Bruton v. Carolina Power & Light Co.

217 N.C. 1

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: February 2, 1940
• Status: Published

Opinion

Barnhill, J.

While the complaint does not undertake to state two separate and distinct causes of action, it, in fact, alleges two causes of action and was so interpreted and treated by the court below.

The first cause of action alleges the wrongful use of the water of the Yadkin Eiver by the defendant, an upper riparian owner, which deprives the plaintiffs of their right to the natural and uninterrupted flow of the stream and which has caused the erosion and washing away of the plaintiffs’ land — a continuing wrong which .amounts to a taking of plaintiffs’ land or 'substantial interest therein.

As to this cause of action the defendant pleaded res judicata and in support thereof offered in evidence the judgment roll in the case of James A. Leak v. Carolina Power & Light Co., instituted 1 August, 1929, and which was terminated at the November Term, 1930, by final judgment awarding the plaintiff therein permanent damages on his second cause of action as stated in his complaint. This plea was sustained by the court below.

From an examination of the second cause of action set out in the complaint in the James A. Leak case and of the complaint in this cause, it appears that plaintiffs’ first cause of action herein and the second cause of action as set out in the James A. Leak complaint are stated in substantially identical language. The alleged wrongful conduct of the defendant, as pleaded by J ames A. Leak, as the basis for a second cause of action is identically the same wrong set forth and described by these plaintiffs in their complaint. As to this phase of the case the causes of action are the same. But, in the James A. Leak action he sought to recover damages for the destruction of his ferry rights only and the plaintiffs contend that the judgment in said action is not a bar to their right to recover damages to the land itself. They insist, therefore, that their exception to the order of the court sustaining the plea of res judicata should be upheld.

This exception to the ruling of the court un the plea of res judicata presents but one question. Where two actions are based on the same cause or right of action bottomed on the same alleged wrong, does the fact that in the first action the plaintiff sought to recover a part of the damages to which he was entitled bar that plaintiff’s successors in title from maintaining an identical action for the recovery of damages to the land itself?

Our decisions are to the effect that where the injuries complained of result from structures or conditions permanent in their nature and their existence and maintenance is guaranteed or protected by the power of eminent domain or because the interest of the public therein is of such exigent nature that the right of abatement at the instance of an individual is of necessity denied it is open to either plaintiff or defendant to demand that permanent damages be awarded; the proceedings in such case, to some extent, taking on the nature of condemning an easement. Rhodes v. Durham, 165 N. C., 679, 81 S. E., 938; Clinard v. Kernersville, 215 N. C., 745, 3 S. E., 267. An action by landowners against a corporation possessing the right of condemnation for the maintenance of a continuing nuisance which adversely affects the value of plaintiff’s land is, by demand for permanent damages either by the plaintiff or by the defendant, converted into an action in the nature of a condemnation proceedings for the assessment of damages for the value of the land or easement taken. The assessment of permanent damages and the payment thereof vests in the defendant an easement entitling it to the continued use of the property in the same manner. Clinard v. Kernersville, supra. In those cases wherein it is alleged that lands have been subjected to an additional burden, the question of negligence is not involved. Clinard v. Kernersville, supra.

The wrong complained of by James A. Leak in his second cause of action, as stated in his complaint, was continuing in its nature, resulting from the construction and maintenance of a permanent plant, the operation of which adversely affected and damaged the property of said plaintiff, a lower riparian owner. The prayer for an award of permanent damages therein converted the cause into an action for damages resulting from the wrongful taking, in part, of plaintiffs’ property, which taking amounted in law to the imposition of an easement. The assessment and payment of permanent damages vested in defendant an easement in plaintiffs’ land entitling it to continued use of the property in the same manner. Clinard v. Kernersville, supra, and cases there cited.

By the verdict and judgment in the former action the defendant is estopped to deny that by the construction, maintenance and manner of operation of its Tillery Dam it wrongfully interfered with and permanently damaged the plaintiff therein in his property right as a lower riparian owner. Likewise, the plaintiff therein and his successors in title are estopped to deny that the defendant, by payment of the permanent damages assessed, acquired an easement in plaintiffs’ land, at least as to his ferry rights, permitting the continued use of its plant in the same manner without further rights on the part of James A. Leak, or his successors in title, to complain.

