171 Mass. 414 | Mass. | 1898
After the former decision in this case, reported 167 Mass. 341, in which it was held that the taking under the instrument filed in the registry of deeds on October 12,1894, by the water commissioners was void, the commissioners filed another certificate on March 30, 1897, in which the quantity taken
It is to be assumed that the defendants intended to proceed in accordance with the acts authorizing them to take the water for public uses. The plaintiff does not indeed controvert this. The only defect in the condemnatory proceedings was that the certificate omitted to state the quantity of water taken.
It is clear that after the filing of the last certificate the plaintiff could not have maintained an action of tort for the diversion of the amount named in it prior to the time of such filing. Moore v. Boston, 8 Cush. 274. Spaulding v. Arlington, 126 Mass. 492. Lewis v. Boston, 130 Mass. 339. It is also clear that after an actual taking, and before the filing of a certificate, the plaintiff could have maintained a petition for the assessment of its damages which would have included past and future damages. Moore v. Boston, ubi supra. Still further, it is clear that, if no certificate had been filed, or if the defendants had chosen to rely upon an insufficient one, the plaintiff would have been entitled to an injunction restraining the diversion, or to maintain an action of tort for the damages caused thereby. Wamesit Power Co. v. Allen, 120 Mass. 352. Lund v. New Bedford, 121 Mass. 286. Warren v. Spencer Water Co. 143 Mass. 9. Hollingsworth & Vose Co. v. Foxborough Water Supply District, 165 Mass. 186.
This case, however, is unlike any of those thus described, and more nearly resembles that of Woodbury v. Marblehead Water Co. 145 Mass. 509. When the bill was filed, the plaintiff was entitled to relief under it. Since the filing of the bill, the defect in the original certificate filed by the defendants has been
The defendants contend that this doctrine is not applicable to this case, and that the cases of Moore v. Boston, Lewis v. Boston, and Spaulding v. Arlington, ubi supra, are inconsistent with it. It is true that the statutes which authorize the taking provide a method for the assessment of damages. But we think that this does not take away any remedy which the plaintiff may have for what turns out to be a wrongful interference with his rights, though done under a supposed statutory authority, provided he seasonably avails himself of such remedy. If, after a defectivo taking has been cured by a valid taking, or if, after a taking valid in all respects except that the certificate was not filed within the proper time, the party aggrieved by such taking brings a petition, in the manner provided by statute, for the recovery of his damages, it well may be held that all damages to which he is entitled should be assessed in such proceedings. Such are the cases of Lewis v. Boston and Spaulding v. Arlington. So also, if, after an actual taking, the party aggrieved thereby files a petition for the assessment of his damages, it well may be held that the defendant should not be permitted to defeat his right to recover, because it had not filed, after the taking, within the time fixed, the certificate required. Such is the case of Moore v. Boston. But we find no reason, either in these cases or in the nature of the condemnatory proceedings, for holding that a party who has seasonably brought his bill to prevent an interference with his rights, which is unlawful because the defendant has failed to comply with statutory requirements in regard to the taking, should be compelled, because the defect is subsequently cured, to have his damages
The result is, that a majority of the court think that the case should stand for hearing in regard to all damages which the plaintiff has sustained down to the filing of the bill.
So ordered.