Opinion ID: 1272468
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Did the State Highway Commission have a legal duty to sell the land to the property owner?

Text: Section 22-12-4, N.M.S.A. 1953, states when the writ of mandamus may issue. Under this section, if the State Highway Commission has a clear legal duty to sell to the property owner, the writ may compel the discharge of this duty. State ex rel. Sun Co. v. Vigil, 74 N.M. 766, 398 P.2d 987 (1965); Sender v. Montoya, 73 N.M. 287, 387 P.2d 860 (1963). If there is discretion to sell, rather than a clear legal duty to do so, there is no basis for the writ. State ex rel. Sun Co. v. Vigil, supra; Kiddy v. Board of County Com'rs of Eddy County, 57 N.M. 145, 255 P.2d 678 (1953). The Highway Commission concedes that the property owner has a preferential right to purchase; that if they sell at all, they have a duty to sell to him since he has attempted to exercise his preferential right. However, the Highway Commission contends there is no clear legal duty to sell; rather, a sale is discretionary because they have the right to accept or reject the bids received. They base this contention on paragraph 5 of the judgment. This paragraph states the property owner's right to purchase. As to the exercise of that right, the property owner:    [S]hall have until 12:00 o'clock noon on December 18, 1964, to exercise their preference right herein recognized. Provided that in the event the Highway Commission meeting of December 18, 1964, is deferred, they may have until 12:00 o'clock noon of the day upon which the State Highway Commission accepts or rejects bids received for the parcel of the above mentioned property. Under this language it is clear that the property owner must exercise his right to purchase by a certain time or the right is lost. If the Highway Commission meets on December 18, 1964, the right must be exercised on that day. If the Commission does not meet that day, the right must be exercised on the day the Commission either accepts or rejects bids on the property involved. If the Commission accepts a bid, the property owner's right to purchase must be exercised, or the right is lost. If the Commission rejects bids, the purchase right must be exercised, or it is lost. Under the quoted language, the Commission did not have to sell to a bidder; it had discretion to accept or reject the bids. This discretionary action does not involve the property owner; it does not affect his right to purchase. Whether bids are accepted or rejected, the property owner must exercise his right to purchase at that time. He did so and tendered a sum equal to the sum of the highest and best bid obtained at the sale. He had a right to purchase at that price. This right on the part of the property owner imposes on the Highway Commission its duty to sell. See right in Black's Law Dictionary 1486 (4th ed. 1951). Whether the Highway Commission accepted or rejected the bids, its duty to sell to the property owner arose when he invoked his right by tender of a sum equal to the highest and best bid. Compare State ex rel. Black v. Aztec Ditch Co., 25 N.M. 590, 185 P. 549 (1919).