Baxter v. Winooski Turnpike Co.

22 Vt. 114 | Vt. | 1849

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Bennett, J.

It is to be taken, in this case, that the business of the plaintiff called upon him to use the road in the manner set forth in the two first counts in his declaration ; and the first question is, was the county court right, as matter of law, in holding that the plaintiff could not recover for any general damages, which he might have sustained, whether they resulted from his not attempting to travel the road, at particular times, on account of its general insufficiency, or from his not being able to travel it as expeditiously and carry as large loads, as he might and otherwise would have done.

To enable a person to maintain a private action for the erection of a public nuisance, he must have sustained some damage more peculiar to himself than to others, in addition to the incohvenience common to all; and I understand this position to be admitted by the plaintiff’s counsel. Unless this were the rule, the doctrine, that a public nuisance is to be proceeded against only by indictment, would be abrogated. Though the general rule is Well settled, yet questions have often arisen in respect to its application; and in regard to what shall constitute such a peculiar damage, as to give the right of a private action, there seems to be some conflict in the cases.

Some have assumed the ground, that the injury must not only be peculiar to the party, but also direct, and not consequential; and of this description are the cases of Paine v. Patrick, Carth. 194, and Hubert v. Groves, 1 Esp. R. 148. In the latter case it appeared, that the plaintiff had, by reason of the obstruction of the public highway, been prevented from carrying on his business in so advantageous a manner, as he had a right to do, and was to his coal, timber, &c., by a circuitous and inconvenient way; yet Lord Kenyon nonsuited the plaintiff, and the king’s bench refused to set aside the nonsuit. The opinion of Lord Holt, in the case of Iveson v. Moore, 1 Ld. Raym. 486, seems to be based upon the same ground; and though the court of king’s bench were equally divided in opinion, yet, upon consultation before all the justices of the common pleas and barons of the exchequer, they were all of opinion that the action well lay.

The grounds of that opinion I am not aware are in print; but from a manuscript note made by Willes, chief justice of the common pleas, it would appear, that the reason, which the judges mainly went upon, was, that it sufficiently appeared, that the plaintiff must and did suffer special damage, more than others, because it was set forth, that the only way to come to the plaintiff’s coal pits from one part of the country was through the obstructed way; and consequently they thought, without an averment of the loss of customers, it should be taken, that the plaintiff had suffered particularly in respect to his trade, by the defendant’s wrong. See Willes’ R. 74, note a. The case came up upon a motion in arrest for the insufficiency of the declaration, and the allegation was, that the way was stopped up, so that carts and carriages could not come to the plaintiff’s colliery.

I consider, however, at the present day, that the decided balance of authority sustains the position, that it is sufficient to give a private action for the erection of a nuisance upon a public highway, if there be peculiar or special damage resulting therefrom, though consequential, and not direct. The case of Wilkes v. Hungerford Market Co., 2 Bing. N. C. 281, [29 E. C. L. 336,] and many others are of that description.

The claim, which the plaintiff made for damages arising from his not attempting, at certain times, to travel the road, because of its general badness, is hypothetical; and I apprehend, that there is no case, which would warrant the position, that this could constitute such peculiar damage, as to give a private action for a public nuisance. If, however, this were an action on the case at the common law, to recover damages for an obstruction of the highway by some positive act, whereby the plaintiff was delayed in passing it, or enabled to carry less loads, than he otherwise might and would have carried, it might well admit of a question, whether this would not be such a special damage, as to give a private action. The case of Hart v. Bassett, T. Jones’ R. 156, 4 Vin. 459, was one, in which the plaintiff was entitled to receive tithes, and, by means of the obstruction, was forced to carry them a circuitous route. The allegation in the declaration was, that he was forced to carry them a longer and more difficult way. This was the only damage proved on trial, yet the action was held well to lay.

The case of Rose v. Miles, 4 M. & S. 101, was where the plaintiffs were compelled to carry their goods over land, at an increased expense, in consequence of the defendants mooring a barge across a public navigable canal. If a person is hindered and impeded in the transportation of his goods, by reason of obstructions, the injury seems to be of the same kind, though perhaps less in degree, than if he was compelled to take a circuitous route. There are other cases analogous in principle.

But we do not think it necessary to decide the question, whether the evidence offered under the two first counts showed such a special injury, as would, upon common law principles, have given a private action, in the case of an obstruction, raised by the wrongful act of an individual. In this state towns, by statute, are laid under obligation to keep and maintain their public highways and bridges in sufficient repair, and, for neglect in this particular, are liable to indictment. The statute also provides, that if any special damage shall happen to any person, his team, carriage, or other property, by reason of the insufficiency of any highway, or bridge, in any .town, which such town is liable to keep in repair, the person sustaining such damage shall have a right to recover the same in an action on the case.