A judgment rendered in an action estops the parties and their privies as to all issuable matters contained in the pleadings, including all material and relevant matters within the scope of the pleadings, which the parties, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, could and should have brought forward. Distributing Co. v. Carraway, 196 N. C., 58, 144 S. E., 535; Garrett v. Kendrick, 201 N. C., 388, 160 S. E., 349. The whole tendency of our decisions is to require a plaintiff to try his whole cause of action and his whole case at one time. He can neither split up his claim nor divide the grounds of recovery. Power Co. v. Power Co., 188 N. C., 128, 123 S. E., 312; Winslow v. Stokes, 48 N. C., 285; U. S. v. Land Co., 192 U. S., 355, 48 L. Ed., 476; Eller v. R. R., 140 N. C., 140. Where a party brings an action for a part only of the entire indivisible demand and recovers judgment, he cannot subsequently sue for another part of the same demand. Baird v. U. S., 96 U. S., 432, 24 L. Ed., 703. As stated by Walker, J., in Eller v. R. R., supra, “The general rule in the law of damages is that all damage resulting from a single wrong or cause of action must be recovered in one suit. The demand cannot be split and several actions maintained for the separate items of damage. Plaintiff recovers one compensation for all loss and damage, past and prospective, which were the certain and proximate results of the single wrong or breach of duty. The rule is different where there is a continuing wrong or the wrong is repeated as in the case of a nuisance or trespass, or where there is a new trespass distinct from the original one . . . Where there is an invasion of another’s right, the cause of action is the wrong, or what we technically call The injury,’ which entitles him at least to nominal recompense to vindicate his right, and the consequences which immediately flow from the injury, in the way of loss or damage, are but matters of aggravation. . . . She (plaintiff who was held to be barred) could carve out as large a slice as the law allowed, but she could cut but once. No one should be twice vexed for the same cause is a maxim of the law we are not disposed to disregard and which it is well strictly to enforce.” See also Lightner v. Raleigh, 206 N. C., 496, 174 S. E., 272; Webb v. Chemical Co., 170 , 87 S. E., 633; Baltimore S. S. Co. v. Phillips, 274 U. S., 316, 71 L. Ed., 1069; Stern v. Richies, 111 Wis., 591, 87 N. W., 555; Kline v. Stein, 46 Wash., 546, 90 Pac., 1041; 1 R. C. L., 341; Barcliff v. R. R., 176 N. C., 39, 96 S. E., 644; Bank v. Schruben, 125 Kan., 417.

Tbe cause of action set out in tbe former suit is based on tbe conduct of tbe defendant in wrongfully interfering witb tbe rights of tbe plaintiff therein as a lower riparian owner by tbe erection of a permanent structure for use in serving tbe public and in interfering witb tbe normal flow of tbe water of Yadkin River in connection therewith. If any damage to bis land resulted therefrom said plaintiff was advertent thereto at tbe time. That be bad in mind resulting damages to bis land is made to appear by written prayers for instructions be tendered in that case in which be states in part: “That tbe intermittent wetting and drying of tbe banks by tbe defendant’s operation of its turbines and gates causes tbe banks of tbe river to crack and facilitates erosion of same not only by tbe irregular flow caused by tbe defendant but also by floods, both natural and artificial, in said river, all to such an extent that even large trees which withstood larger floods than any on tbe river since tbe dam was constructed have been undermined and have died and fallen in tbe river, and that tbe banks of tbe river are gradually widening and tbe substance thereof carried down tbe river and deposited in tbe defendant’s pond at Blewetts’ Fall.” If be considered such resulting damage more than inconsequential it was bis duty to seek to recover compensation therefor in that action. His failure to do so estopped him and bis privies from thereafter asserting any right thereto.

Rut tbe plaintiffs contend that tbe written prayers for instructions were improperly admitted and should not be considered. While it sufficiently appears without reference to tbe prayers for instruction that tbe former judgment is res judicata as to tbe plaintiffs’ first cause of action, we may say that when tbe plaintiff in tbe former action tendered written prayers for instructions they became a part of tbe record and judgment roll and were admissible on tbe plea of res judicata as a part thereof.

There was no error in tbe judgment of tbe court in sustaining tbe plea of res judicata on tbe cause of action set out by plaintiffs for tbe taking of their property without compensation through tbe wrongful interference witb the right of plaintiffs, as lower riparian owners, in tbe manipulation of tbe waters of Yadkin River. Nor was there any error in tbe failure of tbe court to find tbe facts on tbe plea of res judicata. Tbe record in tbe former action being in existence is tbe only evidence admissible to prove its contents. Gauldin v. Madison, 179 N. C., 461, 102 S. E., 851; Little v. Bost, 208 N. C., 762, 182 S. E., 448; Gibson v. Gordon, 213 N. C., 666, 197 S. E., 135; Whitaker v. Garren, 167 N. C., 658, 83 S. E., 759. That action was pursued to final judgment and tbe jury verdict discloses tbe material facts. What tbe evidence was is unimportant. Tbe plaintiffs cannot now pursue tbe same cause of action for tbe recovery of further damages.

Was there error in tbe judgment dismissing tbe action on tbe plaintiffs’ second cause of action based on allegations of negligent operation of defendant’s dam and floodgates during a period of excessive rains? We are of tbe opinion that this question likewise must be answered in tbe negative.

