Court Opinion

ID: 9543010
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:41:10.113296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:09:29.161687
License: Public Domain

Donworth, J.
(dissenting)—While I am in agreement with much that is said in Judge Hill’s dissenting opinion, I think that appellant should have stated whether or not it is condemning any rights of respondents to bathe, boat, swim and fish in Deer lake. It was the duty of appellant to specify the precise property rights of respondents which it proposed to acquire in the condemnation proceeding.
This practice has been followed in similar proceedings, as was pointed out in Seattle v. Faussett, 123 Wash. 613, 212 Pac. 1085, where we said:
“It has been the common practice, recognized by the courts of this state and sanctioned by this court, to have the special interest or estate sought to be condemned defined *302by a statement or stipulation filed by counsel for the petitioner in the eminent domain proceeding. State ex rel. Kent Lumber Co. v. Superior Court, 46 Wash. 516, 90 Pac. 663; Olympia Light & Power Co. v. Harris, 58 Wash. 410, 108 Pac. 940; State ex rel. Union Lumber Co. v. Superior Court, 70 Wash. 540, 127 Pac. 109; Washington Water Power Co. v. Abacus Ass’n, 77 Wash. 455, 137 Pac. 1199.”
The trial court erroneously ruled that appellant was not under any obligation to define the scope of its intended acquisition of respondents’ property rights. Until this is made clear, the court cannot determine the just compensation to which respondents are severally entitled under § 16 of Art. I of the state constitution. I would remand the case for a new trial, to be conducted in accordance with the established practice in such cases.
In the event that, upon a new trial, appellant stipulates that it is not seeking to acquire the rights above enumerated, the decree of appropriation should specifically reserve that question for future determination if, as a direct result of appellant’s use of the water,, respondents’ rights to bathe, boat, swim, or fish in Deer lake should ever actually be impaired or destroyed. If such a contingency arises, the just compensation, if any, for the taking or damaging of those rights can be determined in a future legal action. In my view, it is not necessary nor possible to decide this question on the present record.
With respect to respondents W. E. Braicks and F. W. Wonn, trustees for Pomerelle Company, their right to the natural drainage of their land should be included with, and treated in the same manner as, their right to bathe, boat, swim, and fish in the lake.
Robinson, J., concurs with Donworth, J.