empire Highway.
Chapter 32, p. 116, § 1, Laws of 1921, amending § 5872 Rem. Code, provides:
"In case of condemnation to secure such lands, tbe action shall be brought in tbe name of tbe state . . . and in such action tbe selection of tbe lands by tbe supervisor of highways shall, in the absence of bad faith, arbitrary, capricious or fraudulent action, be conclusive upon the court and judge before which the action is brought that said lands are necessary for the purpose sought." (Italics ours.)
The evidence in this case shows that the condemnation is sought for the purpose of avoiding two bad curves that at present exist in the public roads and streets, and that the road, as condemned, will decrease the length of the highway, prevent bad curvature, and avoid considerable congestion. These facts, far from establishing the bad faith, arbitrariness, capriciousness and fraudulent action required by the statute to be shown in order to nullify the selection, vindicate the selection of' such land, and confirm the finding of necessity made by the lower court. State v. Superior Court, 111 Wash. 542, 191 Pac. 413; State ex rel. Urquhart v. Superior Court, 112 Wash. 34, 191 Pac. 416.
Order affirmed.