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Res. 01588-2017 Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo · Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo · 12/07/2017
OutcomeResultado
The Administrative Contentious Court maintained the stay of demolition of the plaintiff's home, ordering that the underlying dispute over the legality of the administrative act be resolved in the main proceedings.El Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo mantuvo la suspensión de la demolición de la vivienda de la actora, ordenando que la controversia de fondo sobre la legalidad del acto administrativo se resuelva en el proceso principal.
SummaryResumen
The Administrative Contentious Court granted a pre-trial interim measure requested by a woman whose home, built with municipal permits and state financing, was threatened with demolition by the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT), which alleged an encroachment on a right-of-way on route 163. The court found that the requirements of fumus boni iuris (appearance of a good right), periculum in mora (danger in delay), and balancing of interests were met, and ordered the suspension of demolition to be maintained. It emphasized that the house sheltered 13 vulnerable people, including minors, as stated in official MOPT documents, making the harm imminent and severe. The ruling stresses that the underlying dispute over the legality of the administrative act and the actual encroachment must be resolved in the main proceedings, but in the meantime the family's private interest prevails over the public interest alleged by the State.El Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo otorgó una medida cautelar ante causam solicitada por una mujer cuya vivienda, construida con permisos municipales y financiamiento estatal, estaba amenazada de demolición por el MOPT, que alegaba una invasión de derecho de vía en la ruta 163. El tribunal encontró cumplidos los requisitos de apariencia de buen derecho (fumus boni iuris), peligro en la demora (periculum in mora) y ponderación de intereses, y ordenó mantener la suspensión de la demolición. Destacó que la vivienda albergaba a 13 personas en condición de vulnerabilidad, incluyendo menores de edad, según constaba en documentos oficiales del propio MOPT, lo que hacía que el daño fuera inminente y grave. La decisión enfatiza que la controversia de fondo sobre la legalidad del acto administrativo y la real invasión del derecho de vía debe resolverse en el proceso principal, pero mientras tanto prevalece el interés particular de la familia frente al interés público alegado por el Estado.
Key excerptExtracto clave
VI) Criteria of this Judge: As indicated above, for this Judge the claim is not, from any point of view, unreasonable or lacking in seriousness, such that it cannot be addressed on the merits in a full proceeding. [...] For this Court, the arguments and/or defects of arbitrariness and illegality claimed by the plaintiff are precisely what must be addressed in the main proceeding and not through an interim measure, which, as noted, is perfectly reviewable in this venue [...] Regarding danger in delay, [...] the plaintiff has indicated that she lives in the home to be demolished with her husband, children, mother, and siblings. [...] the Head of the Department of Road Inspection and Demolitions states that "the shack" is occupied by vulnerable people in poverty, and among its members are minors. [...] Thus, analyzing the positions of the parties as a whole, it is the conclusion of this judge that the private interest must prevail over public interests or those of affected third parties. This element is deemed satisfied.VI) Criterio de este Juzgador: Como se indicó líneas arriba, para este Juzgador la demanda no resulta desde ningún punto de vista irrazonable ni carente de seriedad, como para no poder ser abordada por el fondo en un proceso de conocimiento. [...] Para este Tribunal, los argumentos y/o vicios de arbitrariedad e ilegalidad que pretende la parte actora, son precisamente lo que se debe de abordar en el proceso de fondo y no a través de una medida cautelar, lo cual como se ha indicado es perfectamente revisable en esta vía [...] Respecto al peligro en la demora, [...] la parte actora ha indicado que en la vivienda que se pretende demoler vive con su esposo, hijos, madre y sus hermanos. [...] el Jefe del Departamento de Inspección Vial y Demoliciones, cita que "el rancho" está ocupado por personas en vulnerabilidad por su condición de pobreza, y entre sus miembros hay menores de edad. [...] Así las cosas, al analizar en conjunto las posiciones de las partes, es la conclusión de este juzgador que ha de prevalecer el interés particular, frente a los intereses públicos o de terceros interesados. Téngase por cumplido el elemento analizado.
Pull quotesCitas destacadas
"la justicia cautelar responde a la necesidad de garantizar el principio constitucional de una justicia pronta y cumplida, al conservar las condiciones reales indispensables para la emisión y ejecución de la sentencia."
"interim justice responds to the need to guarantee the constitutional principle of prompt and complete justice, by preserving the real conditions indispensable for the issuance and execution of the judgment."
Considerando II
"la justicia cautelar responde a la necesidad de garantizar el principio constitucional de una justicia pronta y cumplida, al conservar las condiciones reales indispensables para la emisión y ejecución de la sentencia."
Considerando II
"el resultado de la demolición en este caso y sin realizar las gestiones correspondientes ante la Unidad de Gestión Ambiental y Social de ese Ministerio resultaría contrario a lo que el mismo Jefe de ese departamento determinó, que se está en presencia de personas en estado de vulnerabilidad, y en ese condición el daño resultaría ser más gravoso y por consiguiente de protección no solo cautelar; sino de las Instituciones relacionados con este tema."
"the result of the demolition in this case, without carrying out the corresponding actions before the Environmental and Social Management Unit of that Ministry, would be contrary to what the Head of that department himself determined, that we are in the presence of persons in a state of vulnerability, and in that condition the damage would be more grievous and therefore deserving of protection not only interim but also from the Institutions related to this matter."
Considerando VI
"el resultado de la demolición en este caso y sin realizar las gestiones correspondientes ante la Unidad de Gestión Ambiental y Social de ese Ministerio resultaría contrario a lo que el mismo Jefe de ese departamento determinó, que se está en presencia de personas en estado de vulnerabilidad, y en ese condición el daño resultaría ser más gravoso y por consiguiente de protección no solo cautelar; sino de las Instituciones relacionados con este tema."
Considerando VI
"Así las cosas, al analizar en conjunto las posiciones de las partes, es la conclusión de este juzgador que ha de prevalecer el interés particular, frente a los intereses públicos o de terceros interesados."
"Thus, analyzing the positions of the parties as a whole, it is the conclusion of this judge that the private interest must prevail over public interests or those of affected third parties."
