Ball v. Rodgers

187 Cal. App. 2d 442, 9 Cal. Rptr. 666, 1960 Cal. App. LEXIS 1411

• Court: California Court of Appeal
• Decided: December 16, 1960
• Docket: Civ. 9833
• Status: Published

Opinions

SCHOTTKY, J.

This is an appeal by Joseph S. Ball and his wife, Avesta Ball, from an adverse judgment in an action brought by them to quiet title to an easement in a ditch right of way over the land of the defendants.

Sometime prior to December 1952, the Balls purchased two parcels of real property from Robert J. Bailey and his wife, Alberta Bailey. When the Balls purchased the property there existed a large ditch on the Baileys’ property which conveyed water from an irrigation canal to the land purchased by the Balls. The deed to the first parcel of property did not expressly grant an easement in the ditch. The Balls commenced an action to have a decree that by the deed to the first parcel an implied easement passed for the continued use of the ditch across the remaining land of the sellers and to compel delivery of the deed to the second parcel with the easement referred to expressly set forth. On July 14, 1953, a judgment was entered in the action. The court decreed that the Balls were the owners of certain real property and that they had the right “ ‘to receive, at the point where the existing ditch shown on Exhibit A crosses the north line of Parcel C, the accustomed flow of water in said ditch at said point, sufficient for the irrigation of Parcels B and C according to the use and practice of the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District. ’ ” (See 142 Cal.App.2d 47, 50 [297 P.2d 795].) No appeal was taken from the judgment.

On April 23, 1954, the Baileys sold a portion of their land to third persons. In the deed of conveyance the Baileys reserved a 10-foot right of way for a ditch. Along this strip they constructed a new ditch from the irrigation canal to the point specified in the judgment of July 14, 1953. Thereafter the property sold by the Baileys was improved and a subdivision constructed. The construction was commenced in July 1954 and completed in January 1955. A total of 48 homes were constructed.

On July 2, 1954, the Balls instituted contempt proceedings against the Baileys. The affidavit in support of the request for a citation of contempt referred to the judgment in the civil action, particularly that portion of the judgment which forbade the Baileys committing any acts in derogation of the rights declared by the judgment. It was asserted that the Baileys had destroyed the old ditch and had constructed a new ditch which was inadequate to deliver the accustomed flow of water. A hearing was held in the matter and at the conclusion the court held the Baileys in contempt because the Balls did not receive the accustomed flow of water, and in addition the court determined what the accustomed flow was and placed a duty on the Baileys to maintain the new ditch. Thereafter the matter of contempt was reviewed by this court {Bailey v. Superior Court, 142 Cal.App.2d 47 [297 P.2d 795]), and this court held that the trial court could only pass on the issue of contempt and that it exceeded its jurisdiction when it proceeded to pass on other matters. The orders in excess of the contempt adjudication made by the trial court were annulled and the matter was remanded to the trial court for it to impose such punishment as it deemed fit. During the course of the decision this court stated, in effect, that the judgment in the civil suit gave the Balls an easement in the old ditch and that “Without the consent of all owners interested the existing ditch could not be moved nor the burden of its use increased.”

Thereafter in July 1957, the Balls brought this action against the Baileys and others, including some of the individual home owners in the subdivision, to establish their right to the easement over the lands of the defendants. (The easement sought to be established was the right of way of the old ditch.) The answer denied that the Balls had or were entitled to an easement. Three special defenses were asserted. The first special defense contended that the claim was barred by the decision of the court in the first action between the parties which assertedly established that the Balls had no easement across the Baileys’ lands but only a right to receive water at a certain point. The second affirmative defense asserted that the Balls were estopped to assert any claim to a ditch easement because the Baileys had informed the Balls during the negotiations leading up to the sale of the property to the Balls that it was the intent of the Baileys to subdivide the remaining land and that if and when they did, they would construct a new ditch; that the property was sold for subdivision purposes ; that a new ditch was constructed which delivered the accustomed amount of water to the Balls’ land; that the Balls did not make any objection to the construction of the new ditch or the substitution; and that the Baileys relied on the oral agreement permitting the substitution.

The third special defense, in addition to repeating certain allegations of the second affirmative defense, stated that wide publicity was given to the purchase of the lands for subdivision purposes; that in March 1954, a model home was constructed ; that construction of Unit Number 1 of the subdivision was started in July 1954, and completed in October 1954; that Unit Number 2 was started in October 1954, and completed in January 1955; that 87 houses were constructed; that some 1,800 feet of street and gutters were constructed at a cost of over $12,000; that water distribution and sewer systems were constructed at a cost of over $35,000; that the Balls had full knowledge of the construction of the subdivision ; that they made no claim to the alleged easement; and that the Balls were estopped from asserting any claim to an easement in the old ditch.

