Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/300/300mass560.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 09:53:04+00:00

Document:
ELIZABETH MARKIEWICUS & another vs. TOWN OF METHUEN.
By conduct of an owner of real estate in not questioning the validity of a taking in 1896 by a municipality of an easement for a sewer, in refraining from claiming damages for said taking in return for exemption from a betterment assessment and in permitting the completion of the sewer and enjoying the benefits thereof, he became estopped to deny the validity of the taking, and his successors took title subject to the easement.
A municipality was liable for damage suffered by a landowner through its negligence in failing to repair a sewer after notice that, although originally properly constructed, it had fallen into disrepair.
BILL IN EQUITY, filed in the Superior Court on March 4, 1935.
No question of pleading was raised. By order of Williams, J., a final decree was entered merely that the defendant was liable to the plaintiffs in the sum of $750 and costs. The plaintiffs appealed.
R. A. A. Comparone, for the plaintiffs.
M. A. Cregg, for the defendant.
"breaks" alleged. It comes before us on the plaintiffs' appeal from the final decree.
The evidence is reported and the judge made a finding of material facts. Questions of fact as well as of law are thus before us, and it is our duty to examine the evidence and decide the case according to our own judgment, giving due weight to the findings of the judge whose decision, based upon the hearing of oral testimony, will not be reversed unless plainly wrong. See Martell v. Dorey, 235 Mass. 35, 40; Edwards v. Cockburn, 264 Mass. 112, 120; Brooks v. Bennett, 277 Mass. 8, 14; Adams v. Silverman, 280 Mass. 23, 26; Kevorkian v. Moors, 299 Mass. 163, 166.
March, 1895, the town voted that the treasurer be authorized to borrow money to pay for the sewer built under the vote of June, 1894. At the annual town meeting in March, 1896, the town voted in accordance with the provisions of Pub. Sts. c. 50, Section 7, to accept and adopt the sewer system in question together with proposed branches as shown on a plan on file in the town clerk's office, and that assessments under Section 4 of said chapter be made. The assessments were made under a warrant dated December 12, 1896.
After the vote of June, 1894, an agreement was made between the road commissioners and each owner of property abutting on the course of the proposed sewer, including the then owner, Davis, that the owners would be exempt from assessment and that they should demand no damages for the taking. As a result of this agreement, no damages were ever claimed by the then or succeeding owners until the present bill was filed. The foregoing facts are in substance found by the judge, but he found that no betterment assessment was levied. It is established by the evidence that an assessment was levied on the property, now owned by the plaintiffs, against Kenyon, who purchased it in October, 1895. However, in accordance with the terms of the agreement between Davis, the former owner, and the town, the assessment was abated.
The judge also found that the sewer was constructed sometime in 1895, but did not expressly find who was in fact the owner of the premises involved at the time of its actual construction. It is apparent from the evidence of the records of the town meetings, however, that the sewer was constructed, at the latest, before the town meeting in March, 1895, while Davis was the owner of the property.
be taken by the town on their report. Pub. Sts. c. 50, Sections 1, 2; c. 49, Sections 67, 71.
It appears from the evidence that no written notice to the landowner was ever given, and that the layout required by the statute was not filed. The plans of the sewer filed with the town clerk had no boundaries or measurements to indicate the amount of land taken, and they did not bear the signatures of the road commissioners, any identification, or a filing date. The plans, together with the report of the commission which investigated the sewer project, did not constitute a filing of the layout. Apart from the lack of authentication of the plans, even when considered with the report, it was impossible to ascertain the precise land to be taken.
The giving of written notice and the filing of the layout required by the statutes were not mere formalities, but were indispensable conditions, upon compliance with which the right of appropriating private property for sewer uses could alone be lawfully exercised. Jeffries v. Swampscott, 105 Mass. 535, 536. Blaisdell v. Winthrop, 118 Mass. 138, 140. Howland v. Greenfield, 231 Mass. 147, 149. Greenfield v. Burnham, 250 Mass. 203, 211. Consequently, although there was compliance with other statutory requirements, since there was no compliance with these two requirements, the taking was not made as required by law.
the validity of the taking. In these circumstances Davis became estopped to complain of any defects or errors in the proceedings. Howland v. Greenfield, 231 Mass. 147, 149, 150.
"It is settled that where an easement in private land is taken for the maintenance of a sewer, only the person who at the date of taking owns the land or some interest therein has any claim to damages," and the right to damages is a chose in action which does not pass by deed. Howland v. Greenfield, 231 Mass. 147, 148, and cases cited. Barnes v. Springfield, 268 Mass. 497, 505, 506. It follows that the plaintiffs have no right to damages for the taking of the land.
As to any claim against the town for the subjection of their land to the easement of the sewer, the plaintiffs could acquire no greater estate than that possessed by their predecessors, and since a predecessor in title, Davis, had knowingly and willingly permitted the land to become subject to the easement, the plaintiffs must hold the land subject to the easement. Howland v. Greenfield, 231 Mass. 147, 150. The plaintiffs have argued that the Howland case should not control here, since it appears in the master's report in the original papers in that case that the plaintiff knew of the existence of the sewer when she purchased the land from the one who owned it when the sewer was laid, while here the plaintiffs had no knowledge of the existence of the sewer when they purchased the land. We think, however, that the decision in the Howland case was not based upon the plaintiff's knowledge of the existence of the sewer, but was based on the principle that the grantee could obtain no greater estate than that of the grantor.
broke, causing a cave-in; and that no negligence on the part of the town or its officials or agents contributed to or caused that break. As there was evidence to support these findings they must stand.
Decree affirmed, with costs of the appeal to the defendant.

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