Opinion ID: 1765925
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: did the court err in awarding costs of restoration?

Text: In reviewing the record, it appears that this issue was never presented to the trial court. Under our familiar rule, we need not address issues which are presented for the first time on appeal, Crenshaw v. State, 520 So.2d 131, 134-35 (Miss. 1988), but here we will for the sake of clarity. As a general rule, the measure of damages for injury to land is the difference in value of the land before and after the trespass. However, this rule applies only in cases of permanent injury to realty. Chevron Oil Co. v. Snellgrove, 253 Miss. 356, 364, 175 So.2d 471, 474 (1965); and Sun Oil Co. v. Nunnery, 251 Miss. 631, 646, 170 So.2d 24, 31 (1964). Where, as in this case, the injury to the land is temporary and subject to restoration, the proper measure of damage is the cost of restoration. Buras v. Shell Oil Co., 666 F. Supp. 919, 923 (S.D.Miss. 1987), citing Sun Oil Co. v. Nunnery, 251 Miss. 631, 170 So.2d 24, 31-32 (1964); see also, Teledyne Exploration Co. v. Dickerson, 253 So.2d 817, 819 (Miss. 1971), citing Chevron, supra, and Sun Oil Co., supra . The lower court correctly awarded damages to the plaintiffs Hederman and Wilson for the costs of restoration, and there is no merit to this argument.