Court Opinion

ID: 9573501
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:56:05.626693+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:41:25.402497
License: Public Domain

On Petition for Rehearing
In an opinion filed December 22, 1959, this court held that the right granted the Alaska Housing Authority to exercise the power of eminent domain did not include the right to use a declaration of taking. In a petition for rehearing, respondents asked us to reconsider this determination and to set aside or reverse the opinion.
In support of the argument that a declaration of taking involves nothing more than a method or procedure by which the power of eminent domain might be exercised, respondents point to the Notes of the Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A., where it was stated that Rule 71A was not intended to and did not supersede the general declaration of taking act [40 U.S.C.A. §§ 258a-258e], which was a—
“ * * * supplementary condemnation statute, permissive in its nature and designed to permit the prompt acquisition of title by the United States, pending the condemnation proceeding, upon a deposit in court. * * * ” Title 28 U.S.C.A., Rule 71A, 1959 Cumulative Annual Pocket Part, p. 358],
*155Respondents conclude from this that the declaration of taking merely accelerates the time when the conveyance of title and possession shall take place, that it is simply ancillary and subordinate to the main condemnation proceeding, and that it is not, therefore, an eminent domain power.
It is interesting to note, however, that the Advisory Committee made a further report on this matter in March 1951. There it was said:
“We call attention to the fact that the proposed rule does not contain a provision for the procedure to be followed in order to exercise the right of the United States to take immediate possession or title, when the condemnation proceeding is begun.
* * * * * *
“The Advisory Committee considered whether the procedure for exercising the right should be specified in the rule and decided against it, as the procedure now being followed seems to be giving no trouble, and to draft a rule to fit all the statutes on the subject might create confusion.” [Emphasis added] Title 28 U.S.C.A., Rule 71A, 1959 Cumulative Annual Pocket Part, pp. 355-356],
From this it would be reasonable to assume that in the opinion of the Advisory Committee the right to use a declaration of taking was not just a matter of procedure.
Respondents claim that because the petition for review was not filed within the time limits prescribed by Rule 27, that this court did not have jurisdiction to review the orders which were the subject of its opinion and judgment. The question of jurisdiction is not involved. The time within which a petition for review is to be filed is regulated by a rule of this court, and not by statute. When the rules were adopted, notice was given that they were designed to facilitate business and advance justice, and that they might be relaxed or dispensed with where a strict application would be unfair. Rule 52. It was stated in the opinion in this case that the question involved here was of such importance as to justify deviation from the normal appellate procedure by way of appeal from a final judgment and to require the prompt attention of this court. This question was also of such importance as to justify deviation in this instance from a rigid adherence to Rule 27.
A substantial portion of respondents’ brief is devoted to the argument that their complaint was sufficient because compliance with Rule 71A, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, was all that was required. That question was not passed upon by this court. The opinion makes it clear that the only question decided was that the Alaska Housing Authority did not have the right to use a declaration of taking.
There are other matters discussed in respondents’ extensive brief. We have reviewed them carefully and find that all of them had been considered by the court before the decision in this case was reached.
The petition for rehearing is denied.