Court Opinion

ID: 9562526
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 18:30:50.389465+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:23.410570
License: Public Domain

HERNANDEZ, Judge (dissenting). I respectfully dissent. Section 62-H N.M.S.A. 1978 grants to public utilities a right of eminent domain “as may be necessary for their purpose.” Under § 42-1-23 N.M.S.A. 1978, an inverse condemnation suit is a landowner’s exclusive remedy if the taking and/or damages to his property was for a public use. Kaiser Steel Corp. v. W. S. Ranch Co., 81 N.M. 414, 467 P.2d 986 (1970). Appellee-defendant is a public utility as defined in § 62-3-3(F) N.M.S.A. 1978 and is obligated to provide electrical service to the public as directed by the New Mexico Public Service Commission. It seems clear that the construction of an electric power line is for a public use. Kaiser, supra ; Garver v. Public Service Company of New Mexico, 77 N.M. 262, 421 P.2d 788 (1966); Zobel v. Public Service Company, 75 N.M. 22, 399 P.2d 922 (1965). A common law trespass action, therefore, does not lie and the trial court was correct in dismissing Appellant’s complaint.