Opinion ID: 1861710
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the nuisance claim

Text: Tipler presents an interesting and persuasive argument in support of his allegation that the trial court erred in rejecting his nuisance claim as a matter of law. We agree that Ala.Code 1975, § 6-5-120, has been liberally interpreted to effect its broadly stated purpose (providing a remedy for anything that works hurt, inconvenience or damage to another). See McCraney v. City of Leeds, 239 Ala. 143, 194 So. 151 (1940); and Baldwin v. McClendon, 292 Ala. 43, 288 So.2d 761 (1974). We also agree that anything (i.e., a nuisance, public or private) may consist of conduct that is intentional, unintentional, or negligent. Indeed, it may even consist of activities that are conducted in an otherwise lawful and careful manner, as well as conduct that combines with the culpable act of another, so long as it works hurt, inconvenience, or damage to the complaining party. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 821B (1979). See, also, Alabama Power Co. v. Stringfellow, 228 Ala. 422, 153 So. 629 (1934). This does not mean, however, that the plaintiff is not required to prove against the defendant the elements of legal duty and causal relation between the conduct or activity complained of and the hurt, inconvenience, or damage sued for. That which works hurt to another, to satisfy the statutory definition of a nuisance, must comport with the classical tort concepts of duty and causation. See Lauderdale County Board of Education v. Alexander, 269 Ala. 79, 110 So.2d 911 (1959) (holding that the statutory definition of nuisance is declaratory of the common law and does not supersede the common law as to the other conditions and circumstances constituting a nuisance under the common law). Thus, we must look to the particular facts of each case to determine whether the party charged with creating and maintaining a nuisance has engaged in a course of conduct, or has permitted to exist a set of circumstances, that, in its natural and foreseeable consequences, proximately caused the hurt, inconvenience, or damage complained about. Moreover, even assuming that the determination of causation is properly a factual issue for the jury, there yet remains the threshold issue of legal duty. As to both elementsduty and causation the facts here presented fall short of bringing Exxon's activities within the ambit of an actionable tort for creating and maintaining a nuisance. The problem is one of remoteness. While Tipler's argumentthat Exxon's operation caused both lanes of traffic on U.S. Highway 31 to be blocked, thereby creating `a very dangerous condition' has a certain logical but for appeal, the facts do not supply the requisite nexus between Exxon's activities and the ultimate events and circumstances of the accident in question. Exxon cannot be charged and held liable either for maintaining, or for failing to prevent, a chain of events and circumstances over which it had no reasonable means of control. To hold otherwise would require that Exxon either assume the responsibility of reconstructing the public highways (or otherwise removing the traffic hazard), or close its industrial sulphur operation at the Big Escambia Creek facility. The law will not impose that choice under these circumstances.