Considerando VI
"Así las cosas, al analizar en conjunto las posiciones de las partes, es la conclusión de este juzgador que ha de prevalecer el interés particular, frente a los intereses públicos o de terceros interesados."
Considerando VI
Full documentDocumento completo
**II) GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR GRANTING A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.** As has been developed by the Constitutional Chamber, precautionary justice responds to the need to guarantee the constitutional principle of prompt and complete justice, by preserving the real conditions indispensable for the issuance and execution of the judgment. (Resolution 7190-1994, 3:24 p.m., December 6). In this same vein, Article 19 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code establishes that the purpose of ordering a precautionary measure is to provisionally protect and guarantee the object of the proceeding and the effectiveness of the judgment. Doctrine has indicated that precautionary justice is not intended to declare a fact or a liability, nor to establish a legal relationship, nor to execute an order and satisfy an uncontested right, nor to settle litigation, but rather to prevent the damages that the litigation may bring about or that may derive from an abnormal situation (Gallegos Fedriani, Pablo. Las medidas cautelares contra la Administración Pública. 2nd ed. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Ábaco, 2006). With the foregoing clear, the judge, in observance of the provisions of Article 21 of the indicated procedural rule, must determine the admissibility of a request for a precautionary measure, verifying in doing so that the claim of the main proceeding is not frivolous or, in a manifest manner, lacking in seriousness, which constitutes a preliminary assessment of the merits to determine whether, in the case at hand, what doctrine and jurisprudence have called appearance of good law or *fumus boni iuris* exists. The rule under analysis also establishes the admissibility of the precautionary measure when the execution or continuation of the conduct submitted to the proceeding produces serious, current or potential, damages or harm, a situation that has been defined in doctrine as *periculum in mora* or danger in delay, that is, that by virtue of the pathological delay of the judicial proceeding, a current, real, and objective danger exists that serious harm will be generated to the moving party (Jinesta Lobo, Ernesto. Manual del Proceso Contencioso-Administrativo. 1st ed. San José, Costa Rica, Editorial Jurídica Continental, 2008). Along the same line of thought, Article 22 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code establishes the obligation of the judge to carry out, in light of the principle of proportionality, a balancing of the interests at stake, that is, between the circumstances of the individual, on the one hand, and the public interest and the interests of third parties that may be affected by the adoption of the precautionary measure, on the other. Additionally, and from the same cited section 22, it is required that the precautionary measure be instrumental and provisional.- **III) ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTING A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.** In this regard, it has been said that for the fulfillment of precautionary protection, as a fundamental right derived from constitutional section 41, which is the right to obtain prompt and complete justice, the jurisdictional body must assess for its effective materialization, in addition to the fulfillment of the prerequisites known in doctrine as Appearance of Good Law (*Fumus Boni Iuris*), Danger in Delay (*Periculum in Mora*), as well as the balancing of interests at stake, which will be detailed below, the verification of the presence or existence of what have been called the structural characteristics of the precautionary measure. The foregoing refers to instrumentality, provisionality, urgency, and the *summaria cognitio* or summary nature of the proceeding. Both the indicated prerequisites and the mentioned characteristics must be present for the granting of the measure that has been requested with the purpose of protecting and guaranteeing, provisionally, the object of the proceeding and the effectiveness of the judgment. Regarding the prerequisites necessary for granting the precautionary measure, we find the following: a) Appearance of Good Law: for the admissibility of the precautionary measure, there must be "seriousness in the claim," that is, a probability of success such that the claim is not, at a simple glance, manifestly lacking in seriousness, or, in its case, that it is frivolous. For doctrine, this is nothing other than the probable subsequent acceptance of the actor's substantive right in the judgment, through the analysis typical of a very summary proceeding that in no way can or should determine a ruling on the merits of the matter raised, but rather, and instead, only an approximation thereof with the elements present at the time of issuing the ruling that grants or denies the measure; b) Danger in Delay: this consists of the objectively founded and reasonable fear that the substantial legal situation alleged could be seriously damaged or harmed in a grave and irreparable manner, during the course of the time necessary to issue judgment in the main proceeding. This prerequisite requires the presence of two elements: the serious damage or harm and the delay in the main proceeding, without neglecting, of course, that within this prerequisite lies what doctrine has termed the "Bilateral Nature of the *Periculum in Mora*" or, as it is commonly known, the balancing of the interests at stake. The prerequisite alludes to the characteristic that the alleged damages must be susceptible to occurring—currently or potentially—if the requested measure is not adopted. Damages that must be established as serious, in addition to being considered as deriving from the alleged situation. The harms claimed must at least be proven through the rational principle of evidence, so it is not enough to allege the damage in the stated terms; rather, the circumstances must be accredited to consider it a damage and that such damage is serious. In this sense, it must be emphasized that it is not sufficient to allege the existence of serious, current, or potential damage or harm, but it must be proven, which, as mentioned above, is a procedural burden that the interested party must bear to prove their claim, Article 317 of the Civil Procedure Code. Regarding the delay in the main proceeding: This prerequisite refers to the situation generated on the occasion of jurisdictional proceedings that require, for their development and subsequent conclusion, the performance of a series of acts through which not only due process is guaranteed, but also the issuance of a ruling that, if not capable of being carried out swiftly, is at least just. Bringing a main proceeding to an end requires time and it is precisely here that precautionary protection acquires special relevance, since while that decision on the case arrives, serious damages are being avoided, which, should they occur, would render the right being claimed nugatory. With the entry into force of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code, much progress was made in solving the issue of proceedings that took years and even decades; today, despite all the efforts made, although proceedings last less, due to the advantages of orality, different stages must be completed, hearings scheduled, in contrast to quite congested dockets, etc., which mean that proceedings last a reasonable time, but time nonetheless. On the bilateral nature of the *periculum in mora*: Under this designation, reference is made to the balancing of the interests at stake, linked to the public interest that may be in need of protection, versus the interest of third parties and, of course, the interest of the person who resorts by means of a precautionary measure, and these must be evaluated comparatively, with the denial of the measure being imposed when the harm suffered, or susceptible of being produced to the community or third parties, is greater than that which the applicant for the measure could experience.- **IV) STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE:** As was pointed out, in addition to the prerequisites already indicated, it is necessary that the measure to be adopted structurally possess the following characteristics: instrumentality, meaning that they maintain a marked relationship of accessoriness with the final judgment, since ultimately, they serve as an instrument to maintain the validity of the object of the proceeding in the terms set forth; provisionality, which is nothing other than that what was agreed upon regarding the precautionary measure will remain in force and be conditioned upon what is resolved in the main proceeding. It should be highlighted that it can also be terminated or modified at any time, given the variability of the conditions that originally gave rise to it, or, alternatively, the measure that was previously rejected may be adopted, as established by section 29 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code, so its effectiveness expires at the moment the judgment on the merits is issued, or what is the same, its effects are subordinated to the provision adopted in the main proceeding; urgency to avoid the danger in delay; and the *summaria cognitio* <that is>, that this type of measure is adopted by virtue of a very summary cognition carried out by the jurisdictional body without pre-judging the merits of the matter, which in no way could substitute the stages of the main proceeding. Based on the foregoing normative framework of analysis and the elements required for granting a precautionary measure, we proceed to conduct the study of the specific case [...]
