62 Miss. 296 | Miss. | 1884
delivered the opinion of the court.
It is laid down by Wood on Nuisances, § 112, that the person injured by overhanging branches may abate the nuisance by cutting them off or may have his action for damages. Wherever one’s rights are invaded he must have an action for redress, and “the insignificance of the injury goes to the extent of the recovery, and not to the right of action.” This is the view of this court,
It seems to be settled law that overhanging branches are a nuisance, and it must follow that invading roots are. The person intruded on by branches may cut them off; it must be true that one may cut off invading roots; it must be true that he who is injured by encroaching roots from his neighbor’s tree can recover the damages sustained from them. The right of action seems clear.
In determining how much the person injured shall recover, it may be proper to consider the means of protection in his own hands against the injury complained of. It is an admitted fact in this case that the roots of the mulberry trees destroyed the well'. That proves the noxious character of the trees. The trees were planted by a former owner, but the appellee has no right’ to maintain and continue a nuisance after notice of its character and the injury done by it. True, he has as much right to shade and ornamental trees as his neighbor has to his well of unpolluted water ; but if in the enjoyment of his right he invades his neighbor’s, he is answerable for it. The trees and their roots are his , he must so restrain his roots as not. to work injury to his neighbor; he can enjoy the full advantage of his trees, as we suppose, without permitting them to damage his neighbor; he is not required to destroy them, but only to prevent them from encroaching injuriously upon others. This he is required to do upon the principle embodied in the fundamental maxim, “ So use your own as not to hurt another.”
Reversed and remanded.