Palmer v. City of Brooklyn

Headnote

Municipal corporations—Street improvements.

Section 6, tit. 19, chap. 583 oí 1888, does not relieve the city of Brooklyn from liability, where the work is discontinued by an affirmative act of the city, and an assessment thereby prevented.

Appeal from a judgment in favor of plaintiff

The opinion at special term is as follows (Clement, C. J.):

“The plaintiff was employed as surveyor by the proper officers of the city, to make the necessary maps which were required in two proceedings for the opening of Railroad avenue and Barbey street. His compensation was rixed by the ordinances of the city. In other words, the plaintiff did not agree to do his word on a speculative or contingent fee. if the contention of the counsel for the city is correct, no competent surveyor would perform such work

for the city, for he would be compelled to take the chances of the' receipt of compensation for his services. The plaintiff performed his work and delivered his maps to the corporation counsel. Subsequently the common conucil passed resolutions which rescinded their prior action. I am of opinion that the power is in that body so to do, under the general welfare clause of the charter, and for the reason that the title of the city in the new street does not vest until the confirmation of the assessment for the improvement. Laws 1888, p. 1085, tit. 19, § 31. The original proceedings may , be defective or without jurisdiction, or it may appear that the common council made a mistake in their determination of the necessity of opening the street. Section 6 of title 19 o fthe charter in no way prevents a recovery in these actions. The latter clause of che section was originally passed in 1859 (chapter 213, § 6), and was been construed by the court of appeals in Sage v. City of Brooklyn, 89 N. Y. 189 , 201. Chief Judge Andrews there said: ‘If, however, it is construed as relating simply to the expense of regulating streets, to which it was confined in the original act from which it was taken (chapter 213, Laws 1859), or is intended only to declare the general principle that the expense of street openings shall be a local and not a general charge, it is not subject to criticism.’ Section 12 of title 19 has no application to the cases before me,or the reason that no report can ever be confirmed. That section would seem only to require that the expenses should be taxed by the supreme court, in order to protect the property owners against excessive or illegal charges for searcher’s or surveyor’s fees. The plaintiff only seeks to recover his fees as fixed by the ordinances. Judgment for plaintiff on demurrer in each case, with leave to defendant to answer on the usual terms.”