Court Opinion

ID: 9546881
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:37:05.531263+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:16:58.850595
License: Public Domain

HENRIOD, Justice
(concurring and dissenting) :
I concur with Mr. Justice ELLETT’S conclusion as to priorities, and concur with Mr. Justice TUCKETT’S conclusion as to parties plaintiff. It seems to me that each water user has a personal claim for individual damage, and not simply an aliquot recovery, percentage-ownerwise, with shareholders who may have suffered no damage at all. In a given year, one farmer-shareholder for personal reasons may have relinquished his water turn, with no damage resulting, while another may have gone broke because of failure to receive his water turn because of a trespass on his rights by one not entitled thereto. If the articles of incorporation had provided for authority in or assignment to the corporation of individual shareholders’ claims, evidence anent thereto would be required to establish the measure of damages to each shareholder who would have to prove them. Otherwise, one shareholder may enjoy a windfall at the expense of his damaged and disadvantaged brother shareholder.