Evers v. Thomas

137 So. 2d 39, 273 Ala. 159, 1962 Ala. LEXIS 306

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: January 18, 1962
• Docket: 4 Div. 41
• Status: Published

Opinions

LIVINGSTON, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from the Circuit Court of Covington County, Alabama, in Equity, from a final decree granting a permanent injunction against Dr. Ray Evers, appellant, to abate a nuisance caused by the operations of his farm within the city limits of Andalusia, Alabama, which caused special damages to Don L. Thomas et al., appellees.

The cause was submitted here on a motion to dismiss the appeal and on the merits.

As originally filed, the bill of complaint was against Dr. Ray Evers and Elbert Williams. The lower court entered a decree exonerating Elbert Williams, which we will note later on. The bill of complaint as originally filed alleged, in substance, that Dr. Evers was the owner of certain described real estate located within the city limits of Andalusia, Alabama; that respondents were operating a hog farm on said land, engaged in the growing, producing, raising, fattening and marketing hogs in large numbers; that there was located on said land and in close proximity to complainants in this cause a large number of hogpens commonly referred to as farrowing pens, also a large number of hogpens commonly referred to as pig parlors, and a large number of feeder pens, barn, and sheds in which a large number of hogs, to wit, several hundred, and at times 3 or 4 thousand were kept on said lands for the purpose of farrowing and rearing the pigs and for growing the hogs to maturity and marketable age and size. Complainants further alleged that a large amount of feces was deposited in the farrowing pens, the pig parlors, the feeder pens, and other structures in connection therewith and owned by the respondents, and that said feces at times accumulates to excessive quantities, amounting to many tons, and that said feces is stored in a pit or vat constructed for that purpose, and that said pit or vat is not covered or protected, and is not disinfected to prevent flies and other nauseous and obnoxious insects and bacteria; and that said premises, including pits or vats in which the feces is stored, are continuously and literally working alive with maggots and flies, and that said flies migrate to the homes of each of the complainants in great swarms, and that the complainants, and each of them, are unable to occupy their yards or lawns during the daytime without being covered in obnoxious and filthy flies from the pens and installations of the respondents ; that the filth and bacteria in the cesspool or pit in which the feces is stored are poisonous, and that said cesspool frequently fills with water and runs over, draining down the hill into a fish pond belonging to the respondent, Dr. Ray Evers, and that said drainage is so filthy and contaminated with bacteria that the same killed the fish in the pond; that said existing condition causes an obnoxious odor that can be smelled for more than one-half mile from the installations, and that said odor is so obnoxious and unpleasant that complainants cannot occupy their yards or lawns, and cannot leave their doors or windows open; and further that the respondents are storing or placing on the premises heref in described large quantities of chicken feces, or manure, and that said feces is continuously infected with maggots and flies and causes odors that affect each of the complainants; that flies from said chicken feces, together with flies from other installations complained of, literally swarm over the premises of complainants; and further complainants aver and show the court that on different occasions hogs have died on the premises herein described and the carcasses were not burned or buried, that vultures and flies swarmed over the dead animals and then migrated to the homes of complainants; and that all of these conditions render the homes and premises of complainants unhealthy and unsanitary, thereby creating a menace and nuisance to the complainants and others who reside in the neighborhood; that if said operations are continued, they will materially depreciate the value of the homes and property of complainants and other people who reside in close proximity thereto. Complainants further aver that they are each permanent residents of the area in which they reside, that they own their homes, and many of the complainants have resided in their present homes for many years prior to the filing of this complaint, and that the installations complained of on the property owned by respondents, or one of the respondents, are located in the city limits of Andalusia, Alabama, and that said location is zoned by the City of Andalusia for residential purposes.

The bill prays for a decree to the effect that the existing conditions are a nuisance to the complainants and the public generally, and to abate the same; and that the respondents be permanently enjoined from further operations of the hog farm and from farrowing and raising pigs thereon and from feeding or penning hogs on said premises in close proximity to complainants’ homes; and to require respondents to remove all hogs from said premises and in close proximity to complainants’ homes, and to remove all feces and to clean up and put the premises in a sanitary and healthy condition, and for further relief.

After taking the testimony in this cause and prior to submission of the cause, and with the consent of the court, complainants amended their bill of complaint, in substance, as follows: that since the filing of this suit, the respondents have erected “feeder pens” for cattle and have been feeding cattle in large numbers, to wit, 1400 head of cows, confined in small feeder pens, and that although these feeder pens are purportedly floored with concrete covered with straw, that the feces, and other foreign matter on the floor ranges from a few inches deep to belly deep to the cows, and this condition creates very unpleasant and obnoxious odors and flies in large numbers. The prayer was also amended and asks for a permanent injunction against the respondents from further operations of the feeder pens for cattle.

The motion to dismiss the appeal is not well taken. The decree from which the appeal is taken in the instant cause is a final decree, and the time for taking the appeal is controlled by the statute applicable to such decrees; Title 7, Sec. 788, and not by Sec. 1057, Title 7, Code of 1940. Sec. 1057 of Title 7, Code of 1940, only applies from the order granting or refusing a temporary writ of injunction. Francis v. Scott, 260 Ala. 590, 72 So.2d 93; Employers Ins. Co. of Alabama v. Brooks, 250 Ala. 36, 33 So.2d 3; City of Decatur v. Meadors, 235 Ala. 544, 180 So. 550; Dunn v. Ponceler, 235 Ala. 280, 178 So. 47. The bill of complaint in this case was not presented to the judge for fiat as authorized by Sec. 1054, Title 7, Code of 1940. The motion to dismiss is denied.