Court Opinion

ID: 9789834
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:42:28.572156+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:34:09.638859
License: Public Domain

Mr, Justice Moore
dissenting.
This is no ordinary lawsuit. In the majority opinion it is admitted that the question presented is one of great importance. Moreover it is admitted that “further litigation in the district court will prove expensive.” This court, without a recorded dissent, ordered the issuance of a rule to show cause. Counsel for the parties were thus led to believe that we would resolve the controlling question as to whether the doctrine of appropriation (first in time, first in right) is applicable to non-tributary underground waters. Counsel have prepared *402their briefs, which are exhaustive and fully cover the field, in expectation of a determination of the question presented. Amici Curiae have been permitted to file briefs and thus the labors of counsel other than those representing the parties have been devoted to the question of law to be decided.
After several months of research and study devoted by counsel to a full and complete coverage of the controlling question, the majority opinion in effect states to the lawyers who have thus been misled by the court:
“Oh yes — we know the matter is of great importance. We know that if the controlling question is now answered in one way the ligitation would be ended; we know that by backing away from answering this question .now we will compel the litigants to expend large sums of money in engineering work and other expensive operations all of which might be saved if we answered the question of substance at this time; we know that the question which every litigant in this case, as well as the trial court, has asked this court to decide must be the very first- question which will ultimately have to be decided after all the additional time and money is spent, all of which might be utterly wasted depending upon the answer which we will be called upon to give to the identical question which is fully presented now. Yes — we know all these things. But we are so enmeshed in legal niceties that we are obliged to require you to go back to the place from whence you came and after you have invested additional months in time and thousands of dollars on the gamble that this court will answer the question in a particular way — then come back with the same arguments you have already prepared for us and we may then see fit to answer the question.”
I believe that this court should tell these litigants and the trial courts of this state, in this proceeding and at this time, whether the doctrine of prior appropriation applies to nontributary underground waters. The liti*403gants ask for the answer, the trial court asks for the answer. Why not settle the question?
The majority opinion holds that none of the reasons which prompted counsel, all of whom are capable lawyers of many years unblemished standing at the bar of this court, to seek relief by the short and inexpensive procedure which they followed with the full approval of the trial court, constitutes “sufficient reason for us to disregard our rules of procedure, decide questions not before us, divest a district judge of all authority to determine issues properly before him, and adjudicate' rights of parties not before us.”
It is my firm belief that the instant case is exactly the kind in which we should, under the rules of procedure, save the time and money of the litigants, as well as that of the lawyers and of the trial courts, by answering the controlling question in the case now. If the doctrine of appropriation is applicable we should say so at this time. In that event the trial court would be correct and the litigants could proceed with full safety in determining the merits of the case on the premise that the doctrine of appropriation is applicable. If that doctrine is not applicable we should say so; and if that answer is given, the case for injunctive relief would fall and the action should be dismissed. In facing up to this controlling question now we would not “disregard our rules of civil procedure.” We have stated that in matters of this kind this court has a wide discretion to act in the interests of speedy justice. Kellner, et al. v. District Court, 127 Colo. 320, 256 P. (2d) 887.
To my knowledge, we have not heretofore refused to determine the merits of questions presented by counsel in prohibition proceedings after accepting original jurisdiction and directing the rule to show cause to issue. We have decided the merits of controversies in original proceedings in matters of much less importance than those present in the instant case where it would have been possible to determine the issue on writ of error. *404Old Timers Association v. Housing Authority, 122 Colo. 597, 224 P. (2d) 219; Berger v. The People, 123 Colo. 403, 231 P. (2d) 799.
In People Ex Rel. v. Blake, et al., 128 Colo. Ill, 260 P. (2d) 592, we said: “Having entered appearance and protest, in event of adverse judgment, review by writ of error would be in order. Neither is this the only avenue available where it is contended, as in this case, that the county court was without or exceeded its jurisdiction, or abused its discretion, since Rule 106 (a) (4) R.C.P. Colo, ‘provides a plain, speedy and adequate remedy.’ ” This language demonstrates clearly that there is a wide discretion in this court to accept original jurisdiction if justice demands it, even though by paying a high price review could be had on writ of error.
In Carlson v. District Court, 116 Colo. 330, 180 P. (2d) 525, we find the following:
“It is the author’s opinion that no question of greater ‘public importance’ can arise than one in which a court is proceeding without jurisdiction of the person or subject matter. In this opinion other members of the court may not concur. However, where it is apparent that under the circumstances here no judgment in favor of the defendant in the court below could properly be affirmed, we have determined that under circumstances in line with the particular factual situation here presented, an order in the nature of a writ of prohibition should be entertained.”
Rule 116 R.C.P. Colo., which deals specifically with the subject of the original jurisdiction of this court, is inconsistent with Rule 106. Rule 116 provides that a person seeking to invoke the original jurisdiction of this court, “shall set forth in his complaint the circumstances which render it necessary or proper that the supreme court exercise its original jurisdiction.” Such a complaint was filed in this case, and a rule to show cause issued. The rule further provides: “Relief in the nature of prohibition will not be granted except in matters of *405great public importance.” Admittedly this is a matter of great public importance.
In Jameson v. District Court, 115 Colo. 298, 172 P. (2d) 449,- we said, inter alia:
“Under Rule 116 of our civil procedure, we are not required to consider the question of venue upon such application, but, in view of the importance of determining the question raised and of preventing the delay and expense of re-trial in case the court where the cause is pending be found without jurisdiction, we elect to determine the question now.” (Emphasis supplied.)
In the case before us we should exercise the same sound discretion which was used by the court in the case cited, in order to prevent delay, expense and unwarranted duplication of effort on the part of a very considerable number of distinguished members of the bar. We would not, by so doing, prevent the trial judge from finally disposing of the case. He would either be upheld in his ruling or would be instructed to dismiss the action for failure to-state a claim.
We would not adjudicate the rights of parties not before us except as our decision might be controlling under the doctrine of stare decisis in the assertion of some claimed right. This happens every time a case is decided. A potential litigant finds that this court has decided the question applicable to his own controversy and thus his rights have been “adjudicated” although he was not a party.