Goodhope v. State, 6365

• Decision Date: 31 December 1926
• Docket Number: 6365
• Citation: 50 S.D. 643,211 N.W. 451
• Parties: MAUD GOODHOPE, Plaintiff, v. STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA et al, Defendants.
• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court

50 S.D. 643

211 N.W. 451

MAUD GOODHOPE, Plaintiff,

v.

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA et al, Defendants. South Dakota Supreme Court Original Proceedings #6365--Demurrer sustained Waggoner & Stordahl, Sioux Falls, SD Attorneys for Plaintiff. Buell F. Jones, Attorney General Benj. D. Mintener, Assistant Attorney General, Pierre, SD Attorneys for Defendants. Opinion filed December 31, 1926

GATES, P. J.

Plaintiff brings this action against the state, pursuant to the provisions of section 2109, Rev. Code 1919. The complaint alleges the employment of plaintiff by the board of charities and corrections and the rendition of services by her at the penitentiary, the presentation of her claim to said board, and is nonpaymcnt. Defendants demur to the complaint for want of facts.

Const., art 3, § 27, says that the Legislature shall direct by law in what manner and in what courts suits may be brought against the state. Said section 2109 says in part:

"Actions Against the State, How Commenced. It shall be competent for any person deeming himself aggrieved by the refusal of the state auditor to allow any just claim against the state, to commence an action against the state by filing with the clerk of the supreme court a complaint setting forth fully and particularly the nature of the claim."

There is no allegation in the complaint that the claim was presented to the state auditor, nor that such officer has refused to allow it. Plaintiff urges that the law does not require the performance of idle acts, and that it would be an idle act to present the claim to the state auditor, after its rejection, by the board of charities and corrections.

It was for the Legislature to specify the conditions under which an action might be brought against the state. It has specified, as a condition precedent to the bringing of an action under said section 2109, that the allowance of the claim must have been refused by the state auditor. Lyman County v. State, 69 N.W. 601. Under such circumstances, it is not for this court to say that the presentation of the claim to the state auditor would have been an idle act. The condition precedent specified by the Legislature must have been complied with in order to authorize the bringing of this action in this court under said section 2109.

The demurrer to the complaint is sustained. Plaintiff will be given 20 days within which to serve a file an amended complaint.