American Coal Briquetting Co. v. Minneapolis, St. Paul, & S. Ste. Marie Railway Co.
170 N.W. 568
| N.D. | 1918

Lead Opinion

Robinson, J.

The complaint avers that in April, 1915, the plaintiff owned certain buildings and property on section 12-160-80, of the value of $7,000. That in operating its line of road which runs northwest from Minot, defendant by its locomotive engine started a prairie fire on going up the hill from Kenmare, and that the fire extended to and burned up the property. The answer is a general denial.

As appears from the map, section 12 is 4 miles east and 2 miles north from Kenmare, and it is 5 or 6 miles from any point on the railroad. The jury found a verdict for $1,700. The appeal presents two questions: (1) Does the testimony fairly show that the locomotive set the fire? (2) Was-the property of any special value?

Though it is very doubtful, it may be conceded that in regard to the .setting of the fire there was evidence sufficient for the jury, and though there is some reckless testimony, there is really no evidence that the property had any real value at the time of the fire. It had been so long abandoned the presumption is that it- was of no value. The property consisted mainly of temporary frame buildings which had *382been constructed in 1902, and they bad been used about four or five years in tbe operation of a coal mine, and for ten years tbe mine and tbe buildings bad lain vacant and abandoned; and of course, during sucb time tbe property bad rapidly depreciated in value and bad come to wreck and ruin. Tbe.grass and weeds.bad grown up from year to year so as to almost cover tbe buildings. The property bad been completely abandoned and left without the least care or protection. It was not even thought of sufficient value to make it worth while to protect it by plowing a fire break around it. There is some testimony in regard to tbe cost price of tbe property and considerable reckless testimony, but no evidence in regard to tbe value of tbe property at tbe time of tbe burning. There is nothing to show the possibility of malc-ing cm honest dollar from the renting of the property, the use of it, or the wrecTcing of it, or the sale of it. When tbe mine played out and ceased to pay operating expenses, tbe mining property lost its value and it was abandoned and allowed to go to wreck and ruin.

The value of tbe property depends, not on its cost, but on its utility or productiveness. The walls of Londonderry, tbe pyramids of Egypt, tbe walls of China, have ceased to be of any valúe. Tbe same is true of thousands of buildings and mining properties that were once valuable. Doubtless, ten years prior to tbe fire, tbe property in question would have been of some value to tear down and sell as wreckage. There was no evidence that it bad any sucb value at tbe time of tbe burning, and tbe burden of proof was on the plaintiff.





Concurrence Opinion

Birdzell, J.

(concurring specially). I concur'in a reversal of tbe judgment in this case and in remanding tbe case to tbe district court for another trial. It is my opinion that there is evidence of value upon which a jury would be warranted in finding a verdict for tbe plaintiff in some sum; but it is apparent from tbe record that tbe verdict upon which tbe judgment was entered was a compromise between tbe values as testified to by tbe plaintiff’s main witness and those sought to be established by tbe defendant. Tbe record further discloses that tbe jury bad tbe benefit of an ample description of tbe situation and tbe condition of tbe property destroyed. But, in view of tbe fact that tbe only evidence of value which tbe plaintiff adduced was shown to be evidence based upon construction costs incurred at a time when it *383was contemplated that the property would become part of a going concern, it is of such an unsatisfactory character that it ought not to be allowed to stand as the basis of the verdict. The evidence of value should relate to the condition of the property at about the time' of its destruction.





Rehearing

On Petition for Rehearing.

Per Curiam.

Plaintiff has petitioned for a rehearing. Much of the petition is devoted to criticism of certain expressions contained in the majority opinion. ' Leaving philological questions on one side, the basic reasoning announced in all of the former opinions is the same, viz., that there was no legally sufficient evidence as to the value, to sustain the verdict for the amount returned by the jury in this casé. And we are still of the opinion that this holding was correct.

Plaintiff called only one witness, one Wright, to testify to the value of the buildings. On direct examination he testified, in response to leading questions, as to the value of the property. On his cross-examination it was developed that his former testimony was in fact not as to value, but as to the original cost of construction. No reasonable man can read Wright’s testimony and arrive at any other conclusion.

Plaintiff contends that inasmuch as there was no objection to Wright’s testimony when it was offered, it became competent evidence and must be so considered. The rule sought to be invoked is well established, but it does not go to the extent contended for by plaintiff. *384While the failure to object may constitute waiver of the incompeteney of the evidence, “it is not a waiver of the right to question its legal effect or its legal sufficiency.’' 9 Ene. Ev. 113. In the case at bar the legal insufficiency of the evidence did not become apparent until the witness was cross-examined. The plaintiff had the burden of proof. It was required to sustain this burden by substantial evidence — legally sufficient — to warrant reasonable men in arriving at certain conclusions. State Bank v. Bismarck Elevator & Invest. Co. 31 N. D. 102, 153 N. W. 459. In the case at bar the evidence adduced by the plaintiff, in our opinion, showed the cost of construction of the buildings, and not their value at the time of destruction or anywhere near that time. There was undisputed evidence showing the deteriorated condition of the buildings at the time of their destruction. The evidence offered by the defendant was to the effect that the buildings at the time of their destruction were of far lesser value than that fixed by the jury in their verdict. Hence, we were and are of the opinion that the verdict as returned has no substantial support in the evidence, and that the jury erred in its decision of the facts. Kinney v. Brotherhood of American Yeomen, 15 N. D. 21, 27, 106 N. W. 44. The defendant specifically assailed this decision by a motion for a new trial. In such motion he specified particularly that there was no competent evidence showing the value of the property destroyed to be more than $750 in all. The court denied a new trial. But inasmuch as there was no substantial and legally sufficient evidence in support of the verdict as returned, the trial court should have set aside the verdict and ordered a new trial. 29 Cyc. 832-835.

Rehearing denied.





Concurrence Opinion

Grace, J.

(concurring specially). I am of the opinion that the judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted for the reason that the proof with reference to the value of the buildings burned was deficient. While there is testimony showing the value of the buildings at the time they were burned, upon cross-examination it was shown the estimate of such value was based upon what it would cost to construct the buildings. Testimony as to the cost of the buildings, where it is shown they were built many years prior to the time of their destruction by fire, could, hardly be considered a proper basis upon whieh to estimate the damages. The question is: What is the value of the buildings at the time of their destruction by the fire ? I concur in the reversal of the judgment and the granting of a new trial.