Bengtson v. Village of Marine on St. Croix

Plaintiff, Lowell Bengtson, brought suit in the district court to recover from defendant, the village (now city) of Marine on the St. Croix, the sum of $856.50, representing the reasonable value of improvements which Bengtson had made to a road which crosses his property. Following a trial without a jury, the district court ordered judgment for the village, and Bengtson appealed to this court from an order denying his motion for a new trial. We affirm.

A primary issue raised by the parties has been whether the road, which crosses 80 acres of Bengtson’s property, is a public road or a private…