**VI) Criterion of this Judge:** As indicated above, for this Judge, the claim is in no way unreasonable nor lacking in seriousness, such that it could not be addressed on the merits in a main proceeding. There are situations that, not being appropriate to address at this precautionary stage, will not be dealt with in depth; however, they must be cited in support of this pronouncement. The repeated arguments of both parties regarding the administrative proceeding itself are those that must be analyzed in depth, as this would be the only way to achieve clarity and determine which of the positions is correct; however, that can only be done through a main proceeding. For the claimant, the administrative determination adverse to her is entirely arbitrary and illegal since she has all the construction permits, adding that in 2000, she proceeded to register Cadastral Map number P-621909-2000 with an area of 262.36 m2; that the Municipal Council of the District of Nombre32548 granted her Construction Permit number 0940 of October 8, 2003, to build the 42 m2 dwelling; and that in May 2005, that Municipal Council granted her permit number 1037 which allowed her, with her own resources, to remodel her dwelling and expand it by 15 m2; and she cites that in both permits, the construction line requested was to respect 3 meters inward from the property boundary as the Municipal alignment. She points out that she appeared before the MOPT alignment department where she was told that the Road Provision Department considered that National Route No. 163 was a secondary route and for which a provision of 20 meters in width existed. She adds that if the Consejo Nacional de Viabilidad ever intended to widen and pave said route, it would have to proceed to expropriate those within that right-of-way (derecho de vía), since the provision was just that, a provision and not a consolidation. She assures, with the evidence she provides, that the official communication notifying her, which she deems illegal, lacks elements inherent to an administrative act, such as the reasoning (motivación), where a public official irresponsibly, without foundation, states that her dwelling, built more than thirteen years ago, is encroaching on a right-of-way of a national route, which she emphasizes is totally false. For its part, the State representation defends the manner in which this matter was handled in the administrative venue. It provides a broad review of what public domain assets are and mentions the doctrine, regulations, and case law on the subject; however, regarding the case brought to its attention, it assures that the claimant's construction is on a right-of-way of Route 163, which empowers the Dirección de Ingeniería of the División de Obras Públicas to take the necessary measures to resort to the competent authorities in order to exercise the corresponding actions to restore the public domain asset in favor of the State. It also considers that administrative act number IVD-1124-2014 of October 24, 2014, in which the claimant is granted a period of fifteen business days to vacate the right-of-way she is encroaching upon, is in accordance with the law, so it is clear to it that the authorities of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes have acted in accordance with the legal system and the procedures established for this type of situation. For this Tribunal, the arguments and/or defects of arbitrariness and illegality claimed by the claimant are precisely what must be addressed in the main proceeding and not through a precautionary measure, which, as has been indicated, is perfectly reviewable in this avenue, and this is precisely what the element or requirement analyzed is about. In this matter, the administrative conduct is being questioned, and the Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo was created precisely to review it (see Article 1 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code), and to determine in the respective proceeding whether it conforms to the legal system and was carried out respecting or not each and every one of the rights of the claimant here. There is clarity that each and every administration has its own competence, and each carries out the activity that corresponds to it within its precise competence-based and/or territorial functions; for the proper functioning of the administration, both internally and externally. In this regard, and speaking of the external, precisely lies the administered person, who turns to certain administrations seeking that their requests be duly addressed; therefore, the decisions of any administration must be easy to understand, in such a way that any determination directed to the administered person covers everything that has been requested in that venue, so as not to leave anything to anyone's interpretation and imagination, so that upon having a favorable or unfavorable pronouncement, they will know the next step to take from that moment on. In the particular case, it is notable that the claimant, since the year 2000, proceeded to register her Cadastral Map number P-621909-000 (a non-controversial fact); that the Municipal Council of the District of Nombre32548 granted her the construction permit to build the dwelling of the claimant here precisely on her property (a non-controversial fact); that the claimant is a beneficiary of the Housing Bond (Bono de la Vivienda) on November 17, 2003 (a non-controversial fact); that in 2005, the Municipal Council of Nombre32548 granted the claimant here a construction permit for remodeling the dwelling (a non-controversial fact); that for these permits, the respect of 3 meters inward from the property boundary was requested as the municipal alignment (a non-controversial fact, also see evidence provided). Now, it is important to analyze official communication number DVOP-DI-IVD-2016-1379 dated August 9, 2016, which in its penultimate paragraph indicates, for relevant purposes, the following: "It is important to note that, as verified in the respective field study, the referenced house is located in its entirety within the right-of-way of the Dirección343, according to cadastral map P-621909-2000, used for the possessory information proceeding. However, such possession has not been registered in the Property Registry." (the underlining, bold, and italics are ours). This being the case, if the property registered in cadastral map number P-621909-2000 was used for a possessory information proceeding, it would not only be logical but legal that the State's participation in that possessory information proceeding occurred, as established by section 5 of the Ley de Informaciones Posesorias; and in that avenue to have precisely expressed its opposition as established by section 8 of the cited regulation; however, that is a situation for which there is no evidence, since the claimant did not provide nor indicate anything in this regard, and the State representation only addressed and concerned itself with referencing the evidence already provided by the claimant (see the section titled "Evidence" in the State's response brief); therefore, as indicated in the referenced official communication, it has not been registered in the corresponding Registry, so it would be logical to think (in the absence of evidence) that only registry requirements, and not judicial ones, are pending for the registration of the cited asset. As can be seen, the claimant, in her understanding, has carried out each and every one of the procedures she had to do not only to comply with what construction regulations establish, but also with possessory regulations, as well as institutional ones, which in this case emanated from the Municipal Council of the District of Nombre32548. Now, as indicated above, each and every administration has its own competence and each must act within these, and it is precisely what, in the claimant's understanding, is affecting her on this occasion with the determination of the Departamento de Inspección Vial y Demoliciones of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes, which on this occasion precisely requests the demolition of that dwelling that, for her, had the corresponding permits granted by the local administration, without any constructive warning that made it impossible to carry out the