{
  "id": 8621997,
  "name": "W. A. CANNON v. CITY OF WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, and NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION",
  "name_abbreviation": "Cannon v. City of Wilmington",
  "decision_date": "1955-10-12",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "711",
  "last_page": "715",
  "citations": [
    {
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      "cite": "242 N.C. 711"
    }
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  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
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    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
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      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
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    {
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      "cite": "84 S.E. 2d 660",
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    {
      "cite": "241 N.C. 140",
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      "reporter": "N.C.",
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    {
      "cite": "89 S.E. 2d 144",
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      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
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    {
      "cite": "89 S.E. 2d 290",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "opinion_index": 0
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    {
      "cite": "70 S.E. 2d 182",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "235 N.C. 364",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8624558
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        "/nc/235/0364-01"
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:51:17.837681+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "WiNBORNE and HiggiNS, JJ., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "W. A. CANNON v. CITY OF WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, and NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Bobbitt, J.\nThe State Highway and Public Works Commission is an unincorporated governmental agency of the State and not subject to suit except in the manner expressly authorized by statute. Moore v. Clark, 235 N.C. 364, 70 S.E. 2d 182, and cases cited. Hence, the demurrer of the defendant Commission, grounded on the court\u2019s lack of jurisdiction to entertain this action against it, was properly sustained.\nTrue, when private property is taken under circumstances such that no procedure provided by statute affords an applicable or adequate remedy, the owner, in the exercise of his constitutional rights, may maintain an action to obtain just compensation therefor. Sale v. Highway Com., ante, 612, 89 S.E. 2d 290; Eller v. Board of Education, ante, 584, 89 S.E. 2d 144. But this exception to the general rule has no application here.\nHere plaintiff alleges expressly, as set out above, that defendant Commission has no valid claim of right of way over plaintiff\u2019s land. Rather, plaintiff seeks to remove as a cloud on plaintiff\u2019s title defendant Commission\u2019s alleged invalid adverse claims.\nIf and when defendant Commission, in the exercise of the power of eminent domain conferred upon it by statute, G.S. 136-19 and G.S. 40-12 et seq., takes plaintiff\u2019s land or any interest therein for highway purposes, plaintiff\u2019s remedy is by special proceeding as provided in G.S. 40-12.\nPlaintiff declares that he is aggrieved because defendants have done nothing \u201cto limit, bound, and describe with particularity the boundaries of their said claims.\u201d Certainly, if defendant Commission claims a right of way over plaintiff\u2019s land, plaintiff is entitled as a matter of right to require that defendant define with particularity the location and extent of its claim; and, if it refuses or fails to do so, plaintiff can invoke the remedy of mandamus. The statutory procedure described in G.S. 40-12 for the award of just compensation to the owner of private property appropriated to public use presupposes that the owner shall know with certainty the exact limits of the appropriation made by defendant Commission.\nDefendant City of Wilmington demurred for that it appears upon the face of the complaint \u201cthat this action has been instituted to determine the taking of and the location of the highway right of way by the defendants over a portion of the area referred to in the Complaint, and that the Court has no jurisdiction of the parties with respect to the alleged cause of action and no jurisdiction of the alleged civil action as set out in the Complaint; and for that it further appears upon the face of the Complaint that the alleged cause of action is based upon trespass by the defendants, who separately and jointly are by law vested with the power of eminent domain.\u201d\nThe contention of defendant City that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain this action is without merit. The rule applicable to defendant Commission does not apply to a municipal corporation. A municipal corporation may \u201csue and be sued in its corporate name.\u201d G.S. 160-2.\nHere plaintiff alleges that defendant City claims, without legal right thereto, a right of way on and over his land, and that such claim is a cloud on his title. The demurrer admits the facts stated in these allegations. Hence, nothing else appearing, the complaint contains allegations of fact sufficient to state a cause of action within the purview of G.S. 41-10, which provides for an action to remove a cloud from title.\nSince the complaint states one cause of action against defendant City, this is sufficient ground for overruling its demurrer. Kindley v. Privette, 241 N.C. 140, 84 S.E. 2d 660, and cases cited. Hence, we do not discuss whether plaintiff has alleged facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action for damages against defendant City.