Case ID: ny-st-rep_69/html/0432-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Pratt, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Patrick Hart, Resp’t, v. Brooklyn Elevated Railroad Company et al., App’lts. George Waldie, Resp’t, v. Same, App’lts. Mary Ann Wright, Resp’t, v. Same, App’lts. Stephen Ryder, Resp’t, v. Same, App’lts.
    
      (Supreme Court, General Term, Second, Department,
    
    
      Filed July 26, 1895)
    
    Equity—Retaining jurisdiction.
    Where an action against an elevated railway for damages and for an injunction has been begun before any move is made to acquire the easemeuts in the street, though the company has operated its road eight years, it is proper to refuse a motion to stay the action till the termination of a condemnation proceeding, or to send the case to the circuit.
    Appeal from an order, denying a motion to send the cases to the circuit, or for a stay until the determination of condemnation proceedings.
    Hoadly, Lauterbach & Johnson ( William B. Paige, Jr., of counsel), for app’lt; Stephen M. Hoye (Francis B. Whitney, of counsel), for resp’ts.
   Pratt, J.

These actions were for damages for depriving the plaintiffs of light and air, and depreciating in value the plaintiffs’ property, by the building and operating a railroad in the street fronting plaintiffs’ premises.

Under all the circumstances, the court at special term was justified in denying defendants’ motions. The complaint asked for equitable relief, by an injunction restraining a continuous trespass. From an examination of the pleadings it cannot be said that the case does not come under tne head of equitable jurisdiction. It is a familiar rule that, a court once having obtained jurisdiction, it can dispose of all the issues in the case, and give such relief as the facts warrant. It is true that the practice formerly was to send such cases before a commission, and to stay the cases until the coming in of the report of such commission, and it was within the power, of the court to have taken such ■course with these cases, but we think it was discretionary whethef to do so or not. The railroad has been built and operated about eight years, and no move has been made by the defendants to acquire the easements in the street until after the commencement of these suits. This long delay was a sufficient cause to justify the plaintiffs in seeking relief, and the court in denying the motion. Notwithstanding the demand of the defendants, the remedy of going before a eonimission, it is plain, was not as speedy or as adequate relief as an immediate bearing before the court. There have been many cases like these in the last few years, but I have been referred to none or heard of none where a similar one has been dismissed as not within the powers of a court of equity to entertain. Had the defendants sought, under the statute, to acquire the right, the court would have probably stayed the suits until such proceedings were completed, but the plaintiffs having first commenced suit, jurisdiction attached and the motions were properly denied.

Orders affirmed, with costs.

All concur.