Court Opinion

ID: 7821936
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:57:45.154805+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:45.543529
License: Public Domain

John I. Purtle, Justice, concurring in part; dissenting in part. I concur in that part of the majority opinion which holds that the persons who signed the petition are presumed to receive benefits and that appellants stated a cause of action which alleged fraud in the assessment of benefits. I disagree with the majority where it is stated that the letter to the high value property owners was not a part of the record. If the letter was not a part of the record, then it amounted to a fraud upon the bond purchasers. They had the right to rely upon the map and description which purported to show the boundary lines of the property improvement district. The high value property excluded in the letter was included as a part of the district and thereby was a part of the security to the bond holders. On the other hand, if the letter was in the record, the bond purchasers were participants in the fraudulent scheme against the low value residential property owners. It is admitted that the district could not have been formed had the high value business property not been included within its boundaries. I feel the appellants stated a cause of action as to both the fraudulent assessment and the formation of the district. At trial facts may develop which will overcome both allegations. However, the pleadings and inferences to be drawn from them standing alone state a cause of action on both counts. I would reverse and remand as to both allegations.