Case Name: STAUB et al. v. VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1915-01-29
Citations: 151 N.Y.S. 485
Docket Number: 
Parties: STAUB et al. v. VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 151
Pages: 485–486

Head Matter:
(165 App. Div. 755)
STAUB et al. v. VILLAGE OF MAMARONECK.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.
January 29, 1915.)
Municipal Corpobations (§ 385 ) — Change of Gbade of Street — Compensation — Vacant. Property.
Village Law (Consol. Laws, c. 64) § 159, providing for recovery of damages in case the change of grade of a street will injuriously affect any building or land adjacent thereto, or the use thereof, gives a right to compensation for damages to a vacant lot caused by change of grade of the street in front of it.
[Ed. Note. — Por other cases, see Municipal Corporations, Cent. Dig. §S 925-928; Dec. Dig. § 385.*]
Appeal from Special Term, County of Westchester.
Proceedings by Argangela Staub and another against the Village of Mamaroneck, for ascertainment of damages for change of grade of a street. From an order appointing commissioners to determine compensation, the Village appeals.
Affirmed.
Argued before JENKS, P. J., and THOMAS, CARR, STAPLETON, and PUTNAM, JJ.
William J. Fallon, of White Plains, for appellant.
J. Addison Young, of New York City (Wm. S. Beers, of New Rochelle,, on the brief), for respondents.
For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep'r Indexes

Opinion:
STAPLETON, J.
The defendant is a village. Its authorities changed the grade of a street. The respondents, the owners of a vacant lot adjacent to the street, claimed damages from such change of grade, alleging the change injuriously affected their land. They presented their verified claim to the board of trustees of the village. The board having failed to agree with them as to the amount of damages within the statutory time, they applied to the Supreme Court for the appointment of three commissioners to determine the compensation to which they are entitled. The court, by its order, appointed the commissioners, and from that order the appeal is taken.
The statute under which the petitioners moved is subdivision 1, § 159, of the Village Law (chapter 64, Laws of 1909, constituting chapter 64 of the Consolidated Laws). The pertinent part of subdivision 1 reads:
"If a village has exclusive control and jurisdiction of a street or bridge therein, it may change the grade thereof. If such change of grade shall injuriously affect any building or land adjacent thereto, or the use thereof, the change of grade, to the extent of the damage resulting therefrom, shall be deemed the taking of such adjacent property for a public use."
The force and scope of the statute and the requirements exacted from one who invoices its provisions have been settled. Comesky v. Village of Suffern, 179 N. Y. 393, 72 N. E. 320. The evidence supports the finding that the plaintiff's verified claim was seasonably presented, and that her land was injuriously affected. We will discuss the remaining point raised by the appellant.
The appellant, assailing the order, asserts that section 159 of the Village Law, supra, does not give the right to compensation for a change of grade injuriously affecting a vacant lot. We think there is nothing in the ordinary meaning of the words used, or in the grammatical arrangement, or in the peculiar nature of the subject of the legislation, which excludes unimproved land from the purview of the statute. We cannot approve the determination in Lester v. Village of Blaisdell, 137 N. Y. Supp. 491, 493.
The order should be affirmed, with costs. All concur.