construction itself, or the expansion and/or remodeling that she requested and that was approved at that time. As indicated, there is clarity not only regarding the competences of the administrations but also clarity regarding what the right-of-way is; but it is precisely this that the claimant is challenging, and with the evidence she provides, she seeks to demonstrate that she has not built within that right-of-way, where she further asserts that the position of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes is so erroneous that if it were true (referring to whether her property is within that right-of-way), "half of Jicaral" would have to be demolished; in addition to that, she considers that the correct approach in this case is to establish the respective expropriations, prior to a declaration of national interest. She further considers that there are deficiencies in the investigation, considers, emphasizes, and repeats that her property is not a public domain asset, that it is not true that the State must seek to recover its own property, that it is not true that her dwelling is built on that right-of-way, and for that reason, it must be demolished; she affirms that even cataloging that route as primary (a situation she affirms is not true), with 20 meters wide, her dwelling would not be touched to the extreme of having to demolish it. Now, on the other hand, we have the position of the State representation, which defends the manner in which this matter was handled; where it affirms that the claimant encroached on the right-of-way, and that the State simply has the obligation to recover them, since they are inalienable and imprescriptible, that the actor was given her right of defense, and for that reason, the administrative proceeding was in accordance with the law, adhered to due process and the right of defense, and therefore this requirement is not met. These situations are precisely what remain to be analyzed, as there is no doubt for this Tribunal that the State's lands have the particularities that the State representation points out; however, there are affirmations from the claimant that could not find an answer through a precautionary measure, as they are inherent to the main proceeding, but they lead to the consideration that this case can indeed be analyzed and a main proceeding conducted to determine therein which of the positions is correct, not regarding whether the State's lands can be appropriated by private individuals, a matter more than settled; but rather regarding the variation of the measurement of the right-of-way in time and space, administrative conduct questioned by the claimant, who affirms that it occurred at a time different from the moment she acquired the property, with the variation of the measurement of the right-of-way claimed by the State, under the authority of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes. This is precisely the core reason for the proceeding, where it must be determined whether the measurements of the street are those that have always prevailed in that area, or if there is a variation of the same, under the circumstances indicated. For this Tribunal, in this matter, there are particularities that may well find an answer in the respective proceeding; therefore, it is considered that this requirement is indeed met. Added to this, we cannot ignore the competence of this jurisdiction derived both from what is established in Constitutional Article 49 and from what is established in the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code, which makes it possible to exercise plenary control of the legality of the administrative function, which implies declaring the legal nonconformity of those formal or material conducts that are contrary to the body of law. The appearance of good law itself is a judgment of probabilities made by the Judge regarding the eventual outcome of the proceeding, which, when faced with a precautionary measure, and even more so one like the present that is *ante causam*, it is premature to warn of its admissibility or not, since the arguments and evidence that will underpin the main proceeding could be different from those that occupy us today. Furthermore, we could not set aside the constitutional principle that guarantees that any person who feels affected by an administrative action can seek redress in this Jurisdiction, with access to Justice also being recognized as a fundamental right (Articles 41 and 49 of the Political Constitution). This being the case, and at least *prima facie* and without pre-judging the matter, and without even determining the probabilities of success of the claim, the truth is that it possesses the necessary seriousness to consider the analyzed prerequisite as accredited. Regarding the danger in delay, although with the entry into force of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code, much progress was made in solving the issue of proceedings that took years and even decades, today, despite all the efforts made, although proceedings last less due to the advantages of orality, different stages must be completed, hearings scheduled in contrast to very congested dockets, among other procedures that make proceedings last a shorter and reasonable time, but time nonetheless. The claimant has indicated that in the dwelling intended for demolition, she lives with her spouse, children, mother, and her siblings. It has been indicated by the sued administration that the claimant's map served, or was used, for the processing of a possessory information proceeding, the results of which, as indicated above, are unknown to date; therefore, if it is pending registration, it is logical to think that the claimant has no other asset to which she could go with her entire family in the event of the demolition of her dwelling, since one of the requirements for being able to request or register a property through possessory information proceeding is that the claimant lacks a registered or registrable title before the Public Registry; and for that reason, there would be greater harm to the claimant, which in this case would extend to her family nucleus, further aggravating the damage. In the brief submitted by the State representation on August 29, two thousand sixteen, regarding this prerequisite, it indicates that the claimant has not demonstrated that the execution of the resolution she challenges produces serious damages or harm, current or potential, to the claimant. That in accordance with report IVD 883-2013 of May 20, 2013, from the Departamento de Inspección Vial y Demoliciones of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes, it emerges that the claimant's dwelling is located in the right-of-way of Route 163 that goes from Jicaral to Dominicas de Puntarenas according to Cadastral Map No. P-621909-200, such that a dwelling has been built on a right-of-way without authorization from the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes, which empowers the Dirección de Ingeniería of the Departamento de Inspección Vial y Demoliciones of the Dirección de Ingeniería of the División de Obras Públicas to take the necessary measures to resort to the competent authorities in order to exercise the corresponding actions to restore the public domain asset in favor of the State. That by virtue of the foregoing, through administrative act IVD-1124-2014 of October 24, 2014, notified to the claimant on October 24, 2014, the claimant was granted a period of fifteen business days to vacate the right-of-way she is encroaching upon, a period that has been extended until today, so it is not true that there is urgency in the present case, since the claimant has had a period of approximately 10 months and not 15 days to vacate the right-of-way she is encroaching upon, and furthermore, she does not provide any evidence whatsoever to demonstrate any potential harm, a burden of proof that corresponded to the claimant, and as long as the necessary evidence is not brought into the proceeding to demonstrate the alleged damages, it is its criterion that this prerequisite is not met, and therefore the precautionary measure must be rejected. As can be appreciated from what was stated by the State representation to contest this element, it has resorted to the consideration of substantive situations, such