Court Opinion

ID: 6688257
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 21:34:45.034181+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:01.737012
License: Public Domain

WHITING, P. J.
This is an appeal from the judgment of the trial court and an order denying a hew trial in an action, wherein plaintiffs recovered a verdict for damages which they claimed to have suffered through the negligence of the defendant corporation.
Respondents moved for the dismissal of this appeal for the reason that, after the judgment herein and prior to this appeal, there was appointed, in another action, a receiver for defendant corporation, and there was nothing showing that the receiver had authorized this appeal. Respondents have also moved that the purported transcript filed under the provisions of chapter 15, Raws 1911, be stricken from the records, and have interposed, in their brief, objections to the consideration of the merits of this appeal, alleging that the assignments of error are not properly before us; respondents contending that the original record was never properly *363settled. Inasmuch as satisfactory proof has been submitted to the court showing that the present appeal is authorized by the receiver; and inasmuch as the defects in the condition of the record herein, if such defects exist, undoubtedly arose in part from the uncertainty' existing regarding -the proper procedure upon appeal, under the 19 u statute, and also arose in part from the fact that this case was tried a long time before the record was prepared, and that,, at the time such record was prepared, -the judge who tried the case had been succeeded by another; and especially inasmuch as our views upon the merits of this appeal make the consideration of these matters of practice unnecessary — we have felt justified in disregarding these motions and objections and treating the appeal as though the record was in proper condition and there had been sufficient assignments of error to .present the alleged errors relied upon.
Plaintiffs were the owners of a farm situated a few miles south of the city of Brookings, S. D. The defendant corporation purchased a right of way and built a grade for a railroad running-south from said city of Brookings, which right ‘of way passed along the east edge of plaintiff’s quarter-section of land. In establishing the grade the defendant dug a ditch along each side thereof. Some miles north of plaintiffs’ land there was quite a rise of land through which this right of way passed. On each side of this rise, but particularly to the west, thereof, were natural drains into which the waters from the surrounding territory were gathered and carried in a southerly direction; the natural drains converging at a point on the right of way of defendant at the south end of the south slope of the hill above referred to. From this point to the south the land was- comparatively level, and the natural drains, while running in a southerly direction, did not follow -the line of the right of way of defendant, but varied therefrom both to the east and to the west, making it necessary, if the water was to follow in its natural course, that there be left several openings through said grade. The natural drains would finally carry the water into a draw that leaves the right of way a short distance from the northeast corner of plaintiffs’ land and crosses said land in a southwesterly direction. Openings were left in the grade at different points where the natural drain crosses the right of way, but it was the contention of the plaintiffs- — which conten*364tion was upheld by the verdict of the jury^ — that the openings so left were insufficient and were so constructed that the water, gathered into the natural drain, did not follow the same through its windings, and that damage resulted to the plaintiffs through the flowing over their land of a much greater volume of water than would have passed over same if it were not for the defendant’s grade and ditches. Plaintiffs contended — and it must be assumed that the jury agreed with such contention — that the water, instead of following the windings of the natural drains (which they claimed would have caused the water to have spread out over several flat tracts and especially to have accumulated in one quite large natural basin, whichv spreading and accumulation, taken in connection with the retard of said water by growing grass, would have caused -much of the water to h,ave seeped into the ground or to have evaporated), was gathered into the ditch on the east side of defendant’s grade and carried directly down said ditch to a point near plaintiffs’ land where the same was carried through an opening in defendant’s grade and from thence discharged directly over plaintiffs’ land, thus resulting in the discharge of an excessive amount of water upon their land. Plaintiffs contended, and offered proof to show, that their crops were destroyed during the season of 1908; that during the season of 1909 part of their land was unsuitable for cultivation; and that, in order to restore their land to a condition fitted for cultivation, it was necessary for them to have, and that they had constructed across their farm, á large ditch to carry the water into the Sioux river. Defendant contended that, in establishing its grade, it constructed the same in a proper manner and in accordance with the approved methods for building railroad grades; that the ditches dug in connection therewith were necessary for the proper drainage of the right of way; that sufficient openings were left, wherever the natural drain crossed the right of way, so that water flowing in such natural drain was allowed to and did follow the natural water courses; and that the excess of water coming upon plaintiffs’ land during the seasons of 1908 and 1909 was in no manner caused by any improper construction of defendant’s grade or ditches, but came solely through unprecedented rainfalls during those two seasons. Defendant also contended that plaintiffs waived all rights to any *365damages 'by having .conveyed to defendant the right of way along their land after the grade and ditches had been constructed.
