Case Name: OLIVER DOXSEY and OLIVER S. DOXSEY, Appellants, v. THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD COMPANY, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1885-02
Citations: 42 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 362
Docket Number: 
Parties: OLIVER DOXSEY and OLIVER S. DOXSEY, Appellants, v. THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD COMPANY, Respondent.
Judges: Dykman, J., concurred.
Reporter: Supreme Court Reports (Hun)
Volume: 42
Pages: 362–365

Head Matter:
OLIVER DOXSEY and OLIVER S. DOXSEY, Appellants, v. THE LONG ISLAND RAILROAD COMPANY, Respondent.
Obstruction of a ncmgabh stream by the defendant — the burden of proving the right to obstruet it rests upon the defendant.
Where, in an action brought against a railroad company to recover damages for obstructing a navigable stream-, it appears that one of the defendant’s bridges closed up a common water highway, and that the plaintiffs have sustained damages from the obstruction, their case is established, and it rests upon the defendant to show its authority to construct the bridge, if it had any, and that it was properly built and managed. (Pratt, J., dissenting.)
Appeal from a judgment of the County Court of Queens county, reversing a judgment in favor of the plaintiffs rendered by a justice of the peace.
The defendants, a railroad corporation, used and occupied a railroad track in the town of Hempstead, Queens county, for rail road purposes between a place called Pearsalls and Long Beach, in the aforesaid county. The track crossed several navigable streams of water, over which were erected as 'many draw-bridges. This action was brought against the defendants to recover damages because of its refusal and neglect to raise one of these draw-bridges to allow the sailing vessels of the plaintiffs to pass through a navigable portion of the bays of the town of Hempstead, whereby the plaintiffs lost a large quantity of oysters.
The draw of the bridge was broken which prevented it being raised.
George A. Mott, for the appellants.
Edward E. Sprague, for the respondent.

Opinion:
Barnard, P. J.:
This action is not to be treated as one based upon negligence. The proof is clear that the defendant is in possession of a railroad running from and between Pearsalls and Long Beach, in Queens county. This road, by one of its bridges, is proved to have closed up a common water highway. The action was made out when the obstruction was established and the damage resulting therefrom. It was for those who obstructed or who assumed the road with the obstruction to the water highway. It may be that there was no authority for the bridge. It is more likely that the road was lawful, upon condition that the water highway should be kept open. It would not justify the defendant, if this was the condition, to prove a bad bridge, one which would not work so as to free navigation. The case is not like the statute in respect to railroad fences. The adjoining owner has no right to .a fence except by statute, and if the fence is well built, a sudden destruction of it would free the company until it received notice or ought to have discovered the defect. The right of way over the navigable water is absolute and cannot be taken away by the legislature. Besides, if a railroad fence is proven down, and injury results, it is not the duty of the injured party to' prove how long it had been down. Finally, this bridge is proven to have been an obstruction from Thursday night, August twenty-nine, until Sunday, September two, which is strong evidence of negligence in a case like this. The company had notice of the defect Thursday night, and how long before it does not appear.
The judgment should be reversed, with costs, and that of the justice affirmed.
Dykman, J., concurred.