The trial court found that the judgment of July 14, 1953, which gave the Balls the right to receive water at a certain point, did not give them, nor was it intended to give them, an easement in the old ditch; that the judgment was res judicata on the rights and claims of the Balls to the ditch right of way and was a bar to the action; and that as a result the Balls were barred from asserting any right of way or easement in the old ditch. As to the second special defense, the court found that the Baileys constructed the new ditch; that the Balls knew the Baileys were constructing a new ditch as a replacement for the old ditch; that the ditch as constructed was not on grade; that the Baileys stated in the presence of the Balls that they would employ an engineer to establish the grade and put the new ditch on grade; that the Balls knew that the work was being done; that the Balls took no action except by filing a Us pendens in each of the actions against the Baileys; that the new ditch had been used from 1954 through 1958; that there was no agreement as to substituting the new ditch for the old; that the new ditch was not constructed in pursuance to any oral agreement; that the judgment in the first action was res judicata; and that the construction of the new ditch and delivery of water through it complied with the judgment.

As to the third special defense, the court found that the Baileys sold their land to certain people who subdivided it; that construction of a model home was started in March 1954, and completed in May 1954; that construction of homes in Unit Number 1 of the subdivision was begun in July 1954, and completed in October 1954; that construction of homes in Unit Number 2 was commenced in October 1954, and completed in January 1955; that 48 homes were built; that in connection with the completion of the subdivision streets were paved, sidewalks and gutters constructed, sewer lines constructed and water lines laid; that the Balls had full knowledge that the Baileys’ property had been purchased for the purpose of constructing a subdivision; that the construction of the subdivision was clearly visible to the Balls; that they saw the construction; that they had knowledge that houses were being sold and that the purchasers were moving into the homes; that all the construction work and the occupancy of the homes took place in the immediate view and with the complete knowledge of the Balls who made no comment and took no action except by filing Us pendens in the original and contempt actions; that the old ditch right of way extends through 10 lots and through a majority of the 10 houses constructed on the said lots; that the Balls knew that the subdivision and lots would extend across the old ditch and right of way they were asserting; that none of the defendants had actual knowledge of the claim of the Balls but that they had constructive knowledge because of the lis pendens filed in the previous actions; that they were not purchasers without notice; and that the defense of estoppel was not available to them. As conclusions of law the court determined that the Balls were not entitled to a decree that they were the owners of an easement in the old ditch; that the defendants were entitled to a decree stating that they are the owners of their respective lands free and clear of any right, title or claim of the Balls. Judgment was entered accordingly and this appeal followed.

Appellants first contend that the decision of this court in Bailey v. Superior Court, supra, in which this court interpreted the judgment of the court in the original action between the parties was res judicata as to the right of the appellants to have their title quieted in the old ditch. In Bailey v. Superior Court, supra, this court said at page 56:“... It is obvious from those portions of the complaint, the findings and the judgment in the civil action . . . , that the object of the plaintiffs was to have a declaration of implied easement. The judgment rendered in the civil action declared that, by virtue of their ownership of the lands conveyed and agreed to be conveyed to them by petitioners, real parties and their suceesors in interest were entitled to the right in perpetuity to receive at the point where the existing ditch crossed their north line the accustomed flow of water in said ditch sufficient for the irrigation of their land. Along with this went, of course, the usual secondary easement for maintenance and repairs of that ditch. But this was a fixed and certain servitude upon petitioners’ land in favor of real parties’ land and its implied creation cast no personal duty on petitioners save a negative duty to respect it. Without the consent of all owners interested the existing ditch could not be moved nor the burden of its use increased. ’ ’

This court further said at page 58 in the Bailey case, “but neither in this proceeding in contempt nor in a civil or equitable action, save one perhaps for reformation on appropriate grounds, could the trial court have changed in any manner the nature, location or extent of the servitude of the ditch,.... These things had been finally adjudicated between these parties. ...” It is clear that this court interpreted the judgment in the original action in the contempt action. It is also clear that the interpretation of the judgment was not necessary for the decision in the case and was not in issue. “Questions passed upon in the opinion of a court in rendering a judgment are not necessarily within the doctrine of res judicata. The reasoning and opinion of the court upon a subject, on the evidence before it, do not have the force and effect of the thing adjudged, unless the subject matter is definitely disposed of by the judgment of the court.” (30A Am.Jur., Judgments, § 380, pp. 429, 430.) “. . . [W]hat has been adjudicated is to be determined not from the opinion rendered but from a consideration of the judgment actually entered in reference to the issues presented for decision.” (Adams v. Pearson, 411 Ill. 431 [104 N.E.2d 267, 270].)

