Imperial Land Co. v. Imperial Irrigation Dist.

This is an application in mandamus to compel the board of directors of Imperial Irrigation District to call an election upon the question of a two per cent assessment upon the property in the district, made under the provisions of section 59 of the so-called “Bridgford Act,” as amended in 1911 (Stats. 1911, p. 1111). It is claimed that a petition for such election, signed by the required number of electors of the district, has been filed with the board, and that thereby an election is made mandatory, under the provisions of said section. This court is asked to hear evidence and decide as ri to the genuineness of the 681 signatures to the election petition, a question which will necessarily require much more time than we have at our disposal for such matters. The cases which must be decided by this court because no other court has jurisdiction are so numerous that we are unable to take up original proceedings of which there is concurrent jurisdiction, where it is possible to present them to some other competent court. The fact that the judge of the superior court of Imperial County is disqualified to act upon this particular assessment does not oust that court of jurisdiction. It is easily possible by calling in a judge to hold an extra session, or by securing from the governor a designation of some other judge to sit in that county for this case, to obtain a trial there by a qualified judge. The interested parties may by this means pursue in that court any remedy they may have, whether by mandamus or other form of proceeding or action.

For these reasons the application is dismissed, without prejudice to an application or action in any other court.