as the construction of a dwelling within the right-of-way, and defending the position of the Departamento de Inspección Vial y Demoliciones of the Dirección de Ingeniería of the División de Obras Públicas, regarding demolishing the dwelling for that reason, it being considered that these positions are what must be analyzed in the main proceeding. Regarding the second argument that the State representation resorts to in order to contest this element, which is that the claimant does not provide the necessary evidence to demonstrate the alleged damages; said representation leaves out that, as the same Department of that Ministry indicated, the property where the disputed dwelling has been built was acquired by the claimant through a possessory information proceeding, which, together with the claimant's statements, indicates that she and her relatives inhabit the dwelling intended for demolition, with the harm that they would have nowhere to go having no roof of their own, a situation on which the State representation did not comment. For this Tribunal, each and every one of the claimant's statements, as well as the evidence she provides, are consistent with what is required and necessary to be able to accredit an injury which, in this particular case, could be dimensioned beyond the personal sphere, to the family sphere, where the claimant affirms that it is in that dwelling that her family is located; furthermore, it is worth noting that in official communication number DVOP-DI-DV-IVD-2016-826 dated June 7, 2016, addressed to Engineer Oscar Ulloa Rojas, of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes, Mr. Vinicio Barboza Ortíz, who is the Chief of the Departamento de Inspección Vial y Demoliciones of that Ministry, cites that the dwelling is "inhabited by 13 people," a situation which he apparently gave credibility to by recording it as such, regardless of whether it was the claimant's statement; since if there was no certainty as to the number of people living in an improvised house as he cites, the prudent course would have been its verification and not simply noting down the claimant's statement, a situation that only demonstrates that indeed the damage is not only dimensioned to the managing party but to that group of people who inhabit it. Now, further along in the cited official communication, and this time, in the words of the Chief of the Departamento de Inspección Vial y Demoliciones, he cites that "the shack" is occupied by people in a vulnerable situation due to their condition of poverty, and among its members there are minors.
As can be seen, the State's representation, in the section corresponding to the danger in delay, introduces its argument against it by pointing out that the plaintiff indicates there is extreme urgency in granting the precautionary measure since a potential harm would be caused to her family, husband, children, mother, and siblings who live in the dwelling; however (it adds), the affirmation of the existence of harm is not accompanied by suitable evidence allowing for effective demonstration that serious harm has occurred. For this Court, this position is not correct, for a very simple reason: if we are dealing with a family group composed of 13 people, which in the words of the Head of the Department of Road Inspection and Demolitions, is a shanty or makeshift dwelling, and the people living there are persons in a vulnerable state, and among its members there are minors, the result of the demolition in this case and without carrying out the corresponding procedures before the Environmental and Social Management Unit of that Ministry would be contrary to what the same Head of that department determined, that we are in the presence of persons in a state of vulnerability, and in that condition the harm would be more serious and therefore deserving of protection not only precautionary but also from the Institutions related to this matter. In this case and under this scenario, what is known as a party admission must be applied, since indeed in this case the Head of the Department of Road Inspection and Demolitions himself has indicated that there are minors living in the dwelling, in conditions of poverty, and who require assistance, statements which only reaffirm that since they are persons in a vulnerable state, the harm is imminent; therefore, there is an admission in that sense, which relieves the opposing party of having to prove their claim (party admission – relieving of proof). It is perfectly clear that the right-of-way forms part of the State's assets, and therefore they fall into what is known as the public domain, and as such are inalienable, imprescriptible, unattachable, and are outside of commerce; thus, they may not be occupied or appropriated without authorization from the corresponding administration; but it must be clear that it is precisely this point that is under discussion by the plaintiff, a situation that is completely reviewable in this venue; but the particular situation presented and exposed by Mrs. Nombre3223, as well as the persons who live with her in the dwelling intended for demolition, require a provision that is not only prompt but effective to at least give her the opportunity to defend herself against the State's position. Now, it should be noted that the State's representation's position is immersed in this case from the perspective of the area that makes up the right-of-way of Directorate343, which it assures is being invaded by the plaintiff; as well as its analysis that these are public domain assets and their characteristics; which is of great importance for the trial on the merits, but it has neglected its obligation to provide proof. It questions that the plaintiff has not provided evidence, making reference to her citing that she lives with her family, husband, children, mother, and siblings, and that nevertheless, the affirmation of the existence of harm is not accompanied by suitable evidence that allows demonstrating the effective production of the harm. In this regard, it is important to note that although Article 317 of the Civil Procedure Code, applicable to this matter by express referral of numeral 220 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code, establishes regarding the burden of proof, in its first paragraph that: "1) Upon the party who formulates a claim, regarding the affirmations of the facts constituting their right.". But it turns out that in its second paragraph, that same numeral establishes that the burden of proof falls upon: "2) Upon the party who opposes a claim, regarding the affirmations of impeding, modifying, or extinguishing facts of the plaintiff's right." (the bold and underlining does not correspond to the original). It is clear that the State's representation has its position regarding this case, but for this Court, that position and statements are insufficient to combat the element or requirement under study (periculum in mora), and even less so to discredit all the evidence that the plaintiff has taken care and effort to present; which, although directly related to the merits of the case, has allowed us to extract the conditions in which they live, the state of vulnerability, and the existence of minors at the location, all of which are entirely credible to this Court as they were not contested as was appropriate (Articles 317 paragraph 2, see also official communication IVD-510-2015 dated 04/28/2016). Having stated the foregoing, it is considered that effective protection must be given to the plaintiff, independent for now of what will be decided on the merits in the trial proceeding. Having established the first two requirements, the decision falls upon the balancing of the interests at stake and the impact on the public interest. To determine this third element, this judge turns to a preliminary review of aspects such as the reasons for the demolition, as well as the evidence that has been submitted to the process. Regarding the reasons that prompted the demolition, this judge considers that although these are aspects to be evaluated by an administration, in this case the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes), and that they could even be considered an invasion of the right-of-way, this authority does not see that this produces a serious impact on the public