I take it to be well settled, that if the statute had not given the action, no individual, who had sustained special damage through the neglect of the town to repair their roads, could maintain a suit. It may be said, that where an individual sustains an injury by the neglect or default of another, the law gives a remedy. But that principle does not apply, where the public are concerned, as it may well be said, that it is better that an individual should sustain an injury, than that the public should suffer an inconvenience. In Brooke’s Abr., Tit. Action on the Case, pi. 93, it is said, if a highway be out of repair, by which a horse is mired, (to his injury,) no action lies. The reason assigned is, that the public are bound to repair, and the remedy is by presentment. Upon the authority of the case cited in Brooke, the court of king’s bench, in the case of Russell et al. v. Inh. of the County of Devon, 2 T. R. 667, held, that no action would lay against the county, to recover damages for an injury 'sustained by reason of a bridge being out of repair, which the county were bound to repair.

If, then, upon common law principles, no action could be maintained against a town for an injury growing out of their neglect, recourse must be had to the statute, to learn how far they are made liable to a civil action. We think, it must not only be a special damage, in the language of the statute, but direct, either to the person of the traveller, to his team, carriage, or other property, and that the damage complained of must result to the person of the traveller, or his property, while he, or the property, was in a state of transition over the road, or bridge. In the connection in which it is used, it is evident, that the statute, though it uses the expression “ to any person,” has allusion to the rights of the person of the traveller; and we think, it was the intention of the legislature, in the use of the words “ or other property,” following the words “ team,” or ‘‘ carriage,” to confine the statute to such property, as should be on the road. If the expression “or other property” is to be understood in an unlimited sense, it would seem to follow, that if the insufficiency of the road operated to the injury of the traveller’s estate, though remotely and indirectly, as by compelling him to be at the expense and loss of time in traversing a longer and more difficult way, as in the ease of Hart v. Bassett, he would have his private action. We do not think the legislature intended any such latitude of construction.

If this be so, how do the defendants stand ? They were incorporated in 1805, and are made liable to indictment for the insufficiency of the road, the same as towns. The statute also declares, that “ they shall be liable to pay all damages, which may happen to any person, from whom toll is demandable, which may arise from want of repairs on said road.” See Acts of 1805, p. 154, sec. 5. Though the expression, “ all damages,” may seem broader than the act in relation to towns, yet we think it was only the intentirm the legislature to substitute this corporation in the place of the town, and to make their liability co-extensive with that of towns. No reason is perceived, why it should be more onerous than that of towns. The town is relieved from all liability, as it respects this road; the public have their remedy by indictment; and why should the rights to individuals be more extended, than against towns 1 In the charter of the Royalton and Woodstock Turnpike Company, granted in 1800, the phraseology in regard to their liability is the same, as in the defendants’ charter; and in the case of Richardson et al. v. R. W. Turnpike Co., 6 Vt. 496, it was held, that they were liable only to the same extent as towns under the general statute. We then come to the conclusion, that the court below were right in regard to the substance of the thing, that is, that the testimony offered under the two first counts would not lay the ground of a legal right to recover, though the offer were proved to its full extent.

The question then arises, was it error in the county court, upon the proceedings in this case, not to submit the evidence to the jury and have the plaintiff’s damages assessed under these counts 1 I am aware, it has been said, that if the defendant plead the general issue, he cannot object to the evidence, or to a verdict’s being found for the plaintiff, if the evidence prove the declaration, though the declaration do not set up any legal cause of action. I apprehend, that this position needs, at least, some qualification, and that the court may, in their discretion, if they are satisfied that no cause of action is stated in the declaration and none proved on trial, stop the cause on trial, although the defendant have traversed the declaration, instead of demurring to it. It does not follow from this, that it would be error in the court not to do it, and to leave the issue to be found against the defendant, and let him get rid of the verdict in the best way he can.

In England the practice is, if the plaintiff fail to prove every fact necessary to support the action, or if the facts proved are insufficient in law to maintain an action, the court direct the plaintiff called. 1 Sellon’s Prac. 462. In Hubert v. Groves, 1 Esp. R. 148, the court ordered the plaintiff called ; yet in that case the plaintiff had proved the declaration, and the only question was, whether that set out a legal cause of action. That case went to trial under a plea of not guilty. And though the court cannot nonsuit the plaintiff against his consent, yet if he persist in answering, when called, the court will direct a verdict against him. Sellon’s Pr. 464.