[1] Appellant has assigned as error the refusal of the court to require respondents to amend their complaint so as to specify wherein they claimed appellant to have been negligent in its construction of its grade and ditches. This amendment was sought upon the trial long after issue had been joined by the answer; but, if it had been sought prior to answer, we believe the. court should have granted same. Inasmuch, however, as appellant found the complaint sufficient to permit of an answer, and inasmuch as the whole record shows that, upon 'the trial, the nature of the negligence complained of was clearly revealed and the issues of fact in relation thereto were fully covered by the evidence received on behalf of both parties, and it therefore appearing beyond question that appellant could not have been in any manner prejudiced by the trial court’s refusal to require such amendment, this ruling of the court could not possibly constitute reversible error.'
Appellant presents some 60 assignments of error in the trial court’s rulings upon the admission and rejection of evidence. We have carefully read the record herein, and, while there were some rulings that may be subject to criticism, as is almost inevitable in any case taking, as this one did, over a week -for its trial, we have been unable to find any ruling or rulings that could be held reversible qrror.
[2] Appellant has assigned as error the refusal of the court to direct a verdict in its favor, and also assigns the insufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdict, and has specified numerous' particulars wherein it claims the evidence insufficient to support respondents’ cause of action. There has .been submitted to this court, by the appellant, what purports to be a complete abstract of the record herein, and an additional abstract has been presented by respondents; we have treated these as containing the record upon this appeal. It appears therefrom that certain exhibits, received on behalf of respondents and which were very material to the issues of fact raised herein, are not reproduced in such printed record', and an examination of the original record on file in this court shows that such exhibits have not been made a paid thereof. It also appears in this case that -the court allowed the jury to make an inspection of respondents’ land, appellant’s right *366of way, and in fáct of the whole territory concerning which evidence had been received. The motion to direct a verdict was made prior to- this inspection and was not renewed thereafter. TIta evidence found in the record herein is conflicting. There was no error in the refusal to direct a verdict, 'and, under the record herein, this court cannot say that the verdict of the jury was not supported -by the evidence. There is evidence in the record supporting such verdict, and it is quite possible that the inspection had by the jury entirely destroyed the probative force of evidence that had been received on behalf of appellant.
[3] This court must presume that such inspection was of some value in assisting the jury to determine the issues, of fact; and this presumption is strengthened by the fact that there appears to have been no objection interposed to- such inspection by either party, -thus showing that both sides recognized the value thereof to the jury in determining the issues of fact.
[4] The appellant requested the court to submit to the jury certain questions for special findings thereon. This request was refused, and appellant assigned such refusal as error, but has failed to discuss the same in its brief. The assignment will therefore, in accordance with numerous decisions of this court, be considered abandoned.
