Opinion
July 1, 1918.
William E. Young, for the appellants.
Merton E. Lewis, Attorney-General [ Edmund H. Lewis, Deputy Attorney-General, of counsel], for the respondent.
If there is any merit in the appeals, under the circumstances they should not be dismissed for failure to file papers on appeal. The defendant claims that the decision in Butterfield v. State of New York ( 221 N.Y. 701) shows that the appeals are without merit. The appellants, while not showing that this case differs materially from that case, contend that the Butterfield decision is based solely on Buckles v. State of New York ( 221 N.Y. 418), and that chapter 420 of the Laws of 1916 was not properly brought to the attention of the Court of Appeals, and that the effect of that law is yet to be determined.
Concededly, the claim was filed in time. No notice of intention to file a claim was filed. The appellants, therefore, have no standing in court under the cases cited, unless the statute referred to aids them. That statute gives the court jurisdiction to hear and determine any claim against the State theretofore accrued, which shall be filed within one year after the act takes effect, for compensation or damages on account of the appropriation or use by the State of land, waters or other property in connection with the improvement of the canals. The statute also provides, "the filing of such claim shall also be in lieu and stead of any notice of intention to so file." The act became a law May 4, 1916, and was intended to relieve claimants from the results of a failure to file a notice of intention. The statute gives permission to file a claim within a year after the act takes effect, that is, to May 4, 1917. Concededly no new claim was filed after the act took effect but the claim had been filed before that time. It would seem an unnecessary ceremony to refile a claim already filed. The spirit of the statute should save any claim filed before May 4, 1917. The statute is remedial and if the only fault with reference to the appellants' claims is the failure to file a notice of intention, the objection seems so technical, where the claim itself is duly filed, that the statute may be given the broad and liberal interpretation we have suggested.
It is evident that the appellants' claims do not arise from the appropriation of lands. The claims are, as we understand from the meagre facts represented, that the damming of Wood creek threw the waters of the creek back upon the lands. It does not appear whether this was as a result of an unusual flood or was a condition naturally and ordinarily resulting from the damming of the creek. If the latter, perhaps it may be said that the claims are for damages on account of the use of the lands by the State. If the flood damages were the result of an unusual, unexpected freshet, which was not fairly within the contemplation of any one when the dam was constructed, perhaps it cannot be said that the flooding was a use of the lands by the State.
We do not pass upon the question whether plaintiffs' claims come within the provision of chapter 420, but deem it proper that the appeals should be heard, so that the court may determine whether or not claimants have suffered damages on account of the use of their lands or property by the State. The motion to dismiss the appeals is, therefore, denied. Papers on appeal may be perfected and filed within sixty days.
All concurred.
Motion denied.