interest, since as the plaintiff has indicated and is evident from official communication number DRCH-47-2016-0125 dated February 17, 2016, apparently there was no intention as of that date to recover the right-of-way supposedly invaded by the plaintiff; and rather, the work was directed at the construction of ditches, shoulders, and the road surface. Now, today, on the date this provision is issued, it is noteworthy that the precautionary measure filed by Mrs. Nombre3223, on August eleventh, two thousand sixteen, was admitted by this Court in a provisionalísima capacity since the seventeenth of August of last year, ordering the immediate suspension of the effects of the administrative act through which the demolition of the plaintiff's dwelling was intended; therefore, it is from that date that Mrs. Nombre3223 has been living in her house with the rest of the members of her family nucleus, so doing a simple calculation results in that she has been in her dwelling by judicial order for almost eleven months, and during all that time, apparently, the administration has not carried out any type of work on the surface of that road that involves the property of the plaintiff, and consequently, the public work has not suffered any setback, at least that is what could be presumed as there is not a single piece of evidence to prove otherwise and cause that provisionalísima acceptance determination to vary (Articles 29.1 of the Contentious-Administrative Procedure Code and 317 paragraph 2 of the Civil Procedure Code, applied supplementarily in accordance with 220 of the Code regulating the Matter). Having stated the foregoing and until the conflict is resolved in the jurisdictional venue, the balance on this occasion tips toward considering this requirement fulfilled. Thus, when analyzing the positions of the parties together, it is this judge's conclusion that the private interest must prevail over the public interests or those of interested third parties. The analyzed element is considered fulfilled." ... See more Citations of Legislation and Doctrine Related Judgments CONTENTIOUS-ADMINISTRATIVE COURT Central 2545-0003. Fax 2545-0033. Email ...01 Second Judicial Circuit of San José, Annex A (Former Motorola Building) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASE FILE: 16-007716-1027-CA PROCEEDING: PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE ANTE CAUSAM PLAINTIFF: Nombre3223 DEFENDANT: THE STATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ N°1588-2017-T CONTENTIOUS-ADMINISTRATIVE COURT OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF SAN JOSÉ, Address144, Goicoechea, at sixteen hours on the twelfth day of July of the year two thousand seventeen.- Request for a precautionary measure ante causam, filed by Mrs. Nombre3223, who is of legal age, married, homemaker, resident of Jicaral de Puntarenas, bearer of identity card number CED2493 - - - against the STATE represented in this matter by Licensed Attorney Berta Eugenia Marín González, resident of Guadalupe, married, bearer of identity card number CED2494 - - - in her capacity as Procuradora A.-
WHEREAS
CONSIDERING
For its part, the State's representation, regarding what is of interest for the resolution of this matter, has indicated the following: The appearance of good right in the case of the plaintiff has not been demonstrated, that the right-of-way is regulated in articles 2, 3, and 6 of the Reglamento de los Derechos de Vía y Publicidad exterior, decree No. 29253. It adds that the right-of-way of the national road network constitutes State property, of public domain, and therefore is inalienable, imprescriptible, unattachable, is outside commerce, and may not be occupied without authorization from the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes. It affirms that in this case, the plaintiff's dwelling is located within the right-of-way of route 163, which runs from Jicaral to Dominicas de Puntarenas, according to cadastral plan No. P-621909-200, such that a dwelling has been built on a right-of-way without authorization from the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes, which empowers the Dirección de Ingeniería del Departamento de Inspección Vial y Demoliciones de la Dirección de Ingeniería de la División de Obras Públicas to take the necessary measures to appear before the competent authorities in order to exercise the corresponding actions to restore the public domain property in favor of the State. In the State's representation's consideration, administrative act IVD-1124-2014 of October 24, 2014, in which the plaintiff is granted a period of fifteen business days to vacate the right-of-way she is invading, is in accordance with the law, and therefore it is clear that the authorities of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes have acted in accordance with the legal system and the procedures established for this type of situation. Considering that this precautionary proceeding lacks the appearance of good right, it therefore requests a declaration to that effect. Regarding the danger in delay, it cites that the plaintiff indicates there is extreme urgency in granting the precautionary measure since it would cause potential harm to her family, spouse, children, mother, and siblings who live in the dwelling; however, the affirmation of the existence of harm is not accompanied by suitable proof that allows effective demonstration that serious harm has occurred. It adds that in this case, the plaintiff presents no document whatsoever that allows demonstrating any potential harm, and that this is the burden of proof incumbent upon the plaintiff; rather, on the contrary, it is demonstrated that the action of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes has been for the purpose of protecting a demanial property, such as the right-of-way that the plaintiff is using without any authorization. That as long as the necessary proof to demonstrate the alleged harms is not brought into the process, or at least compelling indications of their eventuality are not indicated, it is its criterion that this requirement is not met, and therefore the precautionary measure must be denied. Regarding the balancing of interests at stake, it cites that in this case it is clear that the protection of demanial properties must prevail since they are destined for public use, over any social and economic interest that the plaintiff may present, and that in this case, the action of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes is protected by the declaration of public interest of State property contained in the legal system.
Now, on this day when this provision is issued, it should be noted that the precautionary measure (medida cautelar) filed by Mrs. Nombre3223, on the eleventh of August of the year two thousand sixteen, was admitted by this Court as ultra-provisional (provisionalísima) as of the seventeenth of August of last year, ordering the immediate suspension of the effects of the administrative act by which the demolition of the plaintiff's dwelling was intended; therefore, it is from that date that Mrs. Nombre3223 has been inhabiting her home with the rest of her family unit, so a simple calculation yields the result that she has been in her dwelling by judicial order for almost eleven months, and during all that time, the administration apparently has not carried out any type of works on the surface of that road involving the plaintiff's property, and consequently the public work has not suffered any setback, at least that is what can be presumed in the absence of any single evidentiary element to prove otherwise and alter that determination of ultra-provisional admission (Article 29.1 of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo and Article 317, subsection 2, of the Código Procesal Civil, applied supplementarily pursuant to Article 220 of the Code governing this Matter). Having said the above, and until such time as the dispute is resolved in the judicial venue, the balance on this occasion tips toward considering this requirement fulfilled. Thus, upon analyzing the parties' positions as a whole, it is the conclusion of this judge that private interest must prevail over public interests or those of interested third parties. Let the analyzed element be considered fulfilled.
