Opinion ID: 1097901
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: theories of negligence

Text: Plaintiffs claim that APCo negligently operated its dams and that APCo negligently failed to exercise its power of eminent domain to purchase or condemn a sufficient easement for hydroelectric purposes. The trial court's order states that it is clearly uncontroverted from the deposition and affidavit of John S. Drago, Chief of Reservoir Control and Meteorology Section of the Mobile Engineer District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, together with the answers to the plaintiffs' interrogatories, that the purpose of the Flood Control Plan is to decrease the flow of water from one dam into a downstream reservoir. In addition it is uncontroverted that during all times pertinent to the issues raised by the Complaint, Alabama Power Company acted in strict compliance with the Corps of Engineers Flood Control Plan. And finally, having acted in accordance with such a Plan, the flooding which resulted to any downstream riparian owners was no worse than would have occurred in the absence of such dams.... This Court in Law v. Gulf States Steel Co., 229 Ala. 305, 156 So. 835 (1934), held that a plaintiff cannot recover if the flood waters of a reservoir reached such a height that the plaintiffs' property would have been destroyed even if the dam did not exist. We agree with the trial court's finding that plaintiffs failed to meet the burden of proof of negligence on behalf of APCo. The depositions and answers to interrogatories by the plaintiffs do not contain a scintilla of evidence in support of such a conclusion. Further, even assuming arguendo that there was a showing of negligence on the part of APCo, there was no showing by plaintiffs that this negligence proximately caused in fact the damage to their property ( i.e. that absent the dams their property would not have been flooded to the same extent or perhaps more so). As to the plaintiffs' claim that APCo negligently failed to exercise its right of eminent domain by acquiring additional flood easement, plaintiffs cite no proposition of law which holds that a utility has such a duty to a landowner. The trial court's order refers to Mr. Drago's deposition in stating that the amount of easement acquired and the operation of a dam for flood control purposes are not related.  He testified that only the rain and the flow of the river cause flooding, and that the amount of easement acquired would not have affected the elevation of the river on April 13, 1979, and the resulting property damage. Finally, the Federal Power Commission authorized and approved the amount of the easement acquired on certain of Alabama Power's reservoirs. For this reason and the other reason stated, APCo would be clearly exonerated from liability under the theories of negligence claimed by plaintiffs. The defendant, APCo, has met the burden in these cases of demonstrating that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Rule 56, A.R.Civ.P.; Kutack v. Winn-Dixie Louisiana, Inc., 411 So.2d 137 (Ala.1982); Bryant v. Morley, 406 So.2d 394 (Ala.1981). Our review of the record convinces us that the trial court correctly granted summary judgment. That judgment, therefore, must be, and is hereby, affirmed. AFFIRMED. TORBERT, C.J., and MADDOX, JONES and SHORES, JJ., concur.