Court Opinion

ID: 9646846
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 13:13:11.225287+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:11:42.678443
License: Public Domain

BARDGETT, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
Section 71.015, RSMo 1978, requires a suit to be brought under the provisions of chapter 527, RSMo 1978, by the annexing authority (City of Liberty) as a class action against the inhabitants of the unincorporated area under the provisions of § 507.070, RSMo 1978.
Section 527.100 provides the court may make such award of costs as may seem equitable and just. In my opinion this type of suit serves the interest of the public primarily in requiring the annexing authority to demonstrate compliance with the annexation laws. The person named as representative of the defendant class serves in that representative capacity for the purpose of safeguarding the public interest. This *332being the case, I believe the rule of Bernheimer v. First Nat’l Bank, 359 Mo. 1119, 225 S.W.2d 745 (banc 1949), is applicable and that the attorney’s fees of defendants are taxable as costs and may be assessed against the City of Liberty under § 527.100.