Dewey v. Des Moines

Citations

• 173 U.S. 193
• 19 S. Ct. 379
• 43 L. Ed. 665
• 1899 U.S. LEXIS 1429

Syllabus

<p>A resident in and citizen of Chicago in Illinois, was the owner of certain lots in Des Moines in Iowa, which- werve assessed by the municipal authorities in that place to an amount beyond their value, for the purpose of paving the street upon which they abutted. The statutes of Iowa authorized a personal judgment against the owner in such cases. He filed a petition to have the assessment set aside; to obtain an injunction against further proceedings for the sale of the property; and to obtain a judgment that there was no personal liability against him for the excess. This petition contained no allegation attacking the validity of. the assessment by reason of any violation of the Federal Constitution, and there was nothing in the record to raise such Federal right or claim beyond the mere allegation in the petition that “ the amount of said tax is greater than the reasonable market value of said lots, whether considered singly or together; the assessment against each particular lot being greater in amount than the value of such particular lot, and the aggregate assessment being greater in amount than the reasonable market value of all of said lots taken together; and that said defendants are seeking to enforce as against plaintiff not merely a sale of said lots but also to compel plaintiff to pay the full amount of said tax regardless of whatever sum said lots may be sold for, and regardless of the actual value of the same.” The contractor for the pavement set up his right to a judgment on certificates given him for the work which had been done, which were made a lien upon the abutting lots. The trial court dismissed the petition, and gave judgment in favor of the.contract. In the Supreme Court of the State it was assigned as error that “ the court erred in holding and deciding that plaintiff was personally liable to said Des Moines' Brick Manufacturing Company for so much of said special tax or assessment as could not or would - not be realized by a sale of the s