Michigan Central Railroad Co. v. Spring Creek Drainage District

Mr. Justice Wilkin delivered the opinion of the court: It is first insisted by appellants that the organization of the district will damage their property to the extent of at least $100,000, and that their damages have never been estimated by a jury, as provided in section 13 of article 2 and section 14 of article 11 of the constitution of 1870. In answer to this position appellee contends that the question of damages to appellants’ property has been conclusively determined; that the first report of the commissioners filed in the county court found that none of the lands described in the petition and none of the lands set forth as benefited by the work and not named in the petition will be injured by the proposed improvement. No objection was filed to this report and the same was approved by the court, hence it is said there are no damages to be ascertained. There are two methods provided under the Drainage act for estimating benefits and damages. One is by a jury as provided in sections 16, 17, 19, 20 and 21, and the other by commissioners, as provided in section 37. Both methods have been condemned by this court as unconstitutional and void. (Wabash Railroad Co. v. Drainage Comrs. 194 Ill. 310; Juvinall v. Jamesburg Drainage District, 204 id. 106.) The only legal method by which a property owner can be deprived of his property for public use is by having his damages assessed by a jury duly selected, empaneled and sworn and acting under the direction of a court of competent jurisdiction. In the present condition of the law such a jury and hearing can only be had under the provisions of the constitution granting that right to the property holder. It is not claimed that appellants’ damages have been so ascertained. Nor can we agree with the contention of counsel' for appellee that appellants are estopped by the first report of the commissioners from asserting their claim to damages. That report was in no sense a judicial determination of the question of damages. Section 5 of the Drainage act provides, for the hearing of the petition by the court and the appointment of the commissioners. Section 9 provides that as soon as may "be after their appointment the commissioners shall examine the land proposed to be drained and the land over or upon which the work is proposed to be constructed, and determine several facts therein enumerated, the fourth paragraph of which reads: “What lands will be injured by the proposed work, and the probable aggregate amount of all damages such "lands will sustain by reason of the laying out and construction of such work.” Section 10 provides that if the commissioners shall find, upon such investigation, that the cost, expense and damages are more than equal to the benefits, the)' shall be so reported, and the proceedings shall be dismissed at the cost of the petitioners. The report made by the commissioners, under which appellee seeks to conclude appellants as to the damages, was made under said paragraph 4 of section 9, and was merely for the purpose of informing the commissioners and the court as to whether the cost, expenses and damages were more than equal to the benefits, so that the proceedings might be dismissed if found necessary. This report is in no way conclusive as to any of the matters contained in it, but it is a mere estimate as to the probable cost, expense and damage occasioned by the proposed work. As the work progresses the items as estimated may be increased or diminished. The report of the commissioners that there would be no damage to appellants’ land could not deprive them of the right to have that question tried by a jury authorized by the constitution. To hold otherwise would be to say that an unauthorizéd body could determine the question of damages by simply reporting that .there would be no injury, etc. On the presentation of the assessment roll appellants claimed damages and offered evidence in support of that claim, but their testimony was excluded by the court and each of their objections overruled. To sustain this ruling would be to practically authorize the taking of private property for public use without just compensation, to be legally ascertained, and without due process of law. We think, in view of our former decisions, the court below erred, and its judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded, with directions to proceed in conformity with the views herein expressed. Reversed and remanded, with directions. Subsequently, upon petition for rehearing being allowed, the following additional opinion was filed: Per Curiam : A petition for a rehearing has been allowed, in which it is urged that we have misapprehended the position of appellee, and that no attempt was made to preclude appellants from their damages or to táke land except by due process of law. We have carefully re-examined the record and positions of the respective parties, and are of the opinion that the questions at issue were correctly disposed of, and that the judgment of the county court should be reversed and the cause remanded. Reversed and remanded.