Opinion ID: 1619439
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: eminent domain procedure

Text: [1] A major revision of condemnation procedures under ch. 32, Stats., was accomplished by ch. 639, Laws of 1959. It is apparent that the legislature intended to create two independent proceedings relating to condemnation, an owner's action in circuit court under sec. 32.06 (5), Stats., and the condemnation proceeding before a judge under sec. 32.06(7). From sec. 32.06 (5) it is clear that the two proceedings may go on simultaneously, as they in fact did in this case. The owner's action must be commenced within forty days of service of the jurisdictional offer, while the condemnation proceeding may be brought at any time after the jurisdictional offer is rejected. [1] The owner's action is now the only manner in which issues pertaining to the condemnation may be raised, except for those of title and just compensation, and if the action is not timely commenced, the owners are barred as to all issues that might have been raised. [2] Under sec. 32.06 (7), Stats., a hearing is to be had on the condemnor's petition, not sooner than twenty days from the date of its filing. At the hearing, the judge will determine the necessity of taking if that duty is assigned to the judge under secs. 32.06(1) and 32.07, as it was in the instant case. From the last two sentences of sec. 32.06 (7) it appears that the end result of this hearing will be an order that either (1) determines that the petitioner is entitled to condemn the property or some portion thereof and assigns the matter to the condemnation commissioners for assessment of damages, or (2) determines that the petitioner does not have the right to condemn and refuses to assign the matter to the commissioners. This determination ends the judge's role in condemnation proceedings. If the judge rules against the condemnor, the order may be appealed directly to this court under the last sentence of sec. 32.06(7). If the judge rules the other way and assigns the matter to the commissioners, no provision is made for appeal of this decision. The commissioners are to hear the matter as provided in sec. 32.08, make an award of damages, and file it with the clerk of the circuit court. [3]