Hamilton v. City of Anniston

• Decision Date: 26 June 1947
• Docket Number: 7 Div. 907.
• Citation: 31 So.2d 715,249 Ala. 479
• Parties: HAMILTON v. CITY OF ANNISTON et al.
• Court: Alabama Supreme Court

31 So.2d 715

249 Ala. 479

HAMILTON v. CITY OF ANNISTON et al.

7 Div. 907.

Supreme Court of Alabama

June 26, 1947

Rehearing Denied July 31, 1947.

Ross Blackmon, of Anniston, and Horace C Wilkinson, of Birmingham, for appellant.

W D. DeBardeleben and Richard B. Emerson, both of Anniston, for the City.

Knox Liles, Jones & Woolf and Merrill, Merrill & Vardman, all of Anniston, and Wm. Alfred Rose and White, Bradley, Arant & All, all of Birmingham, for other appellees.

STAKELY Justice.

J. C. A. Hamilton filed his original bill against the City of Anniston and J. F. King, A. H. Lee and S. F. Street as members of the city commission to enjoin the construction of a building alleged to be illegal and contrary to the laws and statutes of Alabama. The purpose of the bill was also to enjoin the negotiation of a loan by the city and the expenditure of the proceeds thereof connection with the construction of the proposed building. The case was heard on application for a temporary injunction. From an order denying the temporary injunction, the case was brought to this court. The opinion of this court on that appeal appears as Hamilton v. City of Anniston, 248, Ala. 396, 27 So.2d 857.

It will appear from the foregoing opinion of the court that we considered as valid the ordinance adopted by the City of Anniston which authorized construction of a suitable building on the grounds of the Memorial Hospital in Anniston. According to our holding not only was it necessary for the ordinance to be valid but the contract executed pursuant thereto must also be valid. It being uncertain under the contract and the evidence then before the court as to the purpose for which the building was to be built, this court remanded the cause to the lower court in order that it might determine the true nature of the project and then make its order accordingly. Under our former opinion if the proof shows that the building is for commercial purposes, which includes the renting of offices to doctors or dentists for use in their private practice, then the building is for a purpose not authorized by law, but if the building is for hospital purposes, which includes not only space for patients but space for hospital administration in all its phases, research and equipment, then the building is authorized by law.

When the case went back to the lower court Dethlefs and Hannon, a partnership, and its individual members, Ladd Engineering Co., a partnership and its individual members and T. U. Crumpton & Company, a corporation, were also made parties respondent. The purpose of this will appear from our aforesaid opinion. The case was then tried on the issue of the intent and purpose under the contract with which the building was planned and is being constructed. The evidence is voluminous. It is insisted by appellant that the proof shows that the purpose of the parties in making the contract was to construct a building for use by doctors and dentists in their private practice. On the contrary the appellees contend that the building is for hospital purposes alone. It is not feasible to set out the evidence. Caples et al. v. Young et al., 206 Ala. 282, 89 So. 460. Suffice it to say that it has been considered with great care. We feel satisfied that the intention of the parties in contracting for the building was to provide a building as a hospital annex only and not for commercial purposes. The lower court so found after hearing the witnesses orally. We cannot say that the decree of the lower court is palpably wrong. So we will not disturb it. Berry v. Howell et al., 242 Ala. 138, 5 So.2d 405; Puckett v. Puckett, 240 Ala. 607, 200 So. 420.

In view of this conclusion it is not necessary to consider the claim of the city in its cross-bill for refund of illegal expenditures. There can be no such recovery since the disbursements were made for a lawful purpose. The prayer of the city in its cross-bill for cancellation of its General Obligation Warrants evidencing the loan was also correctly...