Court Opinion

ID: 4933593
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 01:11:26.720509+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:34.862298
License: Public Domain

Symonds, J.
This action of debt is brought under the following provision of chapter 232 of the public laws of 1874: “In addition to the methods now provided by law for the collection of taxes legally assessed in towns, against the inhabitants thereof, or parties liable to taxation therein, an action of debt may be commenced and maintained in the name of the inhabitants of any town to which a tax is due and unpaid, against the party liable for such tax.”
The case is before this court on exceptions to the ruliftg in the superior court for Kennebec county, adjudging the declaration bad on general demurrer.
The declaration does not aver that the defendant was ever a resident or property-owner in Vassalboro’. No fact is alleged from which it appears that he was liable to taxation in that town, unless it is to be inferred from the averment of his indebtment to the town for taxes duly assessed.
We do not regard it as within the rules of pleading to hold that *305the allegation of the due assessment of a tax includes an averment, of the existence of the facts which create a liability to taxation. The words “legally assessed” in the statute are quite as broad as the words “duly assessed” in the declaration. But the statute declares that it is against the inhabitants of towns, or parties liable to taxation therein, that an action of debt may be brought for taxes legally assessed. The plaintiff’s declaration in this respect, fails to bring the case within the terms of the statute, on which it is based. An assessment .may be in due form and yet create no legal liability. A non-resident, owning no property in a town, may rightfully resist the payment of taxes there, though no fault appears in the manner of making the assessment. The liability to taxation, and the regularity of the assessment, are distinct elements in the plaintiff’s case.
It is unnecessary to consider the other objections to the declaration. The case of York v. Goodwin, 67 Maine, 260, shows very clearly what the court regard as a sufficient declaration in this class of actions.

Exceptions overruled,.

Appleton, C. J., Walton, Barrows, Danforth and Libbey, JJ., concurred.