MALLARD, Chief Judge.
This case was first argued in this court on 24 April 1968. Thereafter on 23 May 1968 and pursuant to the provisions of Rule 31 of the Rules of Practice in this court, it was ordered by the court that the case be set for reargument during the week of 2 September 1968. It was reargued as ordered upon the following questions:
Eminent domain is the power of the State or some agency authorized by it to take or damage private property for a public purpose upon payment of just compensation. 3 Strong, N.C. Index 2d, Eminent Domain, § 1. The General Assembly prescribes the manner in which the power of eminent domain may be exercised. Virginia Electric Power Co. v. King, 259 N.C. 219, 130 S.E.2d 318.
An agency of the State established by act of the General Assembly is not empowered to exercise the State's inherent right of eminent domain unless such power is expressly granted by the General Assembly. 26 Am.Jur.2d, Eminent Domain, § 5; Hedrick v. Graham, 245 N.C. 249, 96 S.E.2d 129. When the power is expressly granted, the authority is limited to the express terms or clear implication of the act or acts in which the grant of the power of eminent domain is contained. 26 Am.Jur. 2d, Eminent Domain, § 18.
This court said in an opinion by Brock, J.:
G.S. § 40-12 requires the petition in the special proceeding under Chapter 40 to state that the condemnor has not been able to acquire title and the reason of such inability. G.S. § 40-11 provides that before the right of eminent domain accrues to the condemnor thereunder, there must exist an inability to agree for the purchase price. This has been held to be a preliminary jurisdictional fact in eminent domain proceedings under Chapter 40 of the General Statutes. Red Springs City Board of Education v. McMillan, 250 N.C. 485, 108 S.E.2d 895; Winston-Salem v. Ashby, 194 N.C. 388, 139 S.E. 764.
The State Highway Commission is an agency of the State of North Carolina duly created and established by act of the General Assembly. G.S. § 136-1.
In the act establishing the State Highway Commission, as amended from time to time, the General Assembly has expressly granted to it, under prescribed conditions, the power of eminent domain and has set forth the procedure to be followed in the exercise of such power. This procedure must be followed, and the conditions prescribed therein must be met before the State Highway Commission has the right to exercise the power of eminent domain. G.S. § 136-19; G.S. § 136-103.
Prior to 1 July 1960, the State Highway Commission was authorized to institute eminent domain proceedings pursuant to the authority granted by the former provisions of G.S. § 136-19. The procedure to be followed was that prescribed in G.S. § 40-11 et seq.
By Chapter 1025, Session Laws of 1959, G.S. § 136-19 was amended and a new article, designated Article 9, was added to Chapter 136, effective 1 July 1960. The case under consideration was instituted by issuance of a summons thereunder on 21 September 1967.
Thus, by this amendment the General Assembly has changed the "ways, means, methods and procedure" to be used by the State Highway Commission in the exercise of its power of eminent domain from that contained in Chapter 40 of the General Statutes to that contained in Article 9 of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes. However, according to the foregoing amendment to G.S. § 136-19, before the power of eminent domain is vested in the State Highway Commission, there is a requirement that the Commission and the owner be unable to agree as to the price of the property to be taken.
Article 9 of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes consists of G.S. § 136-103 through G.S. § 136-121. G.S. § 136-103 sets out the exclusive procedure for the institution of the action. It provides that "in case condemnation shall become necessary the State Highway Commission shall institute a civil action" by the filing of "a complaint and a declaration of taking." It is then required, among other things, that the declaration shall contain or have attached to it the following:
It is also provided that the complaint shall contain or have attached thereto the following:
When the complaint and the declaration are filed, it is required by this statute that
The "Declaration of Taking" filed herein is in substantial compliance with the provisions of G.S. § 136-19.
The complaint reads as follows:
Neither in the complaint nor in the declaration filed herein is there a specific allegation that the Commission and the owners are unable to agree as to the price of the lands sought to be condemned. This failure under the provisions of G.S. § 40-12 has been held to be a jurisdictional defect. Board of Education v. McMillan, supra; Winston-Salem v. Ashby, supra. However, no case has come to our attention in which this jurisdictional question was raised or decided in a condemnation case involving the State Highway Commission.
