Alster v. Allen

77 P.2d 960, 147 Kan. 489, 1938 Kan. LEXIS 80
CourtSupreme Court of Kansas
DecidedApril 9, 1938
DocketNo. 33,542
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 77 P.2d 960 (Alster v. Allen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alster v. Allen, 77 P.2d 960, 147 Kan. 489, 1938 Kan. LEXIS 80 (kan 1938).

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

HutchisoN, J.:

This is an appeal from a finding and judgment for contempt for the violation of an injunction order issued in an action brought in Leavenworth county by several parties living near a dairy, against the defendant, Joseph L. Allen, doing business as the Cloverleaf Dairy, in which they complained of the way and manner in which the creamery was operated in that it caused serious vibrations, loud noises, and offensive odors, which were much to the annoyance, inconvenience, discomfort and health of the neighbors.

The original action for injunction was tried before the district judge without a jury, and an injunction was granted by the district court on July 24,1934, enjoining and restraining this defendant from continuing the objectionable features complained of. In the journal entry of such judgment the following language was used as to the injunction:

“It is therefore now by the court here considered, ordered, adjudged and decreed that the said defendant herein, its successors, grantees or assigns, be and they are hereby enjoined and restrained from operating or running said Diesel engine or any other engine or machinery causing such vibrations as will [490]*490jar, shake or otherwise disturb or put to great inconvenience, annoyance or damage the property or peaceable enjoyment thereof by said plaintiffs.
“From loading or unloading milk cans and operating trucks or other vehicles in and upon said premises so as to cause loud and violent noises sufficient to disturb the peace and quiet of said plaintiffs.
“From operating said plant in such a manner as to cause disagreeable, obnoxious, dangerous or unhealthy fumes and smoke or gases to permeate the houses of said plaintiffs to their discomfort, annoyance and inconvenience, and that said plaintiffs recover their costs herein expended and that execution issue therefor; to all of which orders, judgments, and decrees the above-named defendant duly objects and excepts.”

An appeal was taken from the order and judgment of the trial court to this court and the judgment was affirmed by this court on April 6, 1935, the decision being reported in 141 Kan. 661, 43 P. 2d 969. The mandate was duly sent to the district court and made of record there.

On April 16, 1936, an affidavit was filed in the district court of Leavenworth county charging the defendant with contempt for the violation of the injunction order, and on the same day there was filed a verified accusation against the defendant for contempt by reason of his violation of the orders made in the permanent injunction granted.on July 24,1934.

Thereafter the defendant filed a motion to make the accusation more definite and certain by stating how and in what manner the plaintiffs were annoyed, and by setting out the definite dates and times when the plaintiffs claim they suffered by reason of the operation of the dairy in violation of the injunction order. The motion was sustained by the trial court as to the matter of times and dates, and overruled as to other matters. Thereafter on June 6, 1936, the plaintiffs requested leave of the court to amend their accusation in contempt by striking out the words “which said times and dates are too numerous to mention,” and by substituting therefor by inter-lineation the words “the exact times and dates of which plaintiffs are unable to state.” The substance of the accusation is as follows:

“. . . since said mandate was duly spread upon the records of this court the said defendant has continued on divers days and times and up. to the filing of this accusation, the exact times and dates of which plaintiffs are unable to state, violated the terms and conditions of said injunction, and has operated a Diesel engine or machinery in his plant which has caused such vibrations as to jar, shake and disturb the above plaintiffs greatly to their annoyance; has loaded and unloaded milk cans and operated trucks or other vehicles on said premises so as to cause loud and violent noises sufficient to disturb the peace [491]*491and quiet of said plaintiffs; has operated such plant in such manner as to cause disagreeable, obnoxious, dangerous and unhealthy fumes, smoke or gases to permeate the homes of said plaintiffs to their discomfort, annoyance and inconvenience.
“That all of said things have been done by said plaintiff contrary to the provisions of said injunction and in violation thereof and in contempt of the judgment of this court.”

The defendant filed a motion to dismiss the accusation and also a demurrer thereto, both of which were overruled. The defendant then filed an answer, which was a general denial, and also pleaded matters which were involved in the motion to dismiss and the demurrer. The answer also alleged that the defendant in the spring of 1934 removed the semi-Diesel engine which was in operation at the time of the trial as to the injunction and replaced the same and described the method and manner of mounting it in the building so as to avoid vibration and noise; that he erected a brick wall along the west line of his property in the rear thereof and between the driveway and the Alster property; that he increased the height of the smokestack about six feet; that he removed the oil-burning boiler and replaced the same with a coal-burning one; that he removed the brine mixer and ice machine and replaced them with a different machine; that these removals, changes, replacements and alterations were made at great expense and for the sole purpose of abating any nuisance or disturbance; that these changes, replacements and alterations have been successful in abating any nuisance, disturbance or annoyance and they do not cause any vibrations which jar, shake or disturb the plaintiffs; that by the erection of the wall screen the plaintiffs cannot be and are not disturbed by the loading and unloading of milk cans or the operating of trucks or other vehicles; that by increasing the height of the smokestack and the changing to a coal-burning boiler all disagreeable, obnoxious, dangerous or unhealthy fumes, smoke or gas are impossible; that the dairy now cannot and does not cause any noise or vibration which disturbs or annoys the plaintiff; that the dairy is a creamery business which bottles milk and cream, makes butter and ice cream and performs other usual and ordinary operations connected with a milk and cream business; that it is located in the city of Leavenworth and is not prohibited by any zoning ordinance; that it has at various and sundry times been inspected and approved by the state board of health and the board of health of Leavenworth county; that its business is not a nuisance per se, and there is no ordinance or statute [492]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
77 P.2d 960, 147 Kan. 489, 1938 Kan. LEXIS 80, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alster-v-allen-kan-1938.