Opinion ID: 2164713
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: nebraska-iowa supply co. case

Text: In the Nebraska-Iowa case, plaintiff DOT appeals from the judgment of the trial court denying plaintiff's request that it be granted an injunction for the removal of several billboards owned by defendant without being required to compensate the defendant. DOT filed its petition on March 3, 1976, alleging the defendant had failed to obtain advertising permits for 18 billboards owned by it and located near primary highways in Iowa; that such billboards constituted public nuisances under § 306C.19, The Code, and were thus subject to removal; and that an injunction was necessary to restrain the defendant from interfering with the removal of the billboards. DOT asked that the defendant not be compensated for the signs to be removed. Attached to the petition were 18 separate notices mailed to defendant and owners of the land on which the billboards were situated, in which DOT asserted that Nebraska-Iowa's permit applications had been denied since they had been filed after the statutory deadline of July 31, 1972 set by § 306C.18, The Code. Removal of the billboards was requested on the ground they were being illegally maintained under § 306C.19, The Code. DOT's petition also denied an allegation made by defendant in a letter to the plaintiff dated January 19, 1976, in which Nebraska-Iowa claimed the applications were filed belatedly due to the nonavailability of the forms at one of the plaintiff's offices. Nebraska-Iowa's answer denied all of the allegations of the plaintiff's petition. DOT later amended its petition, stating that four of the billboards had been removed and that the issue generated by its petition as to them was moot, that two of the billboards were within 660 feet of interstate highways, and that the remaining 12 billboards were beyond 660 feet of an interstate highway. Signs within 660 feet of an interstate highway are subject to different regulations under chapter 306B, The Code. This appeal by DOT involves only those signs subject to chapter 306C. Trial was had to the court, resulting in the filing of findings of fact, conclusions of law and decree on February 17, 1977. The court found the billboards to have been erected between 1969 and 1971, and that they were valued between $2500 and $3500 each. The court found that eight of the signs were no longer in existence, and that the issue as to them was moot. One of the remaining signs was found to be within 660 feet of the interstate highway and thus subject to the provisions of chapter 306B, rather than chapter 306C. The court found that an agent of defendant Nebraska-Iowa had attempted to obtain permit application forms at the plaintiff's Council Bluffs office in late July, but that the office did not have the proper forms. Forms were later obtained by the agent during the first week of August at plaintiff's Atlantic, Iowa, office. The court held that although defendant submitted its applications on August 22, 1972, it was not informed until November 4, 1975 of the denial of said applications due to their untimely filing. The court further found that the DOT departmental rule based on chapter 306C dealing with billboards did not become effective until September 27, 1973, and would not be applied to this case. As to the nine billboards of Nebraska-Iowa still in existence more than 660 feet from a primary highway, the court denied the plaintiff's request for an injunction, concluding chapter 306C contained no authorization for removal without compensation and that such removal would be contrary to §§ 306C.15, 306C.16 and 306C.17. On February 24, 1977 DOT moved to enlarge or amend the findings and conclusions of the trial court, requesting a finding as to whether Nebraska-Iowa could be allowed to apply after July 31, 1972, and then assessed fees in lieu of removing the signs upon payment of just compensation. The motion was overruled on the grounds that the relief requested had not been sought in the petition nor was there evidence in the record with reference to such claim. Following said ruling, timely appeal of the trial court's judgment was taken to this court.