The complaint in the case under consideration complies with G.S. § 136-103 in that the allegations required by this section are set out. However, we are also concerned here with the question of whether it is necessary in order for the court to obtain jurisdiction to allege that the Commission and the owners are unable to agree. We are of the opinion and so decide that under G.S. § 136-103, it is not required for jurisdictional purposes that such be alleged because the statute specifically prescribes what shall be alleged. G.S. § 136-19 is a condition precedent to the State Highway Commission's right of eminent domain, but the General Assembly, by the express provisions of G.S. § 136-103, has
Under G.S. § 1-122, in a civil action the complaint must contain, among other things, "a plain and concise statement of the facts constituting a cause of action." If not, it is well settled that it is demurrable. Gillespie v. Goodyear Service Stores, 258 N.C. 487, 128 S.E.2d 762. However, the General Assembly, as it has the power to do (26 Am.Jur.2d, Eminent Domain, § 5) in Section 3 of Chapter 1025 of the 1959 Session Laws, in effect made inapplicable the provisions of G.S. § 1-122 insofar as it relates to complaints filed in eminent domain cases by the State Highway Commission arising after 1 July 1960, the effective date thereof. This is the distinguishing difference between cases brought under the provisions of Chapter 40 and by the State Highway Commission under Article 9 of Chapter 136 (G.S. § 136-103 et seq.).
The case of State Ports Authority v. Felt Corp., 1 N.C. App. 231, 161 S.E.2d 47, is distinguishable from the case under consideration. This court was there construing Article 9 of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes in connection with G.S. § 143-218.1. G.S. § 143-218.1 provides that all transactions relating to the acquisition of real property by the State Ports Authority "shall be subject to prior review by the Governor and Council of State, and shall become effective only after the same has been approved by the Governor and Council of State." Judge Parker, speaking for the court, said, "Since plaintiff was powerless to act without such prior review and approval, the fact of such prior review and approval must be alleged and proved." In this case brought by the State Ports Authority, the plaintiff alleged that it had the power of eminent domain under the provisions of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes. The defendant demurred for the reason that the complaint failed to allege facts sufficient to state a cause of action inasmuch as, among other things, it failed to allege the prior approval of the acquisition by the Governor and Council of State of North Carolina. The Superior Court sustained the demurrer on this ground but did not dismiss it, and this court affirmed the action of the Superior Court.
Where it is determined on appeal that a demurrer to a petition in condemnation proceedings should have been sustained, the petitioner may apply for leave to amend the petition under the provisions of G.S. § 1-131. Gastonia v. Glenn, 218 N.C. 510, 11 S.E.2d 459.
We are of the opinion and so decide that the complaint in the case under consideration alleges a defective statement of a good cause of action but because of the admissions in the answer, it cannot be attacked by the defendants herein, or anyone else.
In the case now under consideration, the defendants filed an answer admitting all of the allegations in the complaint except so much of paragraph five thereof "as alleges that the area appropriated by the Commission is described in Exhibit `B', asserting further in the answer to paragraph five:
Thereafter, in an amended answer the defendants amended this paragraph five, in
Thus, the defendants in this case, having admitted the power of, the fact of, and the necessity of the exercise by the State Highway Commission of the power of eminent domain, cannot be heard now to deny the same in this case. It is also shown, by an addendum to this record, that the defendants have heretofore petitioned the court for payment of and have received the sum paid into court by the State Highway Commission as its estimate of just compensation. In the case of City of Durham v. Bates, 273 N.C. 336, 160 S.E.2d 60, which was a proceeding brought by the City of Durham under the provisions of Article 9 of Chapter 136 of the General Statutes, Justice Branch said, "Upon accepting the benefits under the statute, defendants are precluded from attacking the statue, the jurisdiction of the court to enter the order putting plaintiff in possession of the property, or the failure of the plaintiff to strictly comply with the provisions of the statute which defendants attack."
Defendant appellants in their brief assert that there are seven questions presented on this appeal.
The first question is: Did the trial court err in refusing to permit the witness M. H. Matthis to testify concerning and use defendant's exhibit #3 to illustrate to the jury the effect the construction of the highway would have upon the planned development of the property of defendants? The answer to this question is "no". The defendants have based this question of the assumption that there was an existing subdivision. Defendants raise this question upon assignments of error one and two, which are based upon twelve exceptions. On page nineteen of the record defendants' exhibit #3 was "offered and received into evidence for purposes of illustration." Defendants' exceptions one and two as brought forward in their brief do not refer to defendants' exhibit #3 as they contend but to the offering into evidence of defendants' exhibit #5. The witness testified that exhibit #5 was the same map as defendants' exhibit #3 with the exception that different areas thereon were indicated by various colors. Even if the defendants in their brief meant to refer to defendants' exhibit #5, the exclusion thereof was not prejudical error. The other exceptions brought forward in defendants' brief relating to these assignments of error numbered one and two are to the sustaining by the judge of objections to questions concerning the taking or damage to projected or potential building lots in a proposed subdivision of the 17.77-acre tract of land owned by defendants. They are all overruled. All except three of these exceptions were taken to objections made to questions asked by defendants out of the presence of the jury.