This cause of action is predicated upon tbe assumption that tbe defendant, during flood time, so unreasonably operated tbe floodgates to its dam that tbe flood water below tbe dam was suddenly accelerated and tbe quantity flowing from tbe dam was so excessively increased as to cause tbe lands of tbe plaintiffs to overflow, resulting in extensive damage to tbe lands and tbe crops thereon. This is a sound legal premise and, if supported by tbe facts, is sufficient to sustain a recovery. As was said in Dunlap v. Power Co., 212 N. C., 814, 195 S. E., 43, “A lower riparian owner has tbe right only to insist that tbe water shall not be unreasonably withheld or let down by tbe owner above or withheld for an unreasonable length of time. Tbe upper riparian owner has no right by virtue of bis position unreasonably to interfere with tbe natural flow of tbe stream so as to give tbe riparian owner below a great deal more than tbe usual quantity of water during a part of tbe year, or at stated periods, and little or none during tbe remainder of tbe year or during intervals of unreasonable length ... a riparian proprietor has a right to make all tbe use be can of tbe stream so long as be does not pollute it or divert it from its natural channel and abstract so much as to prevent other people from having equal enjoyment with himself, or does not use tbe same in such an unreasonable manner as to materially damage or destroy tbe rights of other riparian owners.”

Although tbe works of tbe defendant were lawfully and rightfully in tbe stream and tbe defendant bad tbe right to make reasonable use of tbe water thereof in tbe operation of its plant, it should be held for such damages as results from its negligent and careless manipulation of tbe unusual flow of water during a freshet or its negligent failure to use reasonable care in anticipating flood conditions or in failing to use reasonable diligence in guarding against any undue acceleration or retardation of flood water resulting from an unusual rainfall.

An actionable injury arises when tbe consequence of tbe detention of water by a dam is tbe flooding of tbe lands of owners either upstream or downstream. 67 C. J. (Water’s), p. 702. However, tbe owner of a dam may permit water to flow from a dam if tbe waters coming to tbe dam are neither accelerated in speed or increased in quantity, so long as ordinary care is exercised in tbe discharging of tbe water ponded behind the dam. Crawford v. Cobb’s & Mitchel Co., 121 Ore., 628, 253 Pac., 3, and 257 Pac., 16; Wixon v. Water, etc., Co., 24 Cal., 367; Wilson v. Campbell, 76 Me., 94. Nothing appears to be more settled than that the owner of a dam is not bound to anticipate unprecedented storms or rainfalls. Palmyra v. Woolen Co., 99 Me., 134, 58 Atl., 674; Radburn v. Lumber Co., 83 Wash., 634, 145 Pac., 632; and is not liable for damages resulting from extraordinary storms and floods. Steel Co. v. Law, 224 Ala., 667, 141 So., 641; Duncan v. Power Co., 250 Mass., 228, 145 N. E., 427; Town of Bennington v. Fillmore & Slade, 98 Vt., 405, 130 Atl., 137; City of Portsmouth v. Weiss, 145 Va., 94, 133 S. E., 781. Bector v. Power Co., 180 N. C., 622, is to like effect. But where the negligence of the defendant in the operation of its plant during unprecedented and unforeseeable storm or rainfall is a contributing factor in producing injury — that is when the injury resulted from a combination of the defendant’s negligence acting in concert with some natural force such as an unprecedented storm (Comrs. v. Jennings, 181 N. C., 393) the defendant is not relieved from liability, since an act of Grod which exculpates the owner of a dam must be such an act as constitutes the sole cause of the injury. Water Works Co. v. Holliday, 214 Ky., 762, 45 S. W. (2d), 9; Walsh v. Copper Mining Co., 66 Mont., 592, 214 Pac., 641.

Likewise, a defendant power company is required to exercise ordinary care in anticipating flood conditions from an ordinary freshet such as might be reasonably expected or foreseen and to use reasonable care in the manipulation thereof and in guarding against any undue acceleration or retardation of the flood water. It may be held accountable for any damages for its failure to exercise such care. However, in determining whether the owner of a dam has failed to exercise ordinary care to protect the rights of a lower riparian owner due regard must be had for its correlative duty to protect upper riparian owners against any undue retardation of the flood water. The owner must pay due regard to the rights of the upper, as well as of the lower, riparian owner.

