Stanley v. City of Salem

The plaintiffs brought suits to enjoin the City of Salem from enforcing special assessments against their properties. The assessments were for the purpose of paying part of the city’s cost of widening Silverton Road. The trial court held that the adjoining property owners received no special benefits from the improvement and, therefore, the assessments were invalid. The court enjoined the city and it appeals.

Silverton Road runs southwesterly into Portland Road, the most traveled north-south street in the north half of Salem. Approximately three-quarters of a mile, that is the westerly end, of…