60 Ind. App. 146 | Ind. Ct. App. | 1916
On September 29,1909, appellee, American Maize Products Company filed its verified complaint asking the issuance of a temporary restraining order and that upon final hearing it be made permanent, enjoining appellants from interfering with the construction of certain pipe lines
The complaint is in one paragraph and alleges in substance that appellee is a corporation and owns and operates a plant, in the city of Hammond, Indiana, located about one-half mile from the shore of Lake Michigan, in which it manufactures certain food products from grain; that on November 12, 1906, the Shedds conveyed to the Western Glucose Company, the real estate on which the plant is located, that the Shedds at that time owned, and still own, all the natural land lying between the land so conveyed and the shore of Lake Michigan, subject to certain assessments; that at the time the conveyance was made to appellee’s predecessor, the Western Glucose Company, as a part of the consideration therefor, the Shedds granted to said company, its successors and assigns, an easement for a right of way under their land, lying between the lands so conveyed and the shore of Lake Michigan to connect the land with Lake Michigan by two pipe lines of iron, vitrified tile or cement, “to be not less than-twenty-four inches in diameter and to be laid so that the tops thereof should be at least one foot below the Chicago city datum” That thereafter the Western Glucose Company constructed the pipe lines to within a few feet of the water line of the shore of Lake Michigan and near to Wolf River outlet; that the purpose of the construction of said pipe lines was to provide a sewer outfall for its
Appellants’ motion for a new trial was overruled and judgment was . rendered against appellants ón the conclusions of law perpetually enjoining them from interfering with appellee in the laying of its pipe lines into Lake'Michigan as alleged in the complaint.
The errors assigned and relied on for reversal are the overruling of the demurrer to the complaint for insufficiency of the facts alleged to state a cause of action; error in each of the conclusions of law stated on the special finding of facts, and the overruling of appellants’ motion for a new trial. The objections urged against the sufficiency of the complaint are in substance that it does not allege any located line or easement; does not describe or definitely locate the alleged easement or furnish the means of definitely locating the same or of ascertaining the shape, dimension, or position of the easement or right of way and contains no description of the lands over which the alleged way is grantéd; that it contains no allegation that an easement or right of way has been located or designated, or that a request has been made by appellee to appellants Shedd and Shedd, the owners of the servient estate, to select the location of the way for such easement and .that they have failed to so do, or that they had desig
owner of the servient estate, in the enjoyment of his property. When such way is once selected and located it can not be changed by either party without the consent of the other. Thomas v. McCoy (1903), 30 Ind. App. 555, 56 N. E. 700; Ritchey v. Welsh, supra; Jones, Easements §337.
The fifth paragraph of cross-complaint contains substantially the same averments in this respect. These averments describe the real estate over which the easement was granted, allege that a reasonable and suitable route for the pipe line was pointed out and designated by appellants and state where it was located. They put in issue all the facts omitted from the complaint, for the omission of which we held it insufficient, unless it be an affirmative allegation that the Shedds located the pipe line east of their pier, and on this subject the answer and cross-
The court has found that the Shedds located the easement east of their pier. An examination of the briefs shows that the question of the particular pointing out and location of the easement was fully tried out by the court and that all the parties introduced much evidence on the subject. No objection to any of such evidence is shown in the motion for a new trial or pointed out in the briefs. There is no indication anywhere that appellants were sur- ■ prised or unprepared to meet the issue, but the briefs show conclusively that the issue was as fully tried and determined as it could have been had the complaint contained the averment. The ainendment of the complaint to supply the affirmative allegation that the Shedds located the easement east of their pier was such that the court could have allowed it to be made at any time during the proceedings and doubtless would have permitted it to be done on request. Section 405 Burns 1914, §396 R. S. 1881, provides that the court may at any time in its discretion direct “any material allegation to be inserted, struck out, or modified — to conform the pleadings to the facts proved when the amendment does not substantially change the claim or defense.” In this case the pleadings, at least, in a negative way brought the question into the case and as already shown the question was tried and determined as though it were in issue. Section 700 Burns 1914, §658 R. S. 1881, provides that no judgment shall be
.The finding here states details of the interferenee ai\d efforts to adjust differences, which were unsuccessful and shows that the work of dredging already done would be lost by the action of the water if the work was delayed, and appellee would suffer irreparable damage, the details of which are stated but omitted here.
The deed of conveyance from the Shedds for the factory site among other provisions contains the
It is further found that on September 29, 1909, appellee applied to the Lake Superior Court for a temporary restraining order against appellants and certain alleged employes and agents, to prevent their interference with the laying of said pipes east of the Shedd piers, which order was issued by the court without notice, and the day was fixed for the hearing on the temporary order; the motion to dissolve the temporary order was overruled and the order was thereafter made permanent; that after the restraining order was issued appellee by and through said construction company proceeded to
That prior to emptying said outfall into the waters of Wolf River outlet the place was a habitat for various kinds of fish; that the Shedds leased said piers for a fishing place in Wolf River harbor; that since the construction of said pipe lines appellee continued to empty the outfall from said factory through the pipes into Wolf River outlet and harbor and will continue so to do unless restrained from so doing; that the pipes were laid after the temporary injunction was issued and the same can be removed at a cost of one dollar per lineal foot; “That the position and location of said pipe lines, as laid by plaintiff, as hereinbefore found, in said Wolf River outlet and harbor, will prevent the further dredging and improvement of said harbor, along the said piers belonging to said defendants Shedd and Shedd; said pipe lines will also prevent the use of said piers for shipping purposes, until the same are in some manner removed or lowered from their present position, with boats drawing more than seven feet of water.”
