Fischer v. Catawissa Railroad ( 1896 )

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Sterrett,

This case came into the court below on plaintiff’s appeal from the award of viewers assessing his damages for land taken by the Catawissa Railroad Company, one of the defendants, for the purpose of constructing additional tracks and sidings.

The strip of land, for the taking of which said damages were assessed, is the same land for which the plaintiff had previously (October, 1892) brought an action of ejectment against the defendant companies above named. That case, having been put at issue, was set down for trial at the next ensuing May term of court. On the eve of trial, May 1, 1893, said Catawissa Railroad Co. presented its petition, in due form, setting forth, among other things, “that it has located and determined a route for the construction of additional tracks, and sidings, necessary for the business and traffic of said railroad company, in pursuance of its act of incorporation,” etc., to which was attached a draft of the said plaintiff's land, so to be taken, etc., and further averring, in substance, that it had tendered him a bond with sureties in $1,000, conditioned, etc., in due form, which he refused to accept, and praying that the same be approved and filed in court for the benefit of said Abraham Fischer, etc. On same day, the court noted on the record of the action of ejectment, “not to be brought forward without leave of court; ” and thereupon the bond was approved, filed and viewers were appointed as prayed for. On the coming in of the viewers’ report, Fischer appealed therefrom; and, in framing the issue, the court directed “ that the plaintiff (Fischer) shall file a statement of his claim for damages sustained by reason of the taking by the defendant of the land described in the petition, and the defendant shall enter a plea of not guilty,” all of which was accordingly done.

W e have thus recited, at considerable length, the salient facts and circumstances leading up to the issue in plaintiff’s appeal from the award of the viewers in the condemnation proceedings, for the purpose of more clearly presenting the legal status of the parties to the action of ejectment, and the subsequent proceeding by which the same land was taken under the right of eminent domain.

When the Catawissa Railroad Co.’s bond for the benefit of Abraham Fischer was approved and filed, and viewers were appointed to assess his damages for the land taken and appropriated to railroad purposes, Fischer’s title to the land was divested and his only remedy was upon the bond, in connection with the statutory remedy for assessment and collection of damages: Fries v. Railroad etc., 85 Pa. 73; Hoffman’s Appeal, 118 Pa. 512; Williamsport Railroad Co. v. P. & R. R. Co., 141 Pa. 407. As was said in Hoffman’s Appeal, supra, “ When a sufficient bond with sureties approved by the court has been given, the company acquires as clear and perfect right to the easement as if it had paid therefor in cash. The landowner’s remedy is upon the bond, in connection with the statffi tory provisions for assessment and collection of damages.” These- are, as it were, substituted for the land, and to them alone the owner must look for his constitutional compensation.

The issue in the condemnation proceedings appears to have been twice tried. On the last trial, after plaintiff had closed his case, the defendants offered to show that they had entered upon the land in question and constructed their tracks with the consent of prior owners, predecessors of the plaintiff in title, etc. The learned judge, who specially presided at the trial, excluded the offer on the ground that defendants were estopped by averments in the petition for approval of the bond and appointment of viewers, and their subsequent conduct, but he permitted them to withdraw the petition and bond, and to discontinue all proceedings upon payment of costs and filing an affidavit that the bond and petition were filed under a misapprehension of. the facts, and in ignorance of their rights in the premises. This action appears to have been taken without any hearing or proof establishing the truth of the allegations contained in the affidavit, and without affording plaintiff any opportunity of showing that they were unfounded in fact.

But, aside from the lack of proof to sustain the averments contained in defendant’s affidavit, etc., we think the learned trial judge erred in making the order complained of. It was unwarranted by any act of assembly or by any of our rulings in the class of cases to which this belongs. As shown by the cases above cited, the effect of the proceedings deliberately instituted by one of the defendants, including the approval and filing of the bond, appointment of viewers, etc., was to divest plaintiff’s right to the possession of the land taken, and remit him to his claim for compensation, under the constitution, secured by the bond, etc. Not only had a divestiture of plaintiff’s right of possession been effected, but, after the approval and filing of the bond defendants were in the actual and rightful possession of the land in question. Under all our decisions it was then too late to discontinue the proceedings: Wood v. State Hospital, 164 Pa. 159; Williamsport, etc. R. Co. v. P. & E. R. Co., 141 Pa. 407, and cases there cited. It follows from what has been said that the order complained of was erroneously made, and should therefore.be reversed and wholly set aside.

It is accordingly adjudged and decreed that the order or decree of the court below permitting the withdrawal of the petition and bond and authorizing the discontinuance of the proceedings for assessment of plaintiff’s damages, etc., be and the same is hereby reversed and set aside, and that the said proceedings be fully reinstated with a procedendo; and, it is further ordered that all the costs including the costs of this appeal be paid by tbe defendants.