Eastern Colorado Power Co. v. Gabel

23 Colo. App. 74 | Colo. Ct. App. | 1912

Cunningham, Judge.

The appellant corporation, as plaintiff below, filed its petition seeking to condemn certain real property belonging to the appellee for a reservoir site, and for a right of way for a ditch in which a pipe line was to be laid for the purpose of feeding the reservoir. The only matter in dispute here pertains to the right of way for the ditch. The jury returned a verdict fixing appellee’s damages, or the value of the land for the reservoir and pipe line right of way, at $800.00. Defendant excepted to the verdict and was allowed time to file a motion for á new trial, and thereafter, the time for the filing of the motion for a new trial having expired without the same having been filed, judgment was'entered on the verdict and this appeal taken.

In the briefs and on oral argument, counsel for appellant limited their contention to the alleged errors committed by the trial court in giving and refusing certain instructions pertaining to the right of way for the pipe line. The contention of appellant in this behalf is that the trial court instructed the jury that by the condemnation proceedings the petitioner corporation would receive the fee simple title to the land involved, whereas, it contends that by its petition it did not seek to take the fee simple title to the land for pipe line purposes, but only an easement. On the oral argument it was ably contended that appellant had a right under the statutes pertaining to eminent domain to condemn a bare easement, and that this was all that was sought or contemplated by its petition filed in the cause. In view of the record before us, it does not become necessary for us to determine this interesting question.

If the instructions are erroneous in advising the jury that the petitioner would obtain a fee simple title to the land, the only effect of such error would be the tendency of the instruction to enhance the amount of the verdict, that is, make it excessive. But it is not claimed in the assignments of error, in the brief or on oral argument, that the verdict was in fact excessive. Nor was any of the testimony taken on the trial below preserved by bill of exceptions.

For these reasons it is manifestly impossible for us to determine whether the verdict was excessive or not. There remains, therefore, nothing for us to do but affirm the judgment of the trial court, which is accordingly done.

Judgment Affirmed.