Court Opinion

ID: 6407311
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 11:49:57.807631+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:51:15.258151
License: Public Domain

Morton J.
delivered the opinion of the Court. There is no doubt that the petitioner has sought the proper remedy. If this process will not lie, he can have no relief. Mandamus lies to all inferior tribunals, magistrates and officers, and extends to all cases of neglect to perform a legal duty, where there is •lo other adequate remedy. It applies to judicial as well as ministerial acts. If the duty be judicial, the mandate will be to the officers to exercise their official discretion or judgment, without any direction as to the manner in which it shall be done. If it be ministerial, then the mandamus will direct the specific act to be performed. Commonwealth v. Sessions of Hampden, 2 Pick. 414 ; Springfield v. Commissioners of Highways of Hampden, 4 Pick. 68 ; Strong, Petitioner &c. 20 Pick. 484. Were application made to county commissioners, to estimate damages caused by the laying out of a railroad, turnpike or common highway, the duty required of them would be a judicial duty. If they refused or neglected to perform it, this Court would issue a mandamus, commanding them to do it; that is, to exercise their judgment upon the matter. But when they had performed this duty, it being within their discretion, no other tribunal would have a right to interfere with, or complain of, the manner in which they had performed it.
But having estimated damages, if either party should be dissatisfied, and apply for a jury, the granting a warrant would be a ministerial duty. It is a process to which the complaining party is entitled as a right, and which does not depend on the discretion of any tribunal. If the county commissioners refused his application, this Court would issue a mandate, commanding them to grant the proper process for a jury in such case.
*260In the case at bar, the county commissioners undertook decide, that the petitioner had no such estate in the land over which the railroad passed, as would entitle him to damages. Now, whether their decision on this point was right or wrong, we think the petitioner had a right to have their judgment revised by a jury.
By the 56th section of the 39th chapter of the Revised Statutes, “ every railroad corporation shall be liable to pay all damages that shall be occasioned by laying out and making and maintaining their road ; ” “ and such damages shall be estimated by the commissioners in the manner provided in the case of laying out highways.” This, by necessary implication, gives to the commissioners authority to inquire whether any damages have been sustained by the applicant, and consequently whether he owned the property, for an injury to which damages were claimed.
By the 57th section, “ either party, if dissatisfied with any estimate made by the commissioners, may apply for a jury to assess the damages,” “ and the like proceedings shall be had thereon as are provided for the recovery of damages for laying out highways.” The respondents contend that the complainant -is entitled to a jury, only when damages are estimated; but that, where the commissioners decide against the party’s claim altogether, their decision is final and he is not entitled to a revision of it by a jury. But we think this is too narrow a construction of the statute. Trial by jury is a favorite of our laws and constitutions, and we will not suppose it to be taken away by inference. The estimate, from which the party is entitled to appeal, may fairly be construed to import, not only a valuation of damages, but also a judgment on the party’s claim for damages; and such, we have no doubt, was the intention of the legislature. Otherwise, a party might be deprived of his right to a trial by jury in a very important contro versy concerning his property. Bill of Rights, art. 15.
For the mode of applying for and obtaining a jury, we are referred to the chapter regulating the laying out of highways, &e. By the 13th section of this chapter it is provided, thal “ any party who shall be aggrieved by the doings of the commissioners,” t: may have a jury to determine the matter of his *261complaint, on application therefor by petition in writing to the commissioners.” This is imperative and leaves nothing to the discretion of the commissioners. However plain it may appear to them that the party has suffered no damage, or that he has no title to the land injured, or that his interest in it is not affected, they have no power to reject an application for a jury. The party has a right to have these questions re-examined by that constitutional tribunal, and whether he will exercise that right or not, must depend entirely on his own discretion. The powers of the jury in this case, in relation to the assessment of damages and the questions incident thereto, will be coextensive with those of the commissioners. Merrill et al. Petitioners v. The Inhabitants of Berkshire, 11 Pick. 269.
We have not examined the several points presented in the statement made by the commissioners in answer to this application ; because they do not properly come before us at this time, and because we have not the means of giving them that full investigation which they may deserve. Whether the vote of the proprietors passed the fee of the land, or only its usufruct, and if the latter, whether a partial or total use was granted, whether a perpetual servitude would not be an injury to the owner of the fee, as well as the occupant of the use, are questions raised, or at least suggested in the statement, which present intrinsic difficulties, and upon which we do not deem it proper to give any opinion.

.Alternative mandamus ordered