Case Name: WESTCHESTER COUNTY v. WAKEFIELD PARK REALTY CO. et al.
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1911-12-21
Citations: 132 N.Y.S. 663
Docket Number: 
Parties: WESTCHESTER COUNTY v. WAKEFIELD PARK REALTY CO. et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 132
Pages: 663–664

Head Matter:
WESTCHESTER COUNTY v. WAKEFIELD PARK REALTY CO. et al.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.
December 21, 1911.)
Eminent Domain (§ 265 ) — Separate Parcels — Joinder — Costs.
Where plaintiff in a condemnation proceeding is permitted to join all owners whose property is to be acquired in a single proceeding, the owner of each parcel is entitled to a separate bill of costs, unless he fails to secure an award equal to the amount which has been offered him for the premises.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Eminent Domain, Cent. Dig. §§ 690-693; Dec. Dig. § 265. ]
Appeal from Special Term, Westchester County.
Action by Westchester County against the Wakefield Park Realty Company and others. From so much of an order denying defendants’ applications for separate bills of costs as to each parcel of real property sought to be condemned, they appeal. Reversed.
Argued before JENICS, P. and THOMAS, CARR, WOODWARD, and RICH, JJ.
Woodson R. Oglesby, for appellants.
Edgar C. Beecroft, for respondent.
For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
WOODWARD, J.
This is a condemnation proceeding, and the only question presented upon this appeal from an order denying an application for costs in each case separately tried is whether the court had power to grant the award asked for; the motion having been denied upon the ground that the court was without power in the premises.
We are of the opinion that the learned court at Special Term has fallen into error in this matter, and that the law is well established that, where the question at issue is as to the amount of compensation to be paid, each separate parcel is to be regarded as a distinct action, and costs are to be awarded in the same manner as though a separate proceeding had been commenced against each parcel. This was decided, in line with the authorities cited, in Dexter & Northern Railroad Co. v. Foster, 142 App. Div. 240, 126 N. Y. Supp. 835, and Matter of City of New York, 129 App. Div. 929, 114 N. Y. Supp. 681. The granting of a privilege to the plaintiff to bring in all of the owners whose property is to be acquired in a single proceeding ought not to deprive the individual defendants of their right to have that just compensation which the Constitution requires, and which contemplates that the plaintiff shall pay to the defendant the cost sustained by him in defending his rights, except in those cases where the defendant fails to secure an award equal to the amount which has been offered him for the premises.
The order appealed from should be reversed, and the matter should be remitted to the Special Term for adjustment in harmony with this opinion. All concur.