Title: REDEVELOPMENT COM'N OF CITY OF WASHINGTON v. Grimes
Citation: 178 S.E.2d 345, 277 N.C. 634
Docket Number: 48
State: north-carolina
Issuer: north-carolina Supreme Court
Date: January 20, 1971

178 S.E.2d 345 (1971)
277 N.C. 634
REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF the CITY OF WASHINGTON, North Carolina
v.
Bryan GRIMES and wife, Bobby H. Grimes; and Junius D. Grimes, Jr. and wife, Lily G. Grimes.
No. 48.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.
January 20, 1971.
*346 Mayo &amp; Mayo, by William P. Mayo, and LeRoy Scott, Washington, for plaintiff petitioner.
Wilkinson &amp; Vosburgh, by John A. Wilkinson, Washington, for Bryan Grimes and wife, defendant respondents.
Carter &amp; Ross, by W. B. Carter, Washington, for Junius D. Grimes, Jr. and wife, defendant respondents.
BRANCH, Justice:
The power of eminent domain is exercised by a redevelopment commission pursuant to G.S. Chapter 40, Article 2, and *347 Chapter 160, Article 37. Therefore, when the pleadings present issuable matter, the cause is not transferred to the Civil Issue Docket, but the clerk first passes on the questions presented after hearing evidence from all parties. If the clerk decides that petitioners cannot proceed with condemnation, then the petitioner may except and appeal. However, if the clerk decides in favor of the petitioner, exceptions may be noted, and the clerk appoints commissioners to assess damages due the landowners. The Commissioners, after viewing the premises and after due notice, hear the evidence of all interested parties and thereafter file their report. Within twenty days after the filing of the report, the parties to the proceeding may file exceptions, and the clerk decides the exceptions after all parties have received due notice and have been afforded opportunity to be heard.
It is only after the clerk of superior court confirms or fails to confirm the report of commissioners that either party aggrieved by the ruling of the clerk may appeal, and such appeal carries the entire record up for review by the trial judge upon the questions of fact. G.S. §§ 40-16, 40-17, 40-18, 40-19; Johnson City Southern Railroad Co. v. South &amp; W. R. Co., 148 N.C. 59, 61 S.E. 683; Selma v. Nobles, 183 N.C. 322, 111 S.E. 543.
Applying the above principles, we agree with the conclusion of the Court of Appeals that the attempted appeal from "Report of Commissioners" was premature. However, we do not agree with the action of the Court of Appeals in directing the Judge holding Superior Court of Beaufort County "to remand this matter to the Clerk of Superior Court of Beaufort County in order that he might proceed herein as provided by law." In this connection we quote pertinent statutes:
The clerk is but a part of the superior court, and when a proceeding before the clerk is brought before the judge in any manner, the superior court's jurisdiction is not derivative but it has jurisdiction to hear and determine all matters in controversy as if the case was originally before him. Potts v. Howser, 267 N.C. 484, 148 S.E.2d 836; McDaniel v. Leggett, 224 N.C. 806, 32 S.E.2d 602. However, the judge of superior court may in his discretion remand the cause to the clerk for further proceedings. York v. McCall, 160 N. C. 276, 76 S.E. 84.
*348 Selma v. Nobles, supra, is strikingly similar to instant case. There the court held that even when a proceeding is erroneously transferred to the superior court, and the judge takes "jurisdiction" pursuant to C.S. 637 (now G.S. § 1-276), he may in his discretion make new parties, allow them to answer, and hold the case for jury determination before further proceedings are held.
We conclude that in instant case the cause was erroneously transferred to the superior court; nevertheless, the judge of superior court had full power to consider and determine all matters in controversy as if the cause was originally before him.
The crucial question is whether the judge of superior court correctly dismissed the action.