The evidence tended to show that the defendants had made maps of the 17.77-acre tract through which the highway was placed. These maps had not been recorded. The 17.77-acre tract was shown on the maps as Section Five and Section Six, Montclair Subdivision. No lots shown on these maps had been sold. No stakes had been put in the ground. The property had not been actually subdivided on the ground. This 17.77-acre tract was a part of an original 30.5-acre tract, part of which had theretofore been subdivided and sold by the defendants. The only tangible improvements located on this 17.77-acre tract were some dirt hauled thereon, a sewer line extending through it to serve an earlier development of the defendants, and some undedicated rough roads or streets which had been cut therein.
Defendants in their answer deny the existence of any streets within the boundaries of the highway right-of-way.
Defendants make contradictory contentions. On the one hand, they assert that the streets shown on the proposed subdivision of the 17.77-acre tract are owned by them, and they contend that they are entitled to compensation for the area included in Fleming Street which they contend was
We are of the opinion and so decide that inasmuch as the defendants had not dedicated any streets in the proposed subdivision, had not sold any lots therein, and had not caused the proposed maps thereof to be recorded, this is at most a proposed subdivision and not one which affects the unity of the land. It is a subdivision on paper and in the minds of the defendants. It can be changed or done away with by the simple act of destroying the paper map. Barnes v. Highway Commission, 250 N.C. 378, 109 S.E.2d 219; see also 6 A.L.R.2d 1197.
The second and fourth questions raised by the defendants relate to the trial court's refusal to admit evidence of the witnesses M. H. Matthis and Roger Mann concerning the cost of completing the development and extent of other efforts made to develop and sell a portion of the 17.77-acre tract. The assignments of error cited and the exceptions relied on relate to evidence tending to establish the cost of "completing the development" of defendants' property and tending to establish that the defendants had given an option to Harold L. Jackson on all of the lots in the proposed subdivision, as shown on defendants' exhibit #1 in Section Five.
This option was dated 1 August 1962 and described the property as follows: "Being Lots Nos. 1 through 22 upon a plat entitled Section Five, Montclair Subdivision, prepared by L. M. Phelps, R.S., in February 1962, and to be recorded in the Wilson County Registry." (Emphasis added.) The option then provides for a specified price for each of the lots. To have admitted it in evidence would have been error. This "option" was dated and, in fact, the defendant Matthis testified that the defendants purchased the land, after the defendants were aware that there was to be a highway through the area. In fact, the defendant Matthis testified that they purchased the land after they knew of the planned highway through there. The record does not show that this option was recorded. The map was not recorded. None of the lots shown on the map were sold.
In response to a question as to whether Harold Jackson exercised his option, Mr. Matthis would have answered:
From this answer, it appears that perhaps Mr. Matthis was solicitous for Mr. Jackson's welfare in his concern that Mr. Jackson knew what he was doing in his effort to purchase two of the lots shown only on an unrecorded map. Upon being asked why he had never recorded the map of Section Five of Montclair Subdivision, which is defendants' exhibit #1, Mr. Matthis would have further replied:
It is readily apparent from the above that there was no existing subdivision but only plans for one. It is also apparent that the defendants were keeping control over their property as a single unit in order to collect damages from the Highway Commission for the condemnation of the right-of-way.
The validity of the option is not properly before us. We do not pass upon the question of whether the option, which refers only to numbered lots on an unrecorded map, contains a sufficient description of the lots referred to. We are of the opinion and so decide that the trial court
The third question set out in defendants' brief as arising on their assignments of error eleven and twelve is: "Did the trial court err in refusing to permit the witness Carlos Williams to testify as to his opinion of the value of the subject property before the taking?"
The witness Carlos Williams testified that he lives in Fayetteville, that he is in the real estate sales and appraisal business and has been for seventeen years, and that the first time he ever went upon the property in question was about 23 November 1966. At that time the highway was there and had already been paved. That "Dr. Matthis told me the changes that had been made in the property by virtue of the highway taking the property. He gave me a picture of the way it was before the highway did any work in there. He told me that it was a continuous grade just like the existing subdivision that this property joined. The picture in my mind that I assumed when I was told is that it would have been just a continuous grade similar to the subdivision that's now existing there adjacent to it." (Emphasis added.) * * * "I also made an investigation as to land sales of similar property in the area, and visited the area in which such sales were made." This witness was permitted to give his opinion as to the highest and best use of the property and also that it was suitable for residential use but the court sustained the objection to the following question propounded to the witness: "Mr. Williams, do you have an opinion satisfactory to yourself as to the fair market value of the property in litigation before the taking of the highway right-of-way in September, 1963, and before the highway was constructed?"
The witness, if permitted to answer, would have said, "$112,800.00," which would not have been responsive to the question. We do not know from this record, but we will assume that he would have answered it "yes," if his answer had been responsive to the question.
