Kieckenapp v. Supervisors

CANTY, J. Kieckenapp was the occupant and owner of land through which the town supervisors laid out a highway. He appealed to the district court from the order laying out the same, on the following grounds, and for the following purpose, as stated in the notice of appeal: “That said order, determination, and award are and each of them is void; that said highway is unnecessary; that the damages occasioned thereby to appellant are two hundred dollars; that the amount of damages awarded appellant was but twenty-five dollars. And you are hereby notified that said appeal is brought both in relation to said damages and to reverse entirely the said order, determination, and award, and each and every of them.” On a trial before the court and a jury the order appealed from was, by the verdict of the jury, in all respects affirmed, and from an order denying a new trial he appeals to this court. 1. When the petition for laying out the highway was presented, and when the highway was laid out and the damages assessed by the three supervisors, Deike, who was one of them, owned another parcel of land over which the highway was laid out, and he was awarded damages for the land taken from him. It is contended by appellant that Deike could not be judge in his own cause; that, therefore, the proceedings were absolutely void, and that for this reason the order appealed from should be reversed. A majority of the board of supervisors were disinterested. Under these circumstances we are of the opinion that the order made by them was only voidable', not absolutely void. See State, Winans, Pros., v. Crane, 36 N. J. Law, 394, and Foot v. Stiles, 57 N. Y. 399, which go further. On appeal the objector had a trial de novo of the whole proceeding before an impartial tribunal, and cannot now complain of the vice in the first trial. 2. Appellant was not named in the petition for the laying out of the road, and was not served with written notice of the meeting of the supervisors, to consider the petition. But “he was verbally notified of the time and place of said meeting, and attended the same.” The failure to name him in the petition, and to notify him of the time and place of hearing, was jurisdictional, and if it had not been [549] waived by him the proceedings would have been void. Town of Lyle v. Chicago, M. & St. P. R. Co., 55 Minn. 223, 56 N. W. 820. But it sufficiently appears that he appeared, took part in the proceedings, and was awarded as damages the sum of $25. We are of the opinion that by so appearing and taking part he waived the omission in the petition and the failure to give him written notice. This disposes of the case, and the order appealed from is affirmed.