Best v. State

• Decision Date: 23 December 1940
• Docket Number: Civil 4270
• Citation: 56 Ariz. 408,108 P.2d 560
• Parties: SUSIE BEST and OTHO W. BEST, Appellants, v. THE STATE OF ARIZONA, a Body Politic, Appellee
• Court: Arizona Supreme Court

108 P.2d 560

56 Ariz. 408

SUSIE BEST and OTHO W. BEST, Appellants, v. THE STATE OF ARIZONA, a Body Politic, Appellee

Civil No. 4270

Supreme Court of Arizona

December 23, 1940

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of the County of Maricopa.Wm. G. Hall, Judge.Judgment affirmed.

Messrs Dykes & Selden, for Appellants.

Mr. Joe Conway, Attorney General, Mr. Albert M. Garcia, Assistant Attorney General, and Mr. J. R. McDougall, for Appellee.

OPINION

ROSS C.J.

The appellantSusie Best brought an action against the state to recover alleged balances due her and certain assignors for manual labor rendered the state at the State Welfare Sanatorium, and or employment by the State Board of Social Security and Welfare.It is alleged that such balances arose by reason of their being paid a scale of wages lower than that fixed by the State Highway Commission for like services.The allegations as to the presentation by plaintiffSusie Best and her assignors of claims for allowance are contained in paragraph three of the complaint and read:

"That on the 15th day of February, 1938, the plaintiffSusie Best exhibited her written, itemized, verified claim, together with the evidence in support thereof to the head of the State Board of Social Security and Welfare and to the State Auditor and the same was refused by both of said persons."

The state's answer was a general demurrer and a denial of any indebtedness.The demurrer was overruled and, after a trial judgment was given the defendant.The plaintiffs have appealed.

Otho W. Best is made a partyplaintiff but is not otherwise interested than as husband of the plaintiffSusie Best.

The first question for consideration is the court's jurisdiction.The attorney general contends that, under the law, one having a claim against the state must present it in proper form (1) to the head of the department, agency or office in which it was incurred and have it approved, and (2) to the state auditor, who, if he approves it, shall draw his warrant on the state treasurer therefor; (3) if the auditor refuses to approve it, he shall state his reasons to the originating office when a new claim complying with the auditor's objections shall be made out and presented to him, approved by the department, agency or office in which it was incurred; (4) if the auditor, as he may, still rejects the claim, he must report the fact of such rejection to the governor of the...