Court Opinion

ID: 9559540
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:31:00.376681+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:10:13.620902
License: Public Domain

ELLETT, Chief Justice
(dissenting):
The main opinion is based on the principle of estoppel in pais regarding the notice requirement of the statute cited1 and relies on two Utah cases in support thereof. In my opinion, those cases do not justify the result reached in this instant matter.
The first case cited in the opinion is that of Auerbach v. Salt Lake County2 wherein Salt Lake County bought furniture and fixtures from Auerbach’s assignor and gave a warrant in partial payment therefor. When the warrant was presented for payment, the county refused it, alleging, among other reasons, that there had been bribery on the part of one of the selectmen who authorized the purchase. The county did not offer to return the furniture but kept it and used it. This Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court in holding that it was the duty of the county to return, or offer to return, the furniture or to pay the reasonable value thereof to the holder of the warrant.
The county there claimed that even if it were liable to pay for the furniture, Auer-bach could not recover for the reason that he had not filed a claim with the County Commission as required by the statute. This Court disposed of that claim in the following language:
This point, as appears, was made for the first time in the appellate court, and therefore, can not avail the appellant, there being no statute in this state which expressly prohibits the bringing of an action on any claim before it has been so presented and acted upon. Such an objection simply goes in abatement of the action, and, to have effect, must be urged by proper plea, or in some appropriate manner in the trial court, or the objection will be regarded as waived.
The other cited case is Wall v. Salt Lake City.3 That was a case where the owner of *781land had filed a subdivision plat with the city on which a street was shown to be sixty-six feet in width. This plat was approved by the city in 1892. The plaintiff loaned money to the owners of certain lots in that plat and relied on the plat for a description of the land which secured the debt. Taxes were assessed and paid on the lots as described in the plat. Twenty-one years later, the city trespassed onto the lots which secured plaintiffs loan and began digging trenches in which to place drain pipes. It assumed that the streets were eighty-four feet wide and claimed that the acts of the commission in approving the original plat was ultra vires.
The plaintiff sued to' quiet title to the area of each lot outside the street as designated on the plat for damages and for injunctive relief. There was no question raised regarding the filing or failing to file a claim. This Court cited 3 Dillon, Municipal Corporations (5th Ed.), Section 1194, wherein it was said:
. The author cannot assent to the doctrine that, as respects public rights, municipal corporations are impliedly within ordinary limitation statutes. It is unsafe to recognize such a principle. But there is no danger in recognizing the principle of an estoppel in pais as applicable to exceptional cases, since this leaves the courts to decide the question, not by the mere lapse of time, but upon all the circumstances of the case to hold the public estopped or not, as right and justice may require.
This Court then said, “We hold that this case falls within the exceptional class of cases referred to by Judge Dillon, and that it is the duty of the Court to decide it as ‘right and justice require.’ It is our opinion that the city is estopped from claiming the premises in question as a public street.”4
As to the claim for damages in Wall, this Court held that it was not necessary to present the claim for damages to the City Council before bringing the action since the principal relief sought was equitable and the damage prayed for was only incidental.
The instant case is not equitable, nor do the plaintiffs show any peculiar set of facts that would make difficult the timely filing of a claim. They merely assert that (a) the city misapplied its ordinances and overcharged them for water and sewer rates; (b) the city discriminated against them in failing to provide normal city services; and (c) the city took personal property and damaged their adjoining property.
The main opinion does not discuss the claim of defendant that this action is for a breach of contract to furnish services. I am unable to see any contract between the appellants and the city. The city makes water available to its citizens but does not force it upon them. One who desires to be served must make it known by means of filing an application. There is no contract. If there is, then the city would be liable for a breach in case of a shortage of available water. The rates could not be increased without a breach of the agreement. If it be assumed that the contract provides for such fees as may subsequently be established, then there is no contract because of a lack of definiteness.
To me, this overcharge by the city, if it be such, is a matter of adjustment and would require the filing of a claim. No claim was timely filed in this matter and, therefore, the appellants cannot recover in this lawsuit.
It is my opinion that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.

. 10-7-77, U.C.A.1953 (1975 Supp.)

. 23 Utah 103, 63 P. 907 (1901).

. 50 Utah 593, 168 P. 766 (1917).

. Id. at 607, 168 P. at 772.