We are of the opinion and so decide that under the cricumstances here, the trial judge did not commit error in excluding the testimony of the witness Williams as to the value of the land before the taking. The witness lived in Fayetteville; the property was in Wilson. The date of the taking was more than three years prior to the time the witness first saw the land.
There were two hypothetical questions asked the witness Carlos Williams, the answers to which were excluded by the judge, and to each an exception was taken. The witness was not tendered as an expert, either then or later. The witness had not been found to be an expert when these two questions were asked. The judge, after all the evidence was in, apparently on his own motion, as appears in the record just before the charge of the court, found "that Mr. Carlos Williams is an expert real estate appraiser." After this finding, no question was asked the witness.
Defendants contend in their brief that the witness was an expert witness and should have been permitted to answer these hypothetical questions but defendants had not tendered him as such, and the court had not so found. In Stansbury, N.C. Evidence 2d, § 133, the principle of law applicable is succinctly stated as follows: "On objection being made, the party offering a witness as an expert should request a finding of his qualification; if there is no such request, and no finding or admission that the witness is qualified, the exclusion of his testimony will not be reviewed on appeal." In the case of LaVecchia v. Land Bank, 218 N.C. 35, 9 S.E.2d 489, the Supreme Court held that "(t)he competency of a witness to testify as an expert is a question primarily addressed to the sound discretion of the court, and his discretion is ordinarily conclusive." In the case now under consideration, there is no abuse of discretion asserted, and none has been shown. See also State v. Moore, 245 N.C. 158, 95 S.E.2d 548; Hardy v. Dahl, 210 N.C. 530, 187 S.E. 788; and Pridgen v. Gibson, 194 N.C. 289, 139 S.E. 443, 54 A.L.R. 855.
Defendants' fifth and sixth questions relate to the charge of the court. The defendants' assignments of error to the charge of the court as to the measure of damages and the requirements of G.S. § 1-180 are without merit. The charge of the court correctly and accurately stated and applied the law arising on the evidence given in the case.
Defendants' seventh question is: "Did the court err in refusing to set aside the verdict on the grounds that it was a quotient verdict?"
A quotient verdict is one that is "rendered in a civil action in pursuance of an agreement by the jurors to accept one-twelfth of the aggregate amount of their several estimates of the measure of damages, without the assent of their judgment to such a sum as their verdict." 53 Am. Jur., Trial, § 1030, p. 710.
It is well settled that a quotient verdict by jurors is invalid and not permitted. Daniel v. Belhaven, 189 N.C. 181, 126 S.E. 421; 8 A.L.R.3d, Quotient Verdict, § 2, p. 340. It is equally well settled that in order to impeach the verdict of a jury, the evidence must come from sources other than the jurors themselves. Johnson v. Allen, 100 N.C. 131, 5 S.E. 666;
The defendants moved for a new trial on the grounds that the verdict returned by the jury was a quotient verdict. The following occurred relative to this motion:
Each of the three cases cited by the defendants is distinguishable from the case under consideration. In Wannamaker v. Traywick, 136 S.C. 21, 134 S.E. 234, the facts are almost on all fours with the case under consideration. In this South Carolina case, within ten minutes after the verdict was rendered, several persons walked into the room where the jury had been deliberating, and there found a sheet of paper on top of the desk in that room. This sheet of paper contained twelve items of figures, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000, placed in column form. Beneath this column of figures were the figures 21,000, the total of the figures in the column; this last sum had been divided by twelve, giving as the result the quotient of 1,750. The verdict was $1,750. A witness testified that the figures on this sheet of paper were in the handwriting of one of the jurors, a Mr. Ulmer. The South Carolina Supreme Court in that case held that the party moving for a new trial had the burden of establishing that a quotient verdict was rendered, and said:
"Although there is some authority in support of the position that evidence of papers and figures establishing the jurors' use of the quotient process is sufficient, in itself, to raise the presumption that the quotient process has been improperly used in connection with an antecedent agreement to be bound by it, and that an invalid quotient verdict has therefore been rendered, the clearly prevailing view appears to be to the contrary and to reject such a presumption." (Emphasis added.) Annot. 8 A.L.R.3d 335, 367 (1966).
In the case of Collins v. Highway Commission, 240 N.C. 627, 83 S.E.2d 552, it is said:
Applying these principles of law to the case under consideration, we conclude that the trial judge did not commit error in refusing to set aside the verdict on the grounds that it was a quotient verdict.
We have carefully examined all of the assignments of error and the exceptions brought forward in defendants' brief and are of the opinion that the defendants have had a fair trial, free from prejudicial error.
No error.
BROCK and PARKER, JJ., concur.
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