Black v. Mayor of Baltimore

Bartol, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court. It appears from the record in this case that on the 10th day of June 1871, the Mayor and City Council of Balti — 240 — more passed an Ordinance to condemn and open Presstman Street, from Gilmor to Monroe Street, and that on the 12th day of June in the same year, the Commissioners for opening Streets gave notice, as required by section 6 of Article 43 of the City Code, (of 1869,) of their intention to meet on the 12th day of July next ensuing, and proceed to execute the Ordinance of the 10th of June. On the 17th and 18th of July, the appellants, who owned land lying between Gilmor and Monroe Streets, which would be cut by Presstman Street, and who claimed compensation for the whole of two lots of ground, a part of which was required for the bed of the street to be opened, surrendered said lots to the City, and the Street Commissioners sold the parts thereof not included in the bed of the proposed street, in parcels on the 8th day of August, under section 7, Article 43 of the City Code. Nothing further appears to have been done towards condemning and opening Presstman Street, and no further action was taken in the premises, until the 20th day of May 1875, when the Ordinance of June 10th 1871 was repealed by the Mayor and City Council, and the proposed improvement was abandoned. In May 1877 the appellants brought this suit to recover from the appellee, damages alleged to have been sustained by them, in consequence of the action of the City in the premises. The declaration alleges in the second count, that the appellee “ delayed unnecessarily, wilfully and negligently to proceed in the work of condemning and opening said street, from the time of said sale, until the 20th day of June 1875, when the said ordinance was repealed. By .means whereof the plaintiffs were greatly obstructed and prejudiced in the use and enjoyment of their property.” After the evidence had been offered, the appellants offered three prayers, which were rejected, and the appellee .one which was granted, and the judgment being for the defendant, the plaintiffs have taken this, appeal. — 241 — The prayer which was granted, instructed the jury that “ as no assessment of damages or benefits had been made by the Commissioners for Opening Streets, and it being admitted that the City had never taken actual possession of the plaintiffs’ property, they had sustained no such damages at the institution of this suit as would entitle them to a verdict.” It is well settled that a corporation may abandon any proposed improvement, and repeal the ordinance authorizing it to be made, and in such case, the land-owner cannot recover the amount of the assessment. This has been decided in numerous cases. We refer only to Norris, et al. vs. Mayor & C. C. of Baltimore, 44 Md., 604, and the cases there cited. While this is settled law, it seems to be equally well settled that where the land-owner has suffered loss by the wrongful acts, or unreasonable delay of the corporation, he may recover damages therefor in an action brought for that purpose. Graff’s Case, 10 Md., 554; McClellan vs. Graves, 19 Md., 375; Norris’s Case, 44 Md., 606, and Musgrave’s Case, 48 Md., 272. The case of Norris vs. M. & C. C. of B., is relied upon as establishing the principle, that no recovery can be had by the land-owner for damages he may have sustained, before the assessment of damages and benefits has been made. But that case announces no such principle, and no such question was there involved. The claim was for interest on damages which had been assessed, and the payment of which had been, as alleged, unreasonably delayed by the City. The Court speaks of some delays which are unavoidable, and for which no recovery can be had by the land-owner, such as are caused by assessing the damages and benefits, without which the cost of the work cannot be ascertained ; and acquiring the title to all the property required for the street, which is necessary before the opening of the — 242 — street can be properly begun, and the delay which is sometimes caused by appeals from the valuation of the Commissioners, is also referred to as unavoidable; but the language of the opinion is very carefully guarded, and does not support the proposition that a corporation, after commencing proceedings of condemnation, and notifying owners that their property will be taken, can unnecessarily delay further action for an unreasonable length of time, thereby depriving the owner of the profitable use of his property, and diminishing its rental value, and yet leave him without remedy. The delays spoken of in that case, and for which the land-owner has no remedy are those only which are “necessary,” and “unavoidable,” and “ authorized by lato.” In Norris’s Case, as we have before stated, there was neither allegation nor proof that there had been any unnecessary delay on the part of the city, until after the assessments had been completed, and the language of the Court must be construed with reference to the particular facts of the case then under consideration. We think the same principle applies, whether the wrongful acts, or unjustifiable delay on the part of the city occur before or after the assessments have been completed. 2 Dillon on Corporations, sec. 474, and notes. We can perceive no good reason why a party who has suffered actual damage by the culpable or unreasonable delay of the city authorities in prosecuting or abandoning a work of this kind, is not entitled to be indemnified for his loss, whether the delay complained of, occur before or after the assessment of damages and benefits has been completed. We are therefore of opinion, there was error in the general legal proposition asserted in the appellee’s prayer. But we think the prayers of the plaintiffs below were properly refused. They were erroneous in failing to submit to the jury the question of negligence on the part of the defendant, and the question whether, under all the — 243 — circumstances of the case, the delay on the part of the city, in repealing the ordinance was unreasonable. In passing upon the question of what is unjustifiable or unreasonable delay on the part of the corporation, it is obvious that a different rule, and different considerations apply to a case in which the assessments have'all been completed, and to one like the present, where the ordinance has remained almost entirely unexecuted. In the former case, any unreasonable delay on the part of the city would be unjustifiable, because nothing further is required to be done, to enable the city authorities to determine whether the proposed work shall be prosecuted; and nothing remains to be done, but to pay the damages assessed, or to abandon the work. Whereas in this case no such progress had been made in the execution of the ordinance, as would enable the city authorities to determine whether the public interest required them to prosecute and complete the work, or ultimately to abandon it. Nor is it possible to determine by proof how long a time might have been required to complete the assessments, if the work of condemning and opening the street had been prosecuted; and it would be alike difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain by any. definite proof, at what period, culpable or inexcusable delay on the part of the city commenced. In dealing with a corporation like the appellee, engaged in a work of public improvement, having large and important interests to consult, we cannot fail to see that delays must unavoidably occur. And we have no hesitation in laying down the rule, that where an ordinance of this kind has been passed and remains unexecuted, or but partially carried into effect, and there is no remonstrance or complaint by parties interested; or any application by them to the City Council to go on with the work, or to repeal the ordinance; but such parties remain silent, apparently acquiescing in the delay, it is not — 244 — unreasonable for the City Council to conclude that no> person is suffering loss or damage by the delay, and in such case, there being no act on the part of the property bolder to put the city in default, culpable delay or negligence cannot be imputed to the city, and no action lies. (Decided 24th January, 1879.) In this case the record does not disclose, that any action of that kind was taken by the appellants. Without this, in our opinion, the present suit cannot be maintained;, and therefore a new trial will not be ordered, except upon the application of the appellants. In case a new trial shall be had, it is proper to say with respect to the measure of damages, that the bill of' exceptions does not show in what manner the plaintiffs suffered special damage. After proving the cost of the. property in 1811, and its depreciation in value during the-period which had elapsed, before the ordinance was-repealed, the bill of exceptions states, in general terms,, “that they proved the damage to the plaintiffs by the action of the city.” The proof shows that there was a. large dwelling house on the property, but there is no evidence showing whether the same was leased to others, or occupied by the plaintiffs; if occupied by themselves, no recovery could be had on account of any depreciation in its rental value; nor, in the absence of proof that an attempted sale or lease of the property was actually prevented or defeated by the default of the city, could any recovery be had on that account. In our judgment the appellants are entitled to recover, only by showing, as before stated, some action on their part whereby the city was put in default; and then only for such special damage as they actually suffered from the default and negligence on the part of the defendant. Judgment reversed, with leave to appellants to apply for a remand of the case for a new trial.