Field v. Irvin

279 P. 873, 34 N.M. 199
CourtNew Mexico Supreme Court
DecidedJune 28, 1929
DocketNo. 3203.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 279 P. 873 (Field v. Irvin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Field v. Irvin, 279 P. 873, 34 N.M. 199 (N.M. 1929).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

BICKLEY, C. J.

This is a suit by appellant, hereafter referred to as plaintiff, against appellee (defendant), to enjoin the defendant from trespassing on the plaintiff’s land, constituting his summer home on the Pecos river. As presented in the brief of appellant, these trespasses consisted of: (1) Trespass by fishing; (2) trespass by pasturing horses; (3) trespass by breaking fence; (4) trespass by cutting and maintaining ditch. The charge of trespass by cutting firewood is abandoned.

The complaint contained allegations that the alleged trespasses had been continued and recurring, and that the defendant threatened to continue said trespasses. Appellant in his brief says the general question before this court is whether there is sufficient evidence in the record to sustain the complaint, viewed in the light of the fact that defendant introduced no evidence, and that the action of the court in sustaining the defendant’s motion to dismiss the complaint should be considered as though the court had sustained a demurrer to the evidence.

The plaintiff presented his findings of fact and conclusions of law, which the court refused to 'adopt, to which action specific objections and exceptions were made and allowed. Plaintiff further presented objections and exceptions to the findings of fact and final decree made by the court, which objections and exceptions were allowed and ordered filed. The following findings, made by the court, are in accord with the allegations of the complaint:

“II — That the plaintiff is the owner and in possession of the land and real estate described in paragraph II of the complaint herein.
“Ill- — That plaintiff has for more than 35 years on the portion' of the land