CITY OF CLEARWATER, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, PETITIONER,
v.
JANET LAND CORPORATION, RESPONDENT
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In an eminent domain proceeding, the City of Clearwater sought certiorari review of a trial court order that set aside its Order of Quick Taking on jurisdictional grounds. The District Court of Appeal held that the trial court lacked authority to vacate the order and that the procedural requirements challenged were matters of correctness, not jurisdiction.
The court held that the trial court had jurisdiction over the parties, property, and subject matter; that the requirements challenged were matters of correctness of the order, not jurisdictional; and that the attachment of copies of the resolution and ordinance to the complaint and the allegation that a survey was filed with the Clerk were sufficient to invoke jurisdiction, even if these prerequisites should be established before final judgment.
[1] A trial court has subject matter jurisdiction in an eminent domain proceeding when the complaint sufficiently describes lands within the court's territorial jurisdiction…
[2] Failure to prove the resolution of necessity, ordinance authorizing condemnation, or survey prior to an order of quick taking does not divest the court of jurisdiction, b…
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“it is the matters set forth in the complaint together with the nature of the relief sought which determine subject matter jurisdiction”
Establishes the standard for determining subject matter jurisdiction in eminent domain cases
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe City of Clearwater filed an amended complaint on January 15, 1975, to condemn specific lands, alleging it had prepared a survey and filed it with …
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McNULTY, Chief Judge.
In this eminent domain proceeding, the City of Clearwater brought this petition for certiorari to review an order setting aside its previously entered Order of Taking. We hold that the trial court departed from the essential requirements of law to the irrevocable substantial injury to the City and grant certiorari.
The record shows that on January 15, 1975, the City filed its amended complaint against respondent to condemn certain specifically described lands. The City alleged that it had prepared a survey and filed it in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Additionally, a copy of its resolution of necessity and the ordinance authorizing condemnation were attached as exhibits. The City then filed an amended declaration of taking and a motion for an order of quick taking on February 5, 1975. Respondent filed a motion to dismiss but never filed an answer to the amended complaint.
A hearing was held and an order of quick taking was entered on September 5, 1975 entitling petitioner to possession of the property. There was no appeal by respondent from this order. Thereafter, on April 2, 1976, respondent filed a motion to set aside the order of taking contending that the court lacked jurisdiction to enter it.
Respondent argued that the City’s failure to offer in evidence or otherwise prove the resolution of necessity, the ordinance authorizing condemnation and the survey of the property deprived the court of jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties. The court granted the motion and set aside the Order of Taking on the grounds that the court did indeed lack jurisdiction for those reasons. The order also revested title to the property in respondent and directed petitioner to remove all of its equipment from the land. We quash this order. There is no question of lack or insufficiency of process, so the court had jurisdiction over the parties.
With respect to jurisdiction over the subject matter, it is the matters set forth in the complaint together with the nature of the relief sought which determine subject matter jurisdiction. This being an eminent domain proceeding in which sufficiently described lands, undeniably within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court, were to be condemned, there can be no doubt but that the trial court had jurisdiction over the subject matter. Now with respect to whether an accurate survey and a proper resolution of necessity and ordinance authorizing the condemnation must be introduced in evidence or otherwise proved prior to an order of quick taking, this matter only goes to the correctness vel non of the order of quick taking, not to jurisdiction over the parties, the property or of the subject matter. For pleading purposes invoking the jurisdiction of the court, it is necessary only that copies of the resolution and ordinance be attached to the complaint1 and that an allegation be made that a prepared survey had been filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.2 This was done in this case.
True it is that perhaps these specific prerequisites should have to be established or proved prior to an order of taking and certainly before a final judgment,3 but the entry of an order of taking prior to their having been proved is not void for lack of jurisdiction, although it may be reversible on proper review if they were put in issue prior thereto. No timely review having been sought, however, the order should stand.
In view whereof, the order quashing the prior order of quick taking,should be, and it is hereby, quashed and set aside; and the cause is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent herewith.
HOBSON and BOARDMAN, JJ., concur. . See Tosohatchee Game Preserve, Incorporated v. Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District, 265 So. 2d 681 (Fla.1972).
. See Sec. 73.021(5), Fla.Stat. (1975).
. See Ball v. City of Tallahassee, 281 So. 2d 333 (Fla. 1973).
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Citator
Cited By
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Seven Hills, Inc. v. Bentley, 848 So. 2d 345 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003)…tional Bank of Miami v. United States, 506 U.S. 80, 88, 113 S.Ct. 554, 121 L.Ed.2d 474 (1992)(holding that a change in circumstances does not divest the court from subject matter jurisdiction in an in rem proceeding); Clearwater v. Janet Land Corp., 343 So. 2d 853, 854 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976)(stating that with “respect to jurisdiction over the subject matter, it is the matters set forth in the complaint together with the nature of relief sought which determine subject matter jurisdiction”). The gravamen of plaint…
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Fla. Power & Light Co. v. The Canal Auth. OF the State OF Fla., 423 So. 2d 421 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982)…condemnation suit on the basis that the statute giving the State Road Department authority to condemn was unconstitutional was not a jurisdictional defect but simply a question of law; therefore writ denied); City of Clearwater v. Janet Land Corp., 343 So. 2d 853 (Fla. 2d DCA 1977) (where resolution was attached to petition, court had jurisdiction and failure of condemning authority to offer resolution into evidence did not make the final judgment subject to collateral attack).…
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T.B. Walker, Jr. v. Fla. GAS Transmission Co., 491 So. 2d 1286 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986)…was sufficiently described and such land is within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court, there can be no doubt the trial court correctly ruled that it had jurisdiction over the subject matter. City of Clearwater v. Janet Land Corporation, 343 So. 2d 853 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976). Accordingly, we affirm. WIGGINTON and NIMMONS, JJ., concur.…
Previewing 3 of 4 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Tosohatchee Game Preserve v. Cent. & S. Fla. Flood Control Dist., 265 So. 2d 681 (Fla. 1972)
- Ball v. City OF Tallahassee, 281 So. 2d 333 (Fla. 1973)