[5] Respondents deeded to appellant the right of way along their land, which deed was executed subsequent to the construction of the grade and ditches which respondents claim were negligently constructed. Appellant contends that by sc deeding the respondents released any claim for damages caused by su h grade and ditches. There is no merit whatsoever in this contention. This deed was given in fulfillment of the covenants of a contract for. deed, which contract was dated prior to the construction -o-f the grade and ditches; moreover, a deed of a right of way, unless it specifically waives damages growing out of negligent-construction by grantee (which this deed did not do-), conveys no right and releases no claim that would not have passed through condemnation proceedings. It follows that the only damages appellant was released from were those following or those reasonably expected to follow the proper construction and maintenance of such road. Hannaher v. Railway Co., 5 Dak. 1, 27 N. W. 717. But, by the phrase “proper construction and maintenance,” it is not meant *367that a railway company, in determining what is “proper construction and maintenance,” need only consider what would be “proper construction and maintenance” from the standpoint of the railway company, but rather what would be a construction and maintenance such as would not interfere with the rights of the owners of land along its right of way. Thus construed, it forbids a railway company from so constructing or maintaining its roadbed as to interfere with the natural flow of 'the ordinary amount of surface waters to the injury of the adjacent landowners (Quinn v. Railway Co., 23 S. D. 126, 120 N. W. 884, 22 L. R. A. [N. S.] 789); but the compány, if it so- constructed and maintained its roadbed as not to interfere with the natural flow of the usual volume of surface waters, would not be liable for damages caused by its roadbed obstructing an unprecedented flow of such waters.
[6, 7] The only remaining assignments meriting our attention are those directed to- the giving and refusing of certain instructions. Appellant submitted several instructions which were refused and appellant excepted to the order refusing same. Respondents contend that the exception taken was insufficient to present any error in the order refusing the instructions; with this contention we are unable to agree. The court gave certain certain instructions submitted by respondents, and the court also gave certain instructions of its own motion. In its abstract appellant states that in i*elation to giving of respondents’ instructions that, “to the giving- of each thereof, the defendant at the proper time ■specifically excepted, which exceptions were allowed by the court.” And in its abstract appellant claims that it excepted to certain specified portions of the instructions which were- given by the court of its own motion. In respondents’ additional abstract it is claimed that no exception whatever was taken by appellant to the instructions given by the court of its own motion, and that the only exception taken to the instructions given at respondents’ request was, “The defendant excepts to the court giving plaintiffs’ request for instructions Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.” Owing to this conflict between the contents of the abstract and the contents of the additional abstract, we have, in accordance with the rule frequently announced by this court, examined the original record on file in this court Davis v. Davis, 24 S. D. 474, 124 N. W. 715. Such-examination reveals the fact that respondents are correct in their claim. There *368were no exceptions to the instructions given of the court’s own motion, and the exception to the instructions given at respondents’ request was clearly insufficient. Wood et al. v. Dodge, 23 S. D. 93, 120 N. W. 774; Comeau v. Hurley, 24 S. D. 275, 123 N. W. 715, and cases cited therein.
Did appellant ask for any instruction to which he was entitled, the substance of which was not in the instructions given? The instructions asked for related to the effect of the giving of the deed after the roadbed had been constructed, and to the rules governing what would be negligence on the part of a railroad company in constructing- such roadbed. As to the effect of the deed, the court was asked to instruct that it must be presumed that the parties thereto contemplated that appellant was to acquire, not merely the right of way, but also' the right to the enjoyment and use of the land as then improved, including the grade, ditches, and embankments in question. Such an instruction appellant was clearly not entitled to.
[8] There were several requested instructions touching the question of negligence in the construction and maintenance of the roadbed; but such instructions failed to properly advise the jury that, in determining the question of negligence in the construction and maintenance of such roadbed, the jury must consider the facts proven with reference to the surrounding conditions and the rights of adjacent landowners, the whole purport of such instructions being that, if -the appellant constructed its roadbed according to the usual and approved methods for constructing same, it would not be liable, as in that case there could be no negligence.
[9] Appellant álso complains because the fcourt failed to give an instruction defining negligence. While the giving of this instruction might have been proper, yet the court’s failure to give it could not be prejudicial and therefore reversible error, as the instructions given pointed out clearly what would be negligence in this particular case, and the jury were instructed that the burden was on the respondents to establish negligence on the part of appellant.
The judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.