27 Am.Jr.2d, Eminent Domain, Section 404, p. 284, contains the following:
In the case of Burlington City Board of Education v. Allen, 243 N.C. 520, 91 S.E.2d 180, the Alamance County Board of Education served notice as required by statute on respondents of its intention to appropriate land for public school use. Petition was filed with the clerk of superior court on the return date of the notice, and in accordance with G.S. § 115-125, 1955 Supplement. Respondents made a special appearance and moved to dismiss on the ground that they had not been properly made parties to the proceeding. The clerk denied the motion and respondents appealed to superior court. The judge of superior court affirmed the clerk's order and remanded for further proceedings before the clerk. The respondents appealed. The court, dismissing the appeal, stated:
See Anno. 44 A.L.R.2d 1414. At page 1437 of this Annotation we find the following:
And at page 1439:
The case of Selma v. Nobles, supra, is a proceeding in which a municipality sought to condemn lands for cemetery purposes. There, referring to the statutes granting the power of eminent domain, the Court said:
None of respondents' answers allege facts tending to show bad faith on the part of petitioner or an arbitrary abuse of the discretion granted to petitioner by statute. The answer of respondents Bryan Grimes and wife Bobby H. Grimes contains an allegation that the "Planning Commission of the City of Washington exceeded its authority in designating the Area." This conclusory statement concerning the action of the Planning Commission does not allege bad faith or such arbitrary abuse of discretion as will permit review by the court. Nevertheless, the trial court heard conflicting evidence on the question of whether the property in the area sought to be condemnedand more particularly the property of respondentswas of the character described in G.S. § 160-456. The court, inter alia, found the following facts:
Based on his findings of fact the trial judge dismissed the action. It is apparent from the findings of fact that the judgment was not founded on failure of petitioner to comply with the statutory procedures prerequisite to exercise of eminent domain. There was no finding of fact that the redevelopment commission arbitrarily abused its discretion or acted in bad faith in selecting the area; nor was there allegation or proof of facts sufficient to justify such a finding. Therefore, the facts found constitute no basis for dismissal of the action. Selma v. Nobles, supra; Burlington City Board of Education v. Allen, supra.
The respondents have not contended that there should be a dismissal of this proceeding because of petitioner's failure to allege or prove that it had followed the statutory procedures prerequisite to the exercise of eminent domain by it. We find no jurisdictional defect on the face of the record which requires us, ex mero motu, to dismiss the action. Thornton v. Brady, 100 N.C. 38, 5 S.E. 910; State v. Gaston, 236 N.C. 499, 73 S.E.2d 311; Redevelopment Commission of Greensboro v. Hagins, 258 N.C. 220, 128 S.E.2d 391.
The case of Redevelopment Commission v. Hagins, supra, holds that a redevelopment commission must exercise the power of eminent domain pursuant to Chapter 160, Article 37, and Chapter 40, Article 2, and that in order to invoke this power the redevelopment commission must affirmatively allege compliance with the statutory requirements.
G.S. § 160-463, in part, provides:
Since decision in Hagins the legislature by Session Laws of 1965, c. 679, s. 3; c. 1132; 1967, c. 932, ss. 2, 3, rewrote G.S. § 160-465. However, we do not deem it necessary to discuss the amendments since we conclude that the changes do not affect the holding in Hagins.
The petitioner in instant case has alleged with particularity the essential requirements of G.S. § 40-12. Its only attempt to allege compliance with subsections (g), (h) and (i) of G.S. § 160-463 is by the following allegation: "That the petitioner is now exercising the powers of eminent domain granted to it pursuant to Chapter 160 and is proceeding pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 40 in the exercise of such powers of eminent domain and has met all requirements thereunder."
The rules of civil procedure became effective 1 January 1970, and apply to "all actions and proceedings pending on that date as well as to actions and proceedings commenced on and after that date." N.C.Sess.L. ch. 803 (1969).
In the case of Sutton v. Duke, 277 N.C. 94, 176 S.E.2d 161, this Court considered the action of Hubbard, J., in sustaining a demurrer and dismissing the action on the ground that the complaint failed to state a cause of action. The Court of Appeals by its opinion filed 31 December 1969 reversed the trial judge, and this Court allowed certiorari on 28 August 1970. In affirming the opinion of the Court of Appeals, this Court applied the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure and treated the demurrer as a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b) (6) and, inter alia, stated:
Rule 9(c) states: "In pleading the performance or occurrence of conditions precedent, it is sufficient to aver generally that all conditions precedent have been performed or have occurred. A denial of performance or occurrence shall be made specifically and with particularity."
Although this petition is not a model, it appears to give notice of the nature and basis of petitioner's claim, the type of the case brought, and generally to allege the occurrence or performance of the conditions precedent required by Ch. 160, Art. 37, and Ch. 40, Art. 2. Respondents' denials were general and lacked particularity and specificity. If respondents desire, they may move for a more definite statement. Rule 12(e).
The rights of the parties can be fully preserved with economy and dispatch by remanding this cause to the superior court of Beaufort County to the end that the judge holding courts may allow such amendments to the pleadings as he may deem proper, hear evidence, and enter judgment consistent with this opinion, or in his discretion remand to the Clerk of Superior Court of Beaufort County for like action.
This cause is remanded to the Court of Appeals with direction that it be remanded to the Superior Court of Beaufort County for further proceedings consistent with this opinion and existing law.
Error and remanded.