Case Name: IN RE PROCEEDINGS TO ENFORCE PAYMENT OF TAXES, ETC. STATE v. SOUTH ST. PAUL SYNDICATE
Court: Minnesota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Minnesota
Decision Date: 1918-06-21
Citations: 140 Minn. 359
Docket Number: No. 20,897
Parties: IN RE PROCEEDINGS TO ENFORCE PAYMENT OF TAXES, ETC. STATE v. SOUTH ST. PAUL SYNDICATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: Minnesota Reports
Volume: 140
Pages: 359–360

Head Matter:
IN RE PROCEEDINGS TO ENFORCE PAYMENT OF TAXES, ETC. STATE v. SOUTH ST. PAUL SYNDICATE.
June 21, 1918.
No. 20,897.
Appeal and review — review of findings of fact ■— rule applied in tax proceedings.
1. The rule guiding this court in the review of findings of fact in ordinary civil actions applies to tax proceedings wherein is involved the issue whether certain land was assessed at more than its real and actual value. To disturb findings upon that question in such proceedings it must appear that they are clearly and manifestly against the evidence.
Findings sustained.
2. The findings in this proceeding hela sustained by the evidence.
In proceedings in the district court for Dakota county to enforce payment of taxes delinquent on the first Monday in January, 1917, the South St. Paul Syndicate filed its answer. The matter was heard by Converse, J., who confirmed the assessment. From an order denying its motion for a new trial, the South St. Paul Syndicate appealed.
Affirmed.
Thomas 0. Fitzpatrick and William F. Hunt, for appellant.
P. H. O’Keefe, County Attorney, for respondent.
Reported in 168 N. W. 95.

Opinion:
Brown, C. J.
In proceedings in the district court of Dakota county for the enforcement of delinquent'taxes for the year 1915 appellant by answer interposed a claim that the land here involved, which appellant owns, was assessed and taxed at a valuation greater than its real and actual value, and demanded that the assessment be reduced to correspond with the actual value of the property. Such a defense is authorized by section 2108, G. S. 1913; State v. Minnesota Tax Commission, 135 Minn. 282, 160 N. W. 665. A trial of the issue thus presented resulted in a finding by the trial court that the claim of over-valuation was not established, and judgment was ordered in harmony with the original assessment. The proceeding comes to this court by an appeal from an order denying a new trial.
The assignments of error present as the principal question in support of the appeal the contention that the findings of the trial court are not sustained by the evidence.
The rule guiding this court in the review of the findings of the trial court in proceedings of this kind is the same as that applied in ordinary civil actions; and to justify interference with such findings it must appear that they are clearly and manifestly against the evidence. In the light of the rule we have read the record with care and find no reason for disturbing the findings here under review. The evidence is conflicting as to the actual value of the property; the trial court was familiar with the situation and location of the land, and in position to give proper weight to the opinions of the various witnesses. A discussion of the evidence would serve no useful purpose. It is not clearly or manifestly against the findings and there must therefore be an affirmance.
The record presents no reversible error in any of the rulings of the court.
Order affirmed.