Opinion ID: 1851245
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: was mandamus an available remedy?

Text: The County Board argues that mandamus is unavailable to obtain a public road for access pursuant to §§ 39-1713 and 39-1716, but, rather, that review by petition in error, see Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 25-1901 to 25-1908 (Reissue 1989), is the appropriate procedure in Youngs' case. As stated in State ex rel. Pederson v. Howell, 239 Neb. 51, 56, 474 N.W.2d 22, 26 (1991): Mandamus is defined as an extraordinary remedy, not a writ of right, State ex rel. Thompson v. Alderman, 230 Neb. 335, 431 N.W.2d 625 (1988), issued to compel the performance of a purely ministerial act or duty, State ex rel. Freezer Servs., Inc. v. Mullen, 235 Neb. 981, 458 N.W.2d 245 (1990), imposed by law upon an inferior tribunal, corporation, board, or person, see Neb.Rev.Stat. § 25-2156 (Reissue 1989), where (1) the relator has a clear legal right to the relief sought; (2) there is a corresponding clear duty existing on the part of the respondent to do the act in question, State ex rel. Mercurio v. Board of Regents, 213 Neb. 251, 329 N.W.2d 87 (1983), cert. denied 463 U.S. 1214, 103 S.Ct. 3554, 77 L.Ed.2d 1400; and (3) there is no other plain and adequate remedy available in the ordinary course of law, State ex rel. PROUD v. Conley, 236 Neb. 122, 459 N.W.2d 222 (1990). In Singleton v. Kimball County Board of Commissioners, 203 Neb. 429, 279 N.W.2d 112 (1979), a writ of mandamus was recognized as a proper remedy to compel a county board, in accordance with §§ 39-1713 and 39-1716, to lay out a public road for access to isolated land. In Singleton, this court concluded that compliance with the isolated land statutes is a ministerial duty and, [a]s the duty is ministerial, petition in error proceedings are ... not available, 203 Neb. at 435, 279 N.W.2d at 116; hence, mandamus is an appropriate remedy for obtaining access to isolated land. See, also, Burton v. Annett, 215 Neb. 788, 341 N.W.2d 318 (1983) (establishment of a public road on satisfaction of the statutory requirements of isolated land statutes is a ministerial duty). Youngs' case is controlled by Singleton v. Kimball County Board of Commissioners, supra , which, as Nebraska precedent, authorizes mandamus as a proper remedy to compel the County Board to act consistent with Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 39-1713 to 39-1719 (Reissue 1978), the isolated land statutes.