As stated by our Supreme Court in Dillard v. McKnight, 34 Cal.2d 209, 214 [209 P.2d 387, 11 A.L.R.2d 835], “the application of the principle of res judicata in a given case depends upon an affirmative answer to these three questions : Was the issue decided in the prior adjudication identical with the one presented in the subsequent litigation ? Was there a final judgment on the merits? Was the party against whom the principle is invoked a party or in privity with a party to the prior adjudication?”

The issue presented on appeal in the contempt action was whether the contempt judgment imposed burdens on the Baileys in addition to finding them in contempt. The issue as to the meaning of the original judgment was not before the court in the contempt action and any statement as to it was mere dictum. Since the issue was not presented in the prior action it could not be res judicata as to the present action.

We are of the opinion that the interpretation of the judgment by the trial court was reasonable and proper. The judgment in the original action read in part -. ‘ ‘ That plaintiffs are owners and possessors of those certain parcels of real property . . . ; that as such they and their successors in interest are entitled to and they are hereby awarded, the right in perpetuity to receive, at the point where the existing ditch shown on Exhibit A crosses the north line of Parcel C, the accustomed flow of water in said ditch at said point, sufficient for the irrigation of Parcels B and C. . . . ”

The judgment as interpreted by the trial court awarded the appellants the right to receive water at a specified point in sufficient quantities to irrigate appellants’ land. It did not grant an easement in the existing ditch. Under this analysis of the judgment there is nothing ambiguous about it. It became final and whether or not it was erroneous in not providing an easement is immaterial. It is determinative of the right of the appellants.

The construction we have placed upon the judgment is the construction appellants asserted before this court in their opposition to the issuance of a writ of review in the contempt action.

In answer to the statement of the Baileys in the petition for a writ of review that they were not required to maintain and clean any ditch or aqueduct for the transportation of water to the point specified in the judgment, the Balls stated:

“. . . This is an empty philosophy for the reason that, as we have reiterated numerous times previously, that the original Judgment provides that plaintiffs and respondents are entitled to have the defendants and petitioners deliver the water at this given point in a certain quantity, specifying the amount, the same being in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District, whatever they may have necessary for the irrigation of this land, and it does not make any difference whether the water is delivered by a bucket, pipe line, or by an open ditch. ...” (Emphasis added.)

In said opposition it is also stated concerning the allotment of water to the Balls that ‘‘how it is to be delivered seems to be left to the discretion of the petitioners and defendants [Baileys];....”

Appellants also assert that if the language in the decision in Bailey v. Superior Court is not res judicata then it is binding upon the principle of stare decisis. The answer is that the doctrine of stare decisis does not apply to dictum. (See Estate of Watkins, 16 Cal.2d 793 [108 P.2d 417, 109 P.2d 1].)

“ The doctrine of stare decisis does not require us to follow those eases to the extent of assuming what facts were proved when the evidenec is before us. It is a fundamental rule of that doctrine that a decision is not authority for what is said in the opinion but only for the points actually involved and actually decided. [Citing cases.] The rule of stare decisis is a rule of public policy. For the preservation of harmony and for the stabilization of the law the courts will ordinarily follow precedents when the same points arise in subsequent litigation, although they will not persist in an absurdity or perpetuate a manifest error. There is no kinship between stare decisis and obiter dictum. Whatever may be said in an opinion that is not necessary to a determination of the question involved is to be regarded as mere dictum. [Citing cases.] The statement of a principle not necessary to the decision will not be regarded either as a part of the decision or as a precedent that is required by the rule of stare decisis to be followed [citing cases], no matter how often repeated. [Citing ease.] Expression of dictum is not binding on a court inferior to that which rendered the decision. [Citing cases.] ” (Childers v. Childers, 74 Cal.App.2d 56, 61-62 [168 P.2d 218].)

Respondents Bailey have asked this court to strike or otherwise eliminate a certain finding that the Baileys keep in repair and maintain the ditch. The Baileys did not appeal. “. . . It is well settled that on appeal errors affecting a party who does not appeal will not be reviewed, . . . .” (Salter v. Ulrich, 22 Cal.2d 263, 268 [138 P.2d 7, 146 A.L.R. 1344].)

No other points require discussion.

The judgment is affirmed.

Warne, J. pro tern.,

* concurred.

Assigned by Chairman of Judicial Council.