Opinion ID: 2371662
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Nature of Relief Granted

Text: Blagbrough's final argument is that the trial court erred in requiring A & T to repair the portion of the well line that traverses A & T's property rather than ordering A & T to pay $3,260 in damages, an amount representing the cost of repairing the entire well line. Blagbrough contends that the trial court's decision constituted an improper award of equitable relief where an adequate legal remedy existed. The propriety of affording equitable relief rests in the sound discretion of the trial court to be exercised according to the circumstances and exigencies of the case. Gutbier v. Hannaford Bros. Co., 150 N.H. 540, 541, 842 A.2d 64 (2004). Because the separation between law and equity is not sharp, courts in New Hampshire have broad discretion in exercising equity jurisdiction. Thurston Enters., Inc. v. Baldi, 128 N.H. 760, 764, 519 A.2d 297 (1986). We will uphold a trial court's equitable order unless its decision constitutes an unsustainable exercise of discretion. Gutbier, 150 N.H. at 541-42, 842 A.2d 64. Several circumstances undermine Blagbrough's challenge to the trial court's exercise of discretion. For example, the damaged portion of the well line was located on A & T's property and the well line had not been used as a source of drinking water for the residence on Blagbrough's property since 1985. Further, the trial court found that the water line was very old and was not in particularly good condition at the time it was accidentally broken by defendant. The trial court also found that [t]he line consisted of lead piping, which is no longer in use, and was not buried deep enough under ground to conform with modern practice. It also bears noting that during trial and at the hearing on damages, Blagbrough took the position that this was an equity case  not a law suit for damages. Under these circumstances, we cannot conclude that the trial court unsustainably exercised its discretion in ordering A & T to replace the portion of the line lying on its property rather than paying the amount it would cost to replace the entire 900-foot line.