POR TANTO
It is ordered that the effects and execution of the demolition ordered by resolution IVD-II24-2014 of October 24, 2014, remain suspended. Mrs. Nombre3223 shall take into consideration that according to the rules of Article 26, second paragraph, of the Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, if she has not filed the principal claim, she must file it within a period of 15 days, counted from the day following the notification of this resolution, and under this same number (16-007716-1027-CA), with the warning that in case of omission, the precautionary measure decreed herein will be lifted and she will be ordered to pay the damages caused, which will be liquidated through the judgment enforcement procedure. Due to the particularities inherent to this type of proceeding, this matter is decided without a special award of costs. NOTIFY.- \*TQWFQ43NUBYQ61\* RODRIGO HUERTAS DURÁN - TRIAL JUDGE (JUEZ/A DECISOR/A) Classification prepared by the Judicial Branch's CENTRO DE INFORMACIÓN JURISPRUDENCIAL. Its reproduction and/or distribution for profit is prohibited.
It is a faithful copy of the original - Taken from Nexus.PJ on: 09-05-2026 07:21:54.
Tribunal Contencioso Administrativo Clase de asunto: Medida cautelar ante causam Analizado por: CENTRO DE INFORMACIÓN JURISPRUDENCIAL Contenido de Interés:
Tipo de contenido: Voto de mayoría Rama del Derecho: Derecho Procesal Contencioso Administrativo Tema: Medidas cautelares en el proceso contencioso administrativo Subtemas:
Análisis con respecto al acto que ordena suspender la demolición de una vivienda donde habitan personas menores de edad en condición de pobreza. Generalidades, requisitos esenciales y características estructurales.
“II) GENERALIDADES PARA EL OTORGAMIENTO DE UNA MEDIDA CAUTELAR. Tal y como ha sido desarrollado por la Sala Constitucional, la justicia cautelar responde a la necesidad de garantizar el principio constitucional de una justicia pronta y cumplida, al conservar las condiciones reales indispensables para la emisión y ejecución de la sentencia. (Resolución 7190-1994, de las 15:24 horas del 6 de diciembre). En este mismo sentido, el artículo 19 del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, establece que el fin de la fijación de una medida cautelar es proteger y garantizar, provisionalmente el objeto del proceso y la efectividad de la sentencia. La doctrina ha indicado que la justicia cautelar no tiene como fin declarar un hecho o una responsabilidad, ni la de constituir una relación jurídica, ni ejecutar un mandato y satisfacer el derecho que se tiene sin ser discutido, ni dirimir un litigio, sino prevenir los daños que el litigio pueda acarrear o que puedan derivarse de una situación anormal (Gallegos Fedriani, Pablo. Las medidas cautelares contra la Administración Pública. 2 ed. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Ábaco, 2006). Teniendo claro lo anterior, el juzgador con observancia de lo dispuesto en el artículo 21 de la norma procesal indicada, debe determinar la procedencia de una solicitud de medida cautelar, verificando al efecto que la pretensión del proceso de conocimiento no sea temeraria o, en forma palmaria, carente de seriedad, lo que constituye una valoración preliminar del fondo para determinar si existe en el caso en cuestión lo que la doctrina y la jurisprudencia han llamado apariencia de buen derecho o fumus boni iuris. La norma de análisis también establece la procedencia de la medida cautelar cuando la ejecución o permanencia de la conducta sometida a proceso produzca graves daños o perjuicios, actuales o potenciales, situación que ha sido definida en la doctrina como el periculum en mora o peligro en la demora, es decir, que en virtud de la demora patológica del proceso judicial, concurra un peligro actual, real y objetivo de que se genere a la parte promovente un daño grave (Jinesta Lobo, Ernesto. Manual del Proceso Contencioso-Administrativo. 1 ed. San José, Costa Rica, Editorial Jurídica Continental, 2008). Bajo la misma línea de pensamiento, el artículo 22 del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, establece la obligación del juzgador de realizar, a la luz del principio de proporcionalidad, una ponderación de los intereses en juego, es decir, entre la circunstancia del particular, por un lado y el interés público y los intereses de terceros que puedan verse afectados con la adopción de la medida cautelar, por el otro. Adicionalmente y del mismo numeral 22 citado, se exige que la medida cautelar resulte instrumental y provisional.- III) REQUISITOS ESENCIALES PARA ADMITIR UNA MEDIDA CAUTELAR. Al respecto se ha dicho que el cumplimiento de la tutela cautelar, como derecho fundamental derivado del numeral 41 constitucional que es el derecho a obtener justicia pronta y cumplida, el órgano jurisdiccional debe valorar para su efectiva materialización, además del cumplimiento de los presupuestos conocidos en doctrina como Apariencia de Buen Derecho (Fumus Boni Iuris), Peligro en la demora (Periculum in Mora), así como la ponderación de intereses en juego, los cuales se detallarán adelante, la verificación sobre la presencia o existencia de las que se han dado en llamar, características estructurales de la medida cautelar. Refiere lo anterior a la instrumentalidad, la provisionalidad, la urgencia y la summaria cognitio o sumariedad del procedimiento. Tanto los presupuestos indicados como las características señaladas, han de estar presentes para el otorgamiento de la medida que se ha solicitado con la finalidad de proteger y garantizar, provisionalmente el objeto del proceso y la efectividad de la sentencia. En lo que respecta a los presupuestos necesarios para el otorgamiento de la medida cautelar, encontramos los siguientes: a) Apariencia de Buen Derecho: para la procedencia de la medida cautelar debe mediar "seriedad en la demanda", es decir, una probabilidad de éxito tal, que la demanda no resulte a simple vista palmariamente carente de seriedad, o en su caso que sea temeraria. Para la doctrina, no es otra cosa que la probable estimación posterior del derecho material del actor en la sentencia, mediante el análisis propio de un proceso sumarísimo que en forma alguna puede o debe, determinar pronunciamiento sobre el fondo del asunto planteado, sino y en su lugar, únicamente una aproximación al mismo con los elementos presentes al momento del dictado del fallo que acoge o deniega la medida; b) Peligro en la Mora: consiste en el temor objetivamente fundado y razonable de que la situación jurídica sustancial aducida resulte seriamente dañada o perjudicada en forma grave e irreparable, durante el transcurso del tiempo necesario para dictar sentencia en el proceso principal. Este presupuesto requiere la presencia de dos elementos: el daño o perjuicio grave y la demora en el proceso de conocimiento, sin dejar de lado claro está, que dentro de este presupuesto se encuentra lo que la doctrina ha denominado como la "Bilateralidad del Periculum in Mora" o como comúnmente se le conoce, la ponderación de los intereses en juego. El presupuesto alude a la característica que habrán de encontrarse en los daños que se reprochen, son susceptibles de producirse, -actual o potencialmente-, de no adoptarse la medida que se requiere. Daños que deberán ser establecidos como graves, además de tenerse como derivados de la situación aducida. Las lesiones acusadas al menos deben ser comprobadas a través del principio racional de prueba por lo que no basta con aducir el daño en los términos dichos, sino que habrá de acreditarse las circunstancias para ser considerado un daño y que el mismo sea grave. En ese sentido, debe enfatizarse que no basta con alegar la existencia del daño o perjuicio, grave, actual o potencial, sino que debe probarse, lo cual, como se refirió líneas arriba, es una carga procesal que le corresponde asumir a la parte interesada en probar su dicho, artículo 317 del Código Procesal Civil. Sobre la demora en el proceso de conocimiento: Este presupuesto refiere a la situación que se genera con ocasión de los procesos jurisdiccionales que requieren para su desarrollo y posterior fenecimiento, la realización de una serie de actos a través de los cuales se garantiza no sólo el debido proceso, sino la emisión de un fallo que si no se pude llevar a cabo con prontitud al menos que sea justo. El ponerle fin a un proceso de conocimiento demanda tiempo y es precisamente donde la tutela cautelar adquiere especial relevancia, por cuanto mientras llega esa decisión del caso se esta evitando graves daños, que en el caso de darse haría nugatorio el derecho que se reclama. Con la entrada en vigencia del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, se vino a solucionar en mucho, aquellos procesos que tardaban años e incluso décadas, hoy día por más esfuerzos que se han realizado los procesos aunque duran menos, por las bondades de la oralidad, hay que cumplir con diferentes etapas, señalamientos, en contraposición con agendas bastantes saturadas, etc, que hacen que los procesos duren un tiempo razonable, pero tiempo al fin. Sobre la bilateralidad del periculum in mora: Bajo esta denominación se alude a la ponderación de los intereses en juego, vinculado ello con el interés público que sea susceptible de encontrarse en necesidad de ser protegido, frente al interés de terceros y por supuesto al interés de quien acude por medio de una medida cautelar, debiendo valorarse comparativamente los mismos, imponiéndose la denegatoria de la medida cuando el perjuicio sufrido o susceptible de ser producido a la colectividad o terceros, sea superior al que podría experimentar el solicitante de la medida.- IV) CARACTERÍSTICAS ESTRUCTURALES DE LA MEDIDA CAUTELAR: Tal y como fuera señalado, además de los presupuestos ya indicados, es necesario que la medida que vaya adoptarse, estructuralmente cuente con las siguientes características: la instrumentalidad lo que significa que guardan una marcada relación de accesoriedad con la sentencia final, pues en definitiva, sirven de instrumento para mantener la vigencia del objeto del proceso en los términos planteados, la provisionalidad, que no es otra cosa que lo acordado respecto de la cautelar, se mantendrá en vigencia y condicionado a lo que se resuelva en el proceso de fondo. Cabe resaltar que también puede ser cesada o modificada en cualquier momento, ante la variabilidad de las condiciones que originariamente le dieron cabida, o bien, adoptar la que de previo hubiere sido rechazada, tal y como lo establece el numeral 29 del Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, por lo que su eficacia se agota al momento de dictarse la sentencia de mérito, o lo que es lo mismo tiene efectos supeditados a la disposición adoptada en el proceso principal; la urgencia para evitar el peligro en la mora, así como la sumaria cognitio <esto es>, que este tipo de medidas son adoptadas en virtud de una cognición sumarísima efectuada por el órgano jurisdiccional sin entrar a prejuzgar sobre el mérito del asunto, que de forma alguna podría sustituir las etapas del proceso de conocimiento. Partiendo del anterior marco normativo de análisis y los elementos requeridos para la estimación de una medida cautelar, se procede a realizar el estudio del caso concreto […]
RESULTANDO
CONSIDERANDO
POR TANTO
Se ordena el mantener suspendido los efectos y ejecución de la demolición dispuesta por medio de la resolución IVD-II24-2014 del 24 de Octubre del 2014. Tome en consideración la señora Nombre3223 , que según las reglas del artículo 26 párrafo segundo Código Procesal Contencioso Administrativo, si no ha presentado la demanda principal deberá presentarla en el plazo de 15 días, contados a partir del día siguiente de la notificación de esta resolución, y bajo este mismo número (16-007716-1027-CA), bajo el apercibimiento de que en caso de omisión la medida cautelar aquí decretada será levantada y se le condenará al pago de los daños y perjuicios causados los cuales se liquidarán por el trámite de ejecución de sentencia. Por las particularidades propias de este tipo de gestiones se falla este asunto sin especial condenatoria en costas. NOTIFÍQUESE.- *TQWFQ43NUBYQ61* RODRIGO HUERTAS DURÁN - JUEZ/A DECISOR/A Clasificación elaborada por CENTRO DE INFORMACIÓN JURISPRUDENCIALdel Poder Judicial. Prohibida su reproducción y/o distribución en forma onerosa.
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