Opinion ID: 1604162
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court erred by making a judicial determination of public use and in its determination of which party has the burden of proof on the issue of public use?

Text: The City argues that it was inappropriate for the trial court to substitute its judgment for that of the municipal authorities because once a public purpose has been decided, the amount and character of land to be taken for the project and the need for a particular tract to complete the integrated plan rests in the discretion of the legislative branch. Berman v. Parker, 348 U.S. 26, 75 S.Ct. 98, 99 L.Ed. 27 (1954). In addition, the City contends that the burden is on Thomas to show fraud or a clear abuse of discretion since the legislature has made its determination of public necessity, and that he has failed to do so. Mississippi State Highway Comm. v. Jacob, 192 So.2d 260 (Miss. 1966). The City's argument is not well taken. The controlling issue in this case is not whether there was a necessity for Thomas' property as the City characterizes the issue, but whether Thomas' property would be put to an appropriate public use. We have held that whether the taking is necessary has consistently been held to be a legislative question which the courts should not disturb absent fraud or abuse of discretion. Morely v. Jackson Redevelopment Authority, 632 So.2d 1284, 1288 (Miss. 1994), citing Governor's Office v. Carter, 573 So.2d 736, 739 (Miss. 1990). However, whether there is a public use is a judicial question without regard to legislative assertions that the use is public. Morely, 632 So.2d at 1289, citing Mississippi Constitution (1890), article 3, § 17. Furthermore, Mississippi Code Annotated § 11-27-15 (1972) allows a defendant to file a motion asserting that a taking is not one for public use. Once the motion has been filed and the proceeding begun, it is the condemnor which has the burden of proving public use, unlike the question of public necessity, where the lack of public necessity must be shown by the owner. Morely at 1289. In the case sub judice, the trial court did not err when it determined whether Thomas' property was in fact taken for a contemplated public use without giving discretion to Vicksburg's legislative branch. Furthermore, the trial court did not err when it determined that the City, not Thomas, had the burden of proving that Thomas' property was being taken for a public use.