Court Opinion

ID: 6546325
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:19:51.475774+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:58.637534
License: Public Domain

Wood, J., (after stating the facts.) Three special propositions are urged by appellant to reverse the judgment. First, that the evidence shows that the damage to appellee’s land and crops caused by the overflow of which appellee com plains was not the result of the negligence of appellant in allowing the trestle under its trade to fill up, as alleged, but that the primary and proximate cause of appellee’s injury and damage was the filling up of the natural outlets for the water below appellant’s trestle; that the natural drainage for the water below the trestle was first obstructed through the fault and negligence of others, not appellant, and that this filling up of the natural drainage far below appellant’s trestle continued by gradual processes back towards the trestle until it finally reached the trestle, and caused that to be obstructed, and also the resultant overflow on appellee’s land. The appellee contends, on the other hand, that the negligence of appellant in failing to keep its trestle open so obstructed the natural drainage that there was not sufficient current in the natural watercourses below to keep them free from debris of all sorts, and that the diversion of the water by the filling up of the trestle caused driftwood and dirt to accumulate in the channels below the trestle which gradually increased till the natural streams were obstructed and diverted, which produced the overflow .that caused appellee’s damage. It will be observed that this is peculiarly a question of faot. We do not see that any useful purpose could be subserved by setting out and discussing the evidence bearing upon this issue. The evidence is set forth pro and con in the respective briefs. The court correctly instructed the jury on this issue, and the evidence is sufficient to support the verdict. Second. The court gave the following instruction containing three paragraphs: “1. If you find the defendant'liable, the measure of damages to the crops is the value of the difference between what was produced and what would have been produced had the water not caused the injury, less the difference between the cost of producing and gathering what was produced and the cost of producing and gathering an average crop, as you may find from the testimony. “2. The measure of damages to the land is the difference in i'ts market value before and since the injury complained of, and caused by the injury, as you may find from the proof. “3. You will not -consider any damage -to either land or crops, except such as i-s proved to have accrued within three years next before the filing of this suit, which was August 14, 1905.” This court in Railway Company v. Yarborough, 56 Ark. 612, announced the rule for ascertaining the damage caused by the destruction of growing crops from overflow as follows: “The damages recoverable for the destruction of a growing crop by overflow are limited to the actual value of the crop at the time of its. destruction with legal interest from the date of injury; such value is to be ascertained from consideration of the circumstances existing at the time of its destruction, as well as at any time before the trial, favoring or rendering doubtful the conclusion that it would attain to a more valuable condition, and from consideration of the hazards and expenses incident to the process of supposed growth or appreciation.” See also Railway Company v. Lyman, 57 Ark. 512; Little Rock & F. S. Ry. Co. v. Wallis, post p. 447. The first paragraph of the instruction supra does not follow this rule, but -it was not so far variant .as to be prejudicial error, in the absence of a specific objection or a request for an instruction to meet the views of counsel, and in the form approved by this court. Brinkley Car Works & Mfg. Co. v. Cooper, 75 Ark. 325. See also St. Louis, I. M. & S. Ry. Co. v. Sparks, 81 Ark. 187; Thomas v. State, 74 Ark. 431; Phoenix Ins. Co. v. Flemming, 65 Ark. 54; St. Louis, I. M. & S. Ry. Co. v. Barnett, 65 Ark. 255; St. Louis, I. M. & S. Ry. Co. v. Pritchett, 66 Ark. 46. It was proper for the jury, in determining the present value of the destroyed crops, to take into consideration the difference between the cost of producing a full average crop and the cost of producing the crop that was actually produced. St. Louis S. W. Ry. Co. v. Morris, 76 Ark. 542. While the paragraph under review did not lay down the co.rrect rule for the measure of the damage, it did contain proper elements for the consideration of the jury, in connection with other facts, in determining what the value of the crop was at the time of its destruction. Counsel should have asked for a more specific direction as to how the damage should be measured, if they so desired. See Gulf, C. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. Carter, 25 S. W. 1023. Probable value of the crop at maturity may be considered in fixing the value at the time the injury occurred to the growing crop where, as in the case at bar, the jury may have found that the crop destroyed would have matured but for the loss in the manner charged in the complaint. Railway Company v. Lyman, supra; Gulf, C. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. Nicholson, 25 S. W. Rep. 54. Third. It does not appear that there was any negligence in the construction of the trestle. It served the purpose to carry off the water until it was allowed to fill up. The trestle was not necessarily injurious, but only became so 'by reason of the negligence of appellant in failing to keep it in proper condition. The rule announced by this court in St. Louis S. W. Ry. Co. v. Morris, supra, is that: “In cases where the nuisance is not necessarily injurious, but may or may not-be so, and if it proves to be injurious, the injury continues for a while, inflicts damage, and then entirely ceases, the statute of limitations begins to run from the time the damage is done, and not before; and there may be as many succeosive recoveries as there are successive injuries, and the statute of limitation runs from the time each of such injuries occurs.” This is the rule here. The clearing out of the trestle, or raising it so that the water could pass through, at any time relieved the obstruction and removed the cause of the overflow and damage. So that, but for appellant’s negligence in permitting this condition of obstruction, according to the facts as found by the jury, the injury and damage to appellee would not have resulted. The clearing of the trestle and giving the water free course at any time might remove the cause of overflow. In Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co. v. McCutchen, 80 Ark. 235, Justice McCulloch, speaking for the court, said: “It (the injury) was not caused by any wrongful act of the railroad company in building an embankment across the ditch and thus closing it up, but the injury resulted from a negligent failure to open the ditch when obstructed by an accumulation of dirt which was allowed to fall in from the embankment. It would be unjust to presume that the negligence will continue to the permanent injury of the land, and the .owner may recover for. each successive injury sustained.” See St. Louis, I. M. & S. Ry. Co. v. Stephens, 72 Ark. 127. We find no reversible error in the other minor questions presented; affirmed. Hiir, C. J., not participating.