\nThe motion by defendant City to dismiss the appeal under Rule 21 is denied. The appeal itself is considered an exception to the judgment and any other matters appearing upon the face of the record. The pleadings are part of the record proper. Gibson v. Ins. Co., 232 N.C. 712, 62 S.E. 2d 320.\nThe conclusions reached are: the judgment sustaining the demurrer of the defendant Commission is affirmed; and the judgment sustaining the demurrer of the defendant City is reversed. The costs on appeal are to be paid, one-half by the plaintiff and one-half by the defendant City.\nAs to demurrer of defendant State Highway and Public Works Commission: Affirmed.\nAs to demurrer of defendant City of Wilmington: Reversed.\nWiNBORNE and HiggiNS, JJ., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Bobbitt, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "W. P. Burkhimer for plaintiff, appellant.",
      "Wm. B. Campbell and Louis J. Poisson, Jr., for defendant City of Wilmington, appellee.",
      "R. Brookes Peters, General Counsel, and Louis J. Poisson, Jr., Associate Counsel, for defendant North Carolina State Highway and Pioblic Works Commission, appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "W. A. CANNON v. CITY OF WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, and NORTH CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION.\n(Filed 12 October, 1955.)\n1. State \u00a7 3\u2014\nThe State Highway and Public Works Commission is an unincorporated governmental agency of the State and not subject to suit except in the manner expressly authorized by statute.\n2. Same: Eminent Domain \u00a7 22%\u2014\nThe rule that the owner of property, in the exercise of his constitutional right, may maintain an action against the State Highway and Public Works Commission to obtain just compensation for lands taken, does not apply to an action against it to remove a cloud on plaintiff\u2019s title based upon a mere alleged invalid claim of a right of way.\n3. Eminent Domain \u00a7 22 % : Mandamus \u00a7 2a\u2014\nThe statutory procedure for the award of just compensation to the owner of private property appropriated to public use presupposes that the owner shall know with certainty the exact limits of the appropriation made by the State Highway and Public Works Commission, and therefore if the Commission claims a right of way over plaintiff\u2019s land, plaintiff may require that it define with particularity the location and extent of the claim, and if the Commission refuses, plaintiff can invoke the remedy of mandamus.\n4. Municipal Corporations \u00a7 48: Quieting Title \u00a7 1\u2014\nA municipal corporation may be sued to quiet title on the ground that it claims an alleged invalid right of way across plaintiff\u2019s land, G.S. 160-2, G.S. 41-10.\n5. Pleadings \u00a7 19c\u2014\nIf the complaint alleges facts sufficient to state one cause of action against demurring defendant, the demurrer should be overruled, and it is not necessary to decide whether the complaint is sufficient to allege also another cause of action against the defendant.\n6. Appeal and Error \u00a7 6c (2)\u2014\nThe appeal itself is an exception to the judgment and to any other matters appearing upon the face of the record.\n7. Appeal and Error \u00a7 19\u2014\nThe pleadings are part of the record proper.\nWinbokne and Higgins, JJ., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.\nAppeal by plaintiff from Sink, Emergency Judge, May Civil Term, 1955, of New Hanover.\nThe complaint, summarized, alleges: (1) that plaintiff is the owner and in possession of a described tract of land in the subdivision known as \u201cSunset Park,\u201d Wilmington, North Carolina; (2) that defendants claim an estate or interest adverse to plaintiff, to wit, a perpetual right of way or easement on and over said land for a city street and State highway, but have not made or attempted to make any use of such right of way or easement except over a described area at the southern end of said tract; (3) that \u201cthe said claim of defendants is not valid either in law or in fact because neither of the defendants has, in any manner or way, obtained any valid legal or equitable title thereto, by deed, conveyance, or any process of law, or otherwise, nor have either of the defendants in any way or manner compensated the plaintiff for the said property, estate, or interest therein which they so claim\u201d; (4) that said adverse claims constitute a cloud upon plaintiff\u2019s title and on account thereof plaintiff has been damaged in relation to his ability to use, rent or sell his land; and (5) that \u201cthe defendants have done nothing to limit, bound, and describe their said claims.\u201d\nPlaintiff prays (1) for removal of the cloud on title allegedly caused by defendants\u2019 adverse claims, (2) for recovery of damages of $70,-000.00 allegedly caused by such adverse claims, if such adverse claims are removed by judgment herein, or (3) in the event defendants\u2019 right of way claims are adjudged valid to recover $106,200.00 as compensation for the taking of plaintiff\u2019s land for such public use.\nEach defendant demurred separately to the complaint.\nUpon the hearing below, the court entered separate judgments sustaining the demurrers. Plaintiff appealed from each judgment; and upon appeal plaintiff assigns error as to each judgment.\nW. P. Burkhimer for plaintiff, appellant.\nWm. B. Campbell and Louis J. Poisson, Jr., for defendant City of Wilmington, appellee.\nR. Brookes Peters, General Counsel, and Louis J. Poisson, Jr., Associate Counsel, for defendant North Carolina State Highway and Pioblic Works Commission, appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0711-01",
  "first_page_order": 753,
  "last_page_order": 757
}