The finding also shows that in .1888, the several owners of the land on both sides of Wolf River outlet or harbor, to settle a dispute as to the boundary
It is found that neither before entering into the contract with the Calumet Construction Company nor at any time after entering into said contract for the extension of said pipe lines, did appellee demand or request the Shedds to locate the remaining portion of the easement. In effect it is contended that these findings show that the Shedds were deprived of their legal right to locate the easement and that appellee wrongfully located that portion of it extending from the catch basin out into the lake. These findings are not in conflict with those which show that prior to the time of letting the contract to the Calumet Construction Company in 1909, the Shedds had located not only the portion of the line actually laid in 1907, but the remaining portion extending from the catch basin out into the lake. Having once located the whole easement, the mere fact of delay in completing the line would not necessitate a relocation of the part not laid until a later date. There is no finding of any agreement changing the location originally pointed out, nor any showing that would give to appellants, the Shedds, the right to again locate the easement extending from the catch basin out into the lake. From this, it follows that the findings on the subject of the location of the easement support the conclusions of law.
In determining the correctness of appellants’ contention in regard to the fouling of the water, it is important to keep in mind the issues. Appellee brought suit to enjoin appellants from interfering with the laying of the pipes east of the Shedd pier. Appellants seek to prevent the granting of the injunction by showing that the outfall from the fac
The findings show that the owners of the land on either side of the piers had the right to dredge out the entire space between the piers for the purpose of making a harbor suitable for lake-going vessels; that the Forsyths had previously done some dredging, but the harbor had not been deepened to accommodate vessels drawing water to a depth of more then seven feet, and is not now “navigable for lake vessels”; that the pipes have been laid to a depth of nine and one-half feet below the surface of the water, and two and one-half feet below the present bed of the harbor; that to. make the harbor suitable for general use by lake vessels it would be necessary to dredge it to a depth of from .twenty-two to twenty-five feet; that the pipe lines as laid would prevent dredging along the Shedd pier but they could be lowered at a cost of one dollar per lineal foot. The findings also show that it is provided in the deed from Shedds to appellee’s predecessor that if the grantors wish to “change or lower the grade of said pipes * * * they may do so provided said change is made entirely at their own expense and in a manner that will not unreasonably interfere with the continuous operation of the factories or plants of the grantee or its assigns.” The findings also show that it is practicable to
If the owners of the land east of the piers undertake the work of dredging the harbor to a depth below the level of the pipes, and the Shedds or their grantees, fail or refuse to remove or lower the pipes so that they will not interfere with such work, a question may then arise, quite different from that now under consideration. Section 273 Burns 1914, §272 R. S. 1881, provides that: “The court may determine any controversy between the parties before it, when it . earn be done without prejudice to
questioned; that appellee undertook to lay the pipe on the line designated by the Shedds and had incurred great expense in so doing; that the work already done when appellants interfered would be lost by the action of the water in filling up the channel dredged for the pipes. To deny a party injunctive relief it is not sufficient to show that he has a legal remedy. If the remedy at law is not as prompt, practical, efficient and adequate, as that afforded by equity, the court may grant the injunction. Cincinnati, etc., R. Co. v. Wall (1911), 48 Ind. App. 605, 609, 96 N. E. 389; First Nat. Bank v. Savin (1911), 47 Ind. App. 266, 272, 94 N. E. 349; Wabash R. Co. v. Engleman (1903), 160 Ind. 329, 66 N. E. 892.
Other minor questions are suggested and discussed, but they are not of controlling effect. The court did not err either in overruling the motion for a new trial or in the conclusions of law. There is evidence to support the findings, and the facts found warrant the decree rendered by the trial court. Judgment affirmed. Hottel, C. J., Caldwell, Ibach, Moran and Shea, JJ., concur.
1ST ote. — Reported in 108 N. E. 610. Easements in private ways and the rights and obligations of the parties, see 95 Am. St. 318. Location of indefinite right of way by parties interested, see 1 Ann. Cas. 681. See, also, under (1, 5) 14 Cye 1221; (2, 3) 14 Cye 1203; (4, 8) 14 Cye 1205; (6) 14 Cye 1201; (9) 31 Cye 322; (10) 3 C. J. 903-906; 2 Cye 717; (11) 3 Cye 444; (12) 38 Cye 1964; (13) 38 Cye 1985; (14) 17 Cye 653; (18) 22 Cye 771.