Opinion ID: 1301352
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the majority's background discussion of trespass and nuisance is blended and wrong

Text: I now turn to the majority's convoluted discussion of nuisance and trespass. Although the same conduct may constitute both a trespass and a nuisance, they are distinct torts. Furthermore, the question of whether an injunction should issue is analyzed differently under trespass and nuisance. The majority's implied assumption that there is no distinction between the law of trespass and nuisance is incorrect. The majority begins its discussion of continuing trespass and nuisance law with a partial statement of continuing trespass law. Rather than fully stating the law of continuing trespass, the majority then obscures continuing trespass law by making the misleading and overbroad statement that an injunction remains discretionary and subject to equitable considerations; it is not available as a matter of right. 307 Or. at 681, 773 P.2d at 1297. The majority then blends continuing trespass law and nuisance law by citing two inapposite nuisance cases as support for this overbroad statement about continuing trespass law. [4] The majority next provides an inapposite quote from Martin et ux v. Reynolds Metals Co., 221 Or. 86, 342 P.2d 790 (1959), cert. den. 362 U.S. 918, 80 S.Ct. 672, 4 L.Ed.2d 739 (1960). [5] The majority concludes by stating that the cases show that invasions of another's real property are not always enjoined, even when the invasion qualifies as `trespass' for purposes of liability for damages. 307 Or. at 683, 773 P.2d at 1299; see also 307 Or. at 687-689, 773 P.2d at 1301-1302. This proposition is terribly misleading because it is grossly overbroad and incorrectly implies that trespass law is devoid of structured rules. [6] The majority has cited only inapposite cases for this proposition, [7] and has failed to cite even one relevant trespass case as support. In short, in a desperate attempt to avoid a proper continuing trespass analysis, the majority has ignored existing law, cited inapposite cases, blended trespass and nuisance law, and made overbroad statements. Furthermore, because the majority turns its decision on nuisance law, everything that the majority states about trespass law is dicta and should be ignored.