Opinion ID: 2587884
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: preclusion of nuisance claim

Text: Winkel challenges the district court's finding that the nuisance claim was barred by the statute of limitations and makes the preemptive argument that res judicata and the statute of repose are inapplicable, as well. The arguments present issues of law, subject to de novo review. See, e.g., Stanfield v. Osborne Industries, Inc., 263 Kan. 388, 396, 949 P.2d 602 (1997), cert. denied 525 U.S. 831, 119 S.Ct. 84, 142 L.Ed.2d 66 (1998) (application of doctrine of res judicata a legal question). With respect to the statute of limitations, the district court analyzed whether the claimed nuisance was temporary or permanent. The cases attempting to make that distinction are not always easy to reconcile. See Dougan v. Rossville Drainage Dist., 270 Kan. 468, 477, 15 P.3d 338 (2000) (although drainage ditch was a permanent structure, the flooding caused thereby was a temporary nuisance); Isnard v. City of Coffeyville, 260 Kan. 2, 11, 917 P.2d 882 (1996) (storm sewer was permanent nuisance from which future damages due to flooding could be reasonably determined). We perceive that we need not muddy those waters to resolve this case. Nearly 13 years ago, our Court of Appeals ruled that, as a matter of law, the noise, odor, and dust created by KDOT's operation of the asphalt mixing strip did not create a substantial and unreasonable interference with Winkel's right to enjoy his property. Winkel I, slip op. at 17. In 2003, Winkel again sought to enjoin KDOT's operation of the asphalt mixing strip, albeit on other theories. In this recycled nuisance claim, Winkel presents essentially the same complaints that were litigated in Winkel I, modified only slightly to include unsupported allegations of ground and possibly water contamination. The doctrine of res judicata (or claim preclusion) prohibits a party from asserting in a second lawsuit any matter that might have been asserted in the first lawsuit. Stanfield, 263 Kan. at 397, 949 P.2d 602. Res judicata prevents relitigation where the following requirements are met: `(1) identity in the thing sued for, (2) identity of the cause of action, (3) identity of persons and parties to the action, and (4) identity in the quality of persons for or against whom claim is made.' Waterview Resolution Corp. v. Allen, 274 Kan. 1016, 1023, 58 P.3d 1284 (2002) (quoting Regency Park v. City of Topeka, 267 Kan. 465, 478, 981 P.2d 256 [1999]). Winkel is suing KDOT for the third time to stop the mixing strip operations, i.e., the parties involved and the relief sought are identical. Winkel I involved the identical cause of action, i.e., a nuisance claim alleging that KDOT's mixing strip operations interfered with Winkel's farmstead use and devalued the remaining 78 acres of the farm. In Winkel II, Winkel had all of the information necessary to challenge KDOT's operations subsequent to the first lawsuit, i.e., a nuisance claim could have been asserted. Winkel justifies the relitigation of this issue by alleging that the number of days that KDOT actually operated the mixing strip during the period from 1994 to 2004 exceeded the 17 days per year of predicted use relied upon in the 1994 lawsuit. In other words, Winkel apparently suggests that he has a new and independent cause of action for nuisance based upon new facts. We disagree. In an affidavit, Karl Winkel stated that a diary of KDOT's use of the property had been kept since 1994, except for a 2-year period from late 1999 to early 2002. He relies on the diary as the proof that the interference with his farmstead use is now substantial and unreasonable. The record reflects the following use: March to December 1994-94 days; 1995-54 days; 1996-25 days; 1997-59 days; 1998-24 days; March to October 1999-27 days; 2002-34 days; 2003-27 days; 2004-28 days. We agree with the district court that Winkel has not established a material change in the circumstances, since the nuisance claim was originally litigated. Winkel's assertion that the Winkel I opinion was premised upon only 17 days of operation is inaccurate. That court actually said that the asphalt plant in question is operated only occasionally and may be operated as few as 17 days a year.  (Emphasis added.) Winkel I, slip op. at 15. Moreover, the decision recited the district court's finding that `[t]he hauling in and mixing of road repair material takes approximately twenty (20) days per year. In addition, the repair aggregate is hauled out on an intermittent basis. ' (Emphasis added.) Slip op. at 6-7. Pointedly, Winkel's affidavit does not separately note how many of the days of recorded use involved the hauling out of repair aggregate, i.e., that were in addition to the operation of the mixing strip, as contemplated by the trial court. Even viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to Winkel, KDOT's use of the triangle tract after 1994 was within the parameters of the occasional and intermittent operation contemplated by Winkel I. Winkel's affidavit does not support an argument that KDOT's subsequent use of the property has materially increased so as to support a new and independent action for nuisance. Winkel I's holding that the harm created by the asphalt mixing strip is trivial remains valid. The district court correctly granted summary judgment in favor of KDOT. Affirmed. EDWARD E. BOUKER, District Judge, assigned.