{
  "id": 8595005,
  "name": "SPUR DISTRIBUTING COMPANY v. CITY OF BURLINGTON et al.",
  "name_abbreviation": "Spur Distributing Co. v. City of Burlington",
  "decision_date": "1939-06-16",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "32",
  "last_page": "33",
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      "cite": "216 N.C. 32"
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    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
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    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:26:30.134660+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "SPUR DISTRIBUTING COMPANY v. CITY OF BURLINGTON et al."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Stacy, C. J.\nThe question for decision is whether mandamus will lie to require the issuance of a building permit in violation of an ordinance. The answer is \u201cNo.\u201d Braddy v. Winston-Salem, 201 N. C., 301, 159 S. E., 310; Refining Co. v. McKernan, 179 N. C., 314, 102 S. E., 505.\nIn the instant case, it is enough to say the writ should have been denied, or limited to a lawful permit, for want of a clear showing of right on the part of the applicant to demand it. Hayes v. Benton, 193 N. C., 379, 137 S. E., 169. Mandamus lies only to enforce a clear legal right. Cody v. Barrett, 200 N. C., 43, 156 S. E., 146.\nThe admission by applicant that \u201cits proposed method of unloading gas . . . will be in direct violation of the city ordinance\u201d defeats its right to the peremptory mandamus which it here seeks, albeit its right to a permit to construct and operate a lawful filling station is neither denied nor resisted by the respondents. Mandamus lies only to compel a party to do that which it is his duty to do without it. It confers no new authority. The party seeking the writ must have a clear legal right to demand it, and the party to be coerced must be under a legal obligation to perform the act sought to be enforced. Person v. Doughton, 186 N. C., 723, 120 S. E., 481; Missouri v. Murphy, 170 U. S., 78.\nThe power to enact regulatory ordinances for the safety and protection of the public is not to be forestalled or foreclosed by specific writs of mandamus. Wake Forest v. Medlin, 199 N. C., 83, 154 S. E., 29.\nError and remanded.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Stacy, C. J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Tompkins & Tompkins and Long, Long <& Barrett for plaintiff, ap-pellee.",
      "Cooper & Sanders and W. Clary Holt for defendants, appellants."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "SPUR DISTRIBUTING COMPANY v. CITY OF BURLINGTON et al.\n(Filed 16 June, 1939.)\nMunicipal Corporations \u00a7 40: Mandamus \u00a7 1 \u2014 Mandamus will not lie to compel issuance of building permit in violation of municipal ordinance.\nMandamus confers no new authority, but lies only at the instance of a party having a clear legal right to demand it, against a person under clear legal obligation to perform the act sought to be enforced, and therefore mandamus should be denied upon application of a party seeking issuance of a building permit for a filling station which it admits will be in direct violation of an ordinance of defendant municipality.\nAppeal by respondents from Sinclair, Emergency Judge, at January Term, 1939, of Alamanoe.\nApplication for writ of mandamus to require the respondents to issue to applicant building permit for construction and operation of filling station with underground supply tank of 15,000-gallon capacity on lot of land leased by applicant in city of Burlington.\nIn its complaint the applicant alleges: \u201cThat plaintiff proposes to erect a modern filling station in a proper manner, complying with the building regulations and ordinances of the city of Burlington and the laws of the State of North Carolina.\u201d\nPending the action, the board of aldermen of the defendant city passed an ordinance making it unlawful to transport into or through the fire limits of the city of Burlington by motor vehicle, motor truck or motor truck and trailer or to unload or deliver within said limits from any railroad tank car or other type or kind of vehicle, gasoline, naptha, etc., or other inflammable or explosive oil derivatives in quantities of more than 1,200 gallons.\n\u201cPlaintiff admits that its proposed method of unloading gas to be dispensed at its filling station will be in direct violation of the aforementioned ordinance.\u201d It contends, however, that the ordinance is void for arbitrariness.\nThe trial court held the ordinance to be void in accordance with applicant\u2019s contention, and ordered respondents to issue to applicant permit for construction and operation of filling station \u201caccording to the plans proposed and submitted to the city authorities of the city of Burlington.\u201d\nFrom this order the defendants appeal, assigning error.\nTompkins & Tompkins and Long, Long <& Barrett for plaintiff, ap-pellee.\nCooper & Sanders and W. Clary Holt for defendants, appellants."
  },
  "file_name": "0032-01",
  "first_page_order": 98,
  "last_page_order": 99
}