Court Opinion

ID: 6989550
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 03:22:27.090484+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:54.769435
License: Public Domain

Pillsbury, J. In our opinion the demurrer should have been sustained to the plea. It abounds in conclusions of the pleader, and no such facts are averred as would enable the court to determine whethero such conclusions are properly drawn from the existing facts. The defendants admit the entry into the premises of the plaintiff, and doing the acts complained of, and seek to justify under one of them, Lawrence, who, they say, “ was lawfully appointed a drainage eommissioner,” but when and where and by what authority docs not appear, neither does it appear that he ever qualified after his appointment. It is not shown under what act of the legislature the corporation was organized, or he claims his authority to act. The averments of the plea in this respect would be as equally true if he was one of the three commissioners appointed by the county court as though he was sole commissioner appointed by a justice óf the peace; yet if the former, it would not be competent for him alone to enter into the contract alleged in the plea. Again it is statedin the plea, more by way of recital than by averment of fact, that eight and one half acres of land had been taken and appropriated for the construction of the drain, but by whom it was taken and appropriated, or under what right and authority, does not appear. The plea is silent as to any proceeding being had to condemn the land in any court, or the nature or character of such proceedings. Such facts should be stated as to show to the court, upon the face of the plea, that the plaintiff’s land had been legally taken and appropriated under the statute for drainage purposes. Chitty says, 1 Chitty Pl. page 534, that “In trespass, where the defendant justifies under a writ, warrant, precept or any other authority, he must set it forth particularly in his plea, and it is not sufficient to allege generally that he committed the act complained of by virtue of a certain writor warrant directed to him, but he must set it forth specifically, and the defendant ought further to aver in his plea that he has substantially pursued such authority. ” And our court has held that a party pleading for his defense the order or process of a court of limited and not general jurisdiction, must state such facts as will show that theeourt has jurisdiction of the subject-matter and of the person of the party (Von Kettler v. Johnson, 57 Ill. 114), and this rule we think should be applied in cases like the present, where the defendants seek to justify their acts in entering upon and taking possession of a portion of the premises of a party against his consent, by virtue of proceedings claimed to be had under the drainage laws of this State. Ho such proceedings are set forth in the plea as will enable us to determine whether the lauds of the plaintiff have been legally condemned for the purposes claimed, and we will not therefore attempt to adjudge that point until the facts are properly presented. The judgment of the court below will be reversed and the cause remanded with directions to sustain the demurrer to the plea and for further proceedings. Judgment reversed.