Kerr v. Iowa Public Service Co., 61835

Citation274 N.W.2d 283
Decision Date24 January 1979
Docket NumberNo. 61835,61835
PartiesCharles A. KERR and Nancy A. Kerr, Appellants, v. IOWA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, Appellee.
CourtUnited States State Supreme Court of Iowa

Lowell C. Kindig and Stanley Munger of Kindig, Beebe, McCluhan, Rawlings & Nieland, Sioux City, for appellants.

T. M. Whicher and A. J. Stoik of Stewart, Hatfield, Klass & Whicher, Sioux City, for appellee.

Don Charles Uthus and Diane McIntire, Des Moines, for amicus curiae, Iowa State Commerce Commission.

Considered by REES, P. J., and McCORMICK, ALLBEE, McGIVERIN and LARSON, JJ.

McGIVERIN, Justice.

In this appeal plaintiffs Charles A. Kerr and Nancy A. Kerr challenge the dismissal by the district court of a petition for permanent injunction to halt condemnation of an easement across their property to be used for construction and maintenance of an electric transmission line by defendant Iowa Public Service Company (IPS). IPS sought and obtained a franchise with right of eminent domain from the Iowa Commerce Commission under chapter 478, The Code, 1977, for construction and maintenance of the line. Kerrs did not seek judicial review of the Commission proceedings under the Iowa Administrative Procedure Act (IAPA), chapter 17A, but instead pursued an independent petition for injunction in district court. The court dismissed the petition for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

I. Facts. IPS petitioned the Commission in November 1976 for a franchise to "erect, operate and maintain an electric transmission line" pursuant to then chapter 489, The Code, 1975, which has been renumbered by the Code Editor in the 1977 Code as chapter 478. A franchise under chapter 478 includes the right of eminent domain "to such extent as the commission may approve, prescribe and find to be necessary for public use." § 478.15, The Code, 1977.

Defendant proposes to construct a 345,000 volt electric transmission line originating at its Raun substation, located near the George Neal generating station in the Fort-Neal Industrial area south of Sioux City, Iowa, and extending northerly to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation substation located near U.S. highway No. 75, approximately two miles south of Hinton, Iowa. The line would cover approximately 23.4 miles.

IPS seeks to condemn a 150' wide easement across farmland owned by Kerrs in Woodbury County for construction and maintenance of the line. The section of Kerr property in the path of the proposed line is presently intersected by a railroad and an existing power line.

In accordance with the provisions of §§ 478.2-478.5, IPS sent notice to the owners and possessors of affected property of an informational meeting, the petition for franchise and of the scheduled hearing on that petition before the Commission. Kerrs responded both in writing and orally at the petition hearing that they objected to condemnation of a permanent easement across their property.

After hearing on June 8, 1977 the Commission apparently overruled Kerrs' objections and on December 8, 1977 ordered a franchise granted to IPS under chapter 478. The franchise stated it was:

granted and issued for a period of twenty-five years from and after the date hereof unless sooner revoked, modified or terminated as provided by law. . . .

The franchise further provided that:

During the period of time this franchise is in force the holder hereof is vested with the right of eminent domain to such extent as may be necessary and as prescribed and approved by the said Iowa State Commerce Commission in its Order granting this franchise.

The order granting the franchise, in turn, stated that:

The use of the right of eminent domain by the Petitioner is hereby prescribed and approved to construct, erect, operate and maintain an electric transmission line, together with the right to cut and trim dangerous trees and the right of ingress and egress for such purposes.

Although § 478.32 entitled aggrieved persons to rehearing procedures and states judicial review may be sought under the IAPA, Kerrs did not pursue any legal remedy until condemnation proceedings were imminent. On January 13, 1978 IPS filed an application with the chief judge of the judicial district for appointment of a commission to appraise damages for condemnation of a permanent easement across Kerrs' property. The commission was appointed the same day. Notice was served on Kerrs January 19, 1978 that the commission had been appointed and would meet March 3, 1978. On March 1, 1978 Kerrs filed a petition in district court for hearing on temporary and permanent injunctions. The petition included as grounds the following:

4. Defendant was given a franchise to erect, maintain and operate the proposed transmission line for a period of twenty-five (25) years from the date of the franchise, December 8, 1977 . . .

7. Defendant, given its franchises to erect and maintain the proposed power line and sell its services for only a limited period of time is now seeking to condemn a perpetual easement.

8. Defendant's right to operate its power plants and sell gas and electricity to customers in this area is given to it by franchises which are not perpetual and are for a specified period of years and the remaining life of such franchises is unknown to plaintiff, but plaintiff, on information and on belief, alleges said franchise will expire in less than twenty-five (25) years.

9. Defendant has no right to exercise the power of eminent domain or to construct the proposed transmission line because it has not received the permit required by Chapter 476A of the 1977 Code of Iowa.

10. The franchise, Exhibit "B", is of no legal force and effect because it was given in proceedings under Chapter 478 of the Code and the proceedings and a permit should have been given under Chapter 476A of The Code.

11. Defendant is exceeding the authority given to it by the Iowa Commerce Commission and the authority given to it by law, and has no legal right to condemn a perpetual easement.

IPS answered and asked dismissal of the injunction petition asserting, among other grounds, that the district court lacked jurisdiction due to Kerrs' failure to comply with the IAPA judicial review provisions. After an evidentiary hearing, the court dismissed the petition upon finding that the Kerrs' remedy, if any, was prescribed by the IAPA. The court further stated that the record indicated the issues raised by Kerrs had been considered by the Commission and resolved adversely to them.

Kerrs appeal the dismissal.

II. Issues. Kerrs present two issues for review in challenging dismissal of the injunction petition. First, we are asked to decide whether the franchise and right of eminent domain conferred on IPS by the Commission limit the power of IPS to condemn only a 25-year easement. Next, we are asked to decide whether IPS may legally proceed with condemnation in absence of a chapter 476A certificate of public convenience, use and necessity.

Because appellants failed to utilize the judicial review procedures of the IAPA, we affirm the trial court dismissal of the injunction petition and are unable to reach the merits of the claims underlying the petition. Our reasons for concluding each of the two issues were precluded from review in the injunction action, however, differ to some degree. We, therefore, consider separately the applicability of the IAPA to each of the issues.

III. Disposition. The IAPA, effective in Iowa since July 1, 1975, purports to apply to "all suits for the judicial review of agency action that are not specifically excluded . . . by the express terms of another chapter." § 17A.1(2). The judicial review provision, itself, states that:

Except as expressly provided otherwise by another statute referring to this chapter by name, the judicial review provision of this chapter shall be the exclusive means by which a person or party who is aggrieved or adversely affected by agency action may seek judicial review of such agency action.

§ 17A.19.

With the above provision in mind, we turn to a consideration of appellants' claim that IPS lacks authority to condemn a perpetual easement across their land. There is no dispute that the Commission order granting IPS a franchise constituted "agency action" within the meaning of § 17A.19. 1 Appellants contend, however, that they do not challenge the Commission order. It is appellants' position that the Commission did not grant authority to IPS to condemn an easement in perpetuity. The power to utilize eminent domain was prescribed "to construct, erect, operate and maintain an electric transmission line." It is IPS, according to appellants, that has acted illegally in exceeding the...

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