Court Opinion

ID: 9638647
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 15:49:33.095242+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:23:13.353801
License: Public Domain

HIGGINS, Judge,
concurring.
In this case defendants developed their land in a manner which caused surface water to gather and flow onto plaintiffs’ property. In such cases the rule in Haferkamp v. City of Rock Hill, 316 S.W.2d 620, 626 (Mo.1958) is applicable. Whether defendants were engaged in a project designed to alter the flow of surface water is irrelevant. E.g., Wells v. State Highway Comm’n, 503 S.W.2d 689, 690-92 (Mo.1973) (where defendant graded land and left in uncovered condition; held liable under Haf-erkamp rule).
I concur because there is no evidence that the damage to plaintiffs’ property was the result of defendant’s negligence in causing an accelerated and increased flow of surface water upon plaintiffs’ land which exceeded the natural capacity of a natural drainway. See Miller Land Co. v. Liberty Township, 510 S.W.2d 473, 476 (Mo. banc 1974) (quoting Haferkamp, 316 S.W.2d at 625-26).