From a consideration of all the evidence offered in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs the following facts may be adduced:

(1) The defendant’s power plant and dam is located 4.8 miles above the point where Bocky Biver empties into Yadkin (Pee Dee) Biver and another smaller stream known as Clark Creek empties into Yadkin Biver about 2,000 feet below the dam. The land of the plaintiffs is located approximately 1 mile below the mouth of Bocky Biver;

(2) The rainfall in the water sheds or basins of Yadkin and Bocky Bivers which produced the condition about which the plaintiffs complain, began on 1 April, 1936, and continued with varying degrees of intensity through 7 April, 1936;

(3) There have been freshets prior to the construction of the dam producing a larger flowage of water;

• (4) There was an extensive rise in the water of Eocky Eiver and in Yadkin Eiver on the morning of 7 April. The rise in Pee Dee Eiver was from 8 to 10 feet between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on that day, with a total rise of 11 feet during the day. Eocky Eiver rose 32 feet (from its bed) and held a sustained height of 30 feet for approximately 30 hours. The crest of the rise of Eocky Eiver some distance up the river occurred about 8 a.m. and on plaintiffs’ land on Pee Dee Eiver about 11 a.m. on the morning of the 7th;

(5) At the rate the water was flowing it took two to four hours for it to pass from the defendant’s dam to the plaintiffs’ land;

• (6) The land of plaintiffs began to overflow on the late afternoon or night of 6 April and was completely inundated on the 7th. The water began to recede on the 8th and the river was within its banks on the 9th ;■

(7) The extent of the flow and the rapidity of the water caused considerable damage to the lands of plaintiffs;

(8) If a maximum number of the gates to the defendant’s dam are opened suddenly it will cause a high crest of water which will adjust itself in 6 or 8 hours.

(9) The total rainfall beginning 1 April was considerably in excess of the rainfall which occurred in 1928 but if the rainfall is considered from the 4th to the 7th there was less;

(10) On 6 April defendant had 13 or 14 of its gates open and on 7 April it had 14 gates open; and,

(11) Gates such as are used by the defendant are a necessary part of the construction of that type of dam and the type of dam used by the defendant is in common use in the South.

In addition, the plaintiffs’ witness Holland, who was tendered and examined as an expert and who had no personal knowledge of the condition existing on the day the lands of the plaintiffs were flooded, testified at considerable length as to the rainfall, the flowage of the streams, the volume of water discharged by Eocky Eiver and like matters, all of which testimony was based on records maintained by the Federal Government at its several rainfall and river gauge stations. He further testified that during freshets water would naturally flow more rapidly since the dam was built than before; that the damage was caused by the heavy rains and the fast rise in the water; that the dam would naturally feed out water more rapidly during flood stage; that if the°pond is maintained at the same level after the gates are open it is not discharging any more water than comes in but just the same quantity that is coming in — nothing coming out but flood water — and that in giving his testimony he did not take into consideration the storage basins up the Pee Dee. He then stated that in his opinion the rapidly rising flood which produced the overflow on the lands of plaintiffs was caused by “the opening of a large number of gates in the dam of the defendant and particularly releasing suddenly a large volume of water, a volume which I can’t measure, haven’t attempted to measure by the opening of the gates, but which I have attempted to measure and have measured with a fair degree of accuracy by starting at the station below the dam and working back.”

The witness was qualified and permitted to testify as an expert. His statement as to the cause of the flooding of the land, if supported by evidence, is sufficient to take the cause to the jury. If not supported by evidence, it is a mere surmise or conjecture.

While the plaintiffs offered evidence tending to show that on the afternoon of the 6th there were 13 or 14 gates open and that on the 7th 14 gates were open, they offered no evidence as to the manner in which the gates were opened — whether one at a time, gradually, or all at one time. As bearing on this, however, the evidence of the plaintiffs does disclose that at all times while the gates were open water was flowing over the top of the unopened gates, thus showing that the defendant was not discharging any considerable amount of water in excess of that which was coming in.

As there is a total absence of evidence in the record that the defendant released suddenly a large volume of water either on the 6th or on the 7th, the day of the flood, we are compelled to the conclusion that the opinion evidence of the plaintiffs’ expert witness is unsupported by evidence and amounts to nothing more than speculation.

In support of this conclusion it may be well to note that the evidence of the defendant and its charts disclose that the defendant began to release the water before it had completely reached the crest of the dam and that it so controlled its gates that after the water began to flow over the dam the pond was maintained at approximately the same level until the water below the dam receded within the banks of the river.

But the plaintiffs insist that as the judge did not grant the motion of nonsuit when made at the conclusion of all the evidence he was without power to do so thereafter. This position cannot be sustained. The matter was in fieri until verdict was rendered. Batson v. Laundry Co., 202 N. C., 560, 163 S. E., 600; Godfrey v. Coach Co., 200 N. C., 41, 156 S. E., 139; Price v. Ins. Co., 200 N. C., 427, 157 S. E., 132, and 201 N. C., 376, 160 S. E., 367; Lee v. Penland, 200 N. C., 340, 157 S. E., 31.

A careful perusal and consideration of all the evidence leads us to the conclusion that the judgment below must be

Affirmed.

Clarkson, J., concurs in result.