We have not adopted the practice of directing the plaintiff called, but our practice has been, in such case, to direct a verdict for the defendant, unless the plaintiff shall elect to become nonsuit. In the case of Smith v. Joiner et al., 1 D. Ch. 64, the evidence showed a cause of action against the defendant, but the action should have been brought in the name of the sheriff, and not by the deputy, as it was. The court say, as this matter appears upon the face of the declaration, it should have been demurred to, but is fatal under the general issue; and a verdict was directed for the defendant. The case of Gleason v. Peck et al., 12 Vt. 56, was an audita querela, and the plea not guilty; and though the complaint was proved against one of the defendants, yet the court below decided the action could not be maintained against either. The declaration would have been held bad on demurrer. The judge, who gave the opinion of the court, seemed to think, that if the issue had been to the jury, the verdict must have been against such defendant; but I apprehend, it is immaterial, whether the issue be to the court, or jury. Though the court do not in form render a verdict, yet they find the issue; and if they find the issue for the plaintiff and give judgment in his favor, upon a declaration that sets forth no cause of action, it will be reversed upon error ; and I apprehend the court, on motion, would arrest judgment.

The point decided in the case of Barney v. Bliss et al., 2 Aik. 60, went simply to show, that if the matter in a plea amounted to no defence, and the plaintiff took issue upon it, it was not error for the court to admit legal evidence to prove the issue, and to direct the jury, if proved, to return a verdict for the defendant. The point now before us was not in the case of French v. Thompson, 6 Vt. 58. In that case the county court charged the jury, that a valid promise was proved, and the jury found for the plaintiff. The case does not establish the position, that if the promise set forth in the declaration and proved had been void, it would have been error for the county court, if they had thought proper, to have directed a verdict for the defendant, — though perhaps the reasoning of the learned judge goes that length.

It is said, that in such case the plaintiff is entitled to a verdict, because, if it is set aside upon a motion in arrest, the defendant recovers no costs. But I do not apprehend this is a sufficient reason, why the court should be compelled to do a nugatory act, — especially as the plaintiff is first in fault in pleading. If the declaration were defective for the want of some averment, which would be cured by verdict, and the proof were sufficient, the court doubtless should direct the issue to be found for the plaintiff. It has been frequently held by this court, that when a case comes up upon exceptions, they will look into the whole record, and if, upon the whole record, the judgment of the county court was correct, it will be affirmed, though there may have been error in the decision of the county court upon the point to which the exceptions were taken. We think the judgment of the county court cannot be reversed upon any exception taken to the proceedings of that court upon the two first counts.

It is claimed, that there was error in the county court, in not confining the plaintiff, under his third count, to some one single injury, accruing at some one time, when the plaintiff was passing over the road. It is familiar law, that if a trespass be of such a nature, that it may either be continued, or repeated, the plaintiff may declare strictly with a continuando, or in the mode adopted in the present case. If, however, the trespass cannot be continued, or repeated, you cannot so declare. Monkton v. Pashley, 2 Salk. 638. 9 Bacon’s Abr. 511. In the case of the obstruction, or insufficiency, of a public highway, it is the per quod, which is the gravamen of the action, — not the insufficiency of the road. The injury sustained at any one time cannot be continued, or repeated. The injuries sustained on different days, while passing the road, must, from their very nature, be distinct and independent. There could be no more a continuation, or repetition, of the injury, than in the case of taking the plaintiff's horse. It is undoubtedly true, that for an injury from the obstruction of a private right of way, the declaration may be with a continuando, and the difference is, that in the latter case the gravamen of the action is the stoppage of the way, which may well be continued. Where the injury is improperly laid with a continuando, the plaintiff, without any waiver on his part, may, upon the objection of the defendant, be confined in his proof to a single injury, though it might be the ground of a special demurrer. Gould’s Pl. 107, sec. 95.

This court are satisfied with the charge of the court below under the fourth count in the declaration. The damages are, or should be, assessed to the landholders with the expectation, that the public may take materials from the highway for the purpose of building or repairing the road. The question as to the right, raised in this case, was decided some years since in Windsor County, where timber was cut upon the limits of the highway to repair a bridge; and the true rule was laid down by the county court as to the care, which the public should use in regard to the landholders’ rights. Upon recurring to the declaration, it will be found, that there is no complaint, that the defendants carried the clay, dug upon the highway opposite to the plaintiff’s land, beyond the line of his farm and there to be used on the highway. But if this question arose on the declaration, we should be satisfied with the ruling of the county court.

The judgment of the county court is affirmed.