Opinion ID: 1260433
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Willis

Text: The day after the annexation court struck Roanoke's evidence, counsel for the Willis petitioners moved for dismissal of that petition on the ground that an overwhelming majority of his clients desired this action. The annexation court subsequently granted the motion over Salem's objection. It is true that we have recognized the right of the plaintiff in an annexation case to take a non-suit over defendant's objection. City of Norfolk v. County of Norfolk, 194 Va. 716, 75 S.E.2d 66 (1953). We hold that this rule is inapplicable, however, where objection to the non-suit is made by a nominal defendant whose true posture is that of a party plaintiff. Because Salem's real interest was that of a plaintiff, the annexation court erred in granting the dismissal. Salem, having annexed within the preceding five years, was under the interdiction of Code § 15.1-1055 [7] and could not initiate annexation proceedings. It was a nominal defendant to the petition for annexation filed by the Willis petitioners under Code § 15.1-1034. Salem, however, supported the annexation and was prepared to offer evidence to show the necessity for and expediency of annexing the area. Once a petition case has been instituted, it proceeds in the manner prescribed for annexation initiated by a city under Code § 15.1-1033. The proponents of annexation, petitioners and city, must carry the burden of proving the necessity for and expediency of the proposed annexation. Johnson v. County of Fairfax, 211 Va. 378, 382, 177 S.E.2d 606, 609 (1970); County of Chesterfield v. Berberich, 199 Va. 500, 502, 100 S.E.2d 781, 783 (1957). Often the city, as a non-adverse defendant supporting the proposed annexation, furnishes the critical evidence. Thus we have acknowledged that when a city supports the petition of qualified voters seeking annexation, in effect it assumes the position of a party plaintiff. Accordingly, we hold that petitioners for annexation may not compel dismissal of the petition over the objection of the city after the city has pleaded in support of the annexation. We conclude that the annexation court committed reversible error in dismissing the Willis petition on petitioners' motion over the objection of Salem.