Opinion ID: 2609242
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Issue of Flooding.

Text: The evidence shows that the property covered by the contract flooded in May or June of 1960. The water was up to the second step of the newer dwelling house on the property. After that flood appellants improved the older log house on the property. According to an engineer for the Department of Highways the whole area flooded during 1957. He testified that the area would not flood at all unless Coeur d'Alene Lake is too full of water, which causes the water to back onto the bordering land, including the Marks place (the property covered by the contract); that a combination of high water level in the lake and the spring runoff is required, in order that flooding may occur. Appellants stated that nobody told them that the property did or did not flood. Appellant Mrs. Thomson did not recall any conversation with respondent owners or with the realtor in regard to the flooding, prior to the time the contract to purchase the place was entered into during December 1959. While she stated she was not interested in any place that flooded, the record indicates that the realtor's conversation with Mrs. Thomson, who interviewed him about the purchase of the property, was that they, appellants, wanted, a place in the country, they liked to have a creek running through it, and she was enthusiastic over a log constructed type of building. Mr. Kelley, the realtor, contacted the owners, respondents, whose property fairly conformed to Mrs. Thomson's specifications. After showing the property to appellants three times, the agreement for the sale and purchase was consummated. Mr. Kelley had been informed, because of his work in the area, that under high water conditions water would leave the creek banks but he did not know how far. He knew that the creek through the property had been rerouted but he did not know what effect the rerouting would have on the property. He was referring to Cedar Creek which runs through the property. He knew that in the past the property had flooded some, although he had never seen the water surrounding the dwelling house on any previous occasion, as high as shown by the exhibits [photographs] of the flooding during the spring of 1961. Mr. Kelley's cross examination shows that neither he nor appellants ever mentioned the subject of flooding; that appellants did want a place in the vicinity of Coeur d'Alene Lake, having a creek running through it, and respondents' property met such requirements. The record fails to show that respondents or any one acting in their behalf made any representations of any kind to appellants, concerning whether the lands in question were subject to flooding from any cause. The finding of the trial court in the premises thus is sustained by the evidence.