The term action or proceeding means all actions and proceedings in any court and any action or proceeding before the governing bodies of municipal corporations, public corporations, and political subdivisions for the equalization of special assessments or assessing the cost of any public improvement.
§ 25-520.02.Action or proceeding, defined.
Article 5: Commencement of Actions and Service of Process · Last amended 1957 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceSection 25-520.02 defines “action or proceeding,” for Nebraska’s notice-by-publication statutes, to cover every case in any court plus any proceeding before a municipal corporation, public corporation, or political subdivision that equalizes special assessments or apportions the cost of a public improvement.
Full Text of § 25-520.02
Source
Laws 1957, c. 80, § 2, p. 326.
Plain-English Summary
Most people picture a “proceeding” as something that happens inside a courthouse. Section 25-520.02 says the term reaches further, at least for purposes of the publication-notice statutes it belongs to. It covers every action and proceeding in any court, and it also covers proceedings before the governing bodies of cities, public corporations, and political subdivisions — the county board, a city council, a drainage district — when those bodies equalize special assessments or set the cost of a public improvement.
That second half matters because local governments routinely have to notify property owners about assessments for things like sidewalks, sewer lines, or paving, and they often rely on published notice to reach owners who cannot easily be found or served in person. By folding these local proceedings into the same definition used for court cases, Section 25-520.02 lets the surrounding publication rules in Sections 25-520.01 to 25-520.03 apply consistently, whether the notice comes from a judge or from a city council.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “action or proceeding” mean under Section 25-520.02?
It means any action or proceeding in any court, plus any proceeding before the governing body of a municipal corporation, public corporation, or political subdivision that equalizes special assessments or sets the cost of a public improvement.
Does this definition apply to more than court cases?
Yes. It reaches local government proceedings, such as a city council equalizing special assessments, in addition to ordinary lawsuits.
Why would a special assessment proceeding need this type of definition?
Local governments often notify affected property owners by publication rather than personal service, so treating those proceedings the same as court actions lets the same publication rules govern both.
Does this section, by itself, require anyone to publish a notice?
Which other sections rely on this definition?
Source & verification. Section text and the amendment-history citation are
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Legislature, Revisor of Statutes, enacted by the
Nebraska Legislature. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
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