Court Opinion

ID: 5503090
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 03:03:45.564537+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:59.246259
License: Public Domain

Van Brunt, P. J.
One of the points raised upon this appeal by the defendants is that the amounts fixed by the referee as the value of the plaintiff’s easements are excessive, unjust, and unsupported by the evidence. We have examined the evidence in this case, and see no reason to differ from the conclusion arrived at by the referee. There was evidence sufficient to support his conclusion, and it is not necessary to discuss the same jit length in the disposition of this appeal.
It is further urged that the referee erred in refusing to find that the defendants’ station is advantageous to the business portion of the premises. This proposition has already been disposed of upon previous appeals.
It is further urged that the referee erred in permitting a witness to testify that the elevated railway is not generally a benefit to the business of an avenue. The question asked was: “¡Now, take the elevated railroad generally
running through an avenue; is it a benefit to the business of the avenue?” This was objected to upon the ground that it was too general, and should have been confined to this particular street and property. The objection was-overruled, and counsel for the defendants excepted, and the witness answered, “I think not.” We think perhaps the objection was well taken, and it would have been better if the evidence had been excluded. But, in view of the nature of the case,—being an equity case,—and the indefinite character of the testimony, it does not seem that the defendants sustained any damage by reason of this trivial and inconsequential error. It is clear that the defendant sustained no damage thereby, and the judgment should not be reversed upon that ground.
The plaintiff also appeals from the judgment alleging that the referee erred in not allowing rental damage up to the time of the trial. This question has been presented upon a previous appeal and disposed of, but a point is raised here which was not suggested on that appeal. It is claimed that if the plaintiff desired to raise the question he should have entered judgment denying the relief upon that ground, and that, no such judgment having been entered, there is nothing to appeal from, as an appeal cannot be taken from the referee’s conclusions of law and findings of fact. The judgment is general, and it does not appear therefrom that any relief has been denied the plaintiff, and consequently he has no ground for an appeal. It is conceded that a reversal is not desired; and, as the court has no power to increase the judgment, even if the appeal would properly lie, the judgment should be affirmed, without costs. All concur.