Court Opinion

ID: 7812629
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:14:34.121598+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:30.947649
License: Public Domain

Hart, J., (dissenting). This is a direct attack on the assessment of benefits made within the time prescribed by the statute, and, in the judgment of Judge Wood and myself, practically the undisputed facts show that the zone system, or the frontage rule of assessing benefits, is discriminatory. This case should cause us to pause before a precedent becomes fixed, beyond judicial power to stop the zone system of assessments, where there is a direct attack upon it and the evidence shows that the assessment of benefits, when considered with reference to the configuration and topography of the earth’s surface, makes even an approximation of equality impracticable. Where the board assesses lands, shown beyond question not to be benefited, in the same proportion as other lands in the same zone, so that the matter could not be one of judgment or a difference of opinion, the inevitable inference is that they have acted upon a mistake of fact or upon an illegal principle of assessment. This is necessarily true, no matter what the commissioners may 'testify as to their opinion of the equality of the assessments. The undisputed evidence in this case shows that some of the lands are separated from the roads to be improved by bayous, drainage ditches and buckshot lands impassable in wet weather, and that a wide detour, in order to avoid these obstructions, is necessary in going to and from the improved roads. Therefore it is obvious that this should be considered in making the assessments, and that the lands should not be assessed as high as those which are the same distance in a direct line from the improved roads bnt which are not separated from the roads by obstructions, to travel. These physical facts are shown by the evidence in the record, which, in our judgment, is not disputed. It is true that witnesses for the defendant say that, in their judgment, the benefits are the same; but we think that their testimony in this regard is arbitrary. No fail' and equal assessment of benefits can be made without taking into consideration the drainage, ditches, 'bayous, and other obstructions Avhich necessitate the landowners to go around "them or to bu-ild a bridge across them before they can use the improved road. They are not required to build bridges, at a prohibitive cost, to cross these obstructions, or, if they should be required to do this, this fact should be considered in making the assessment of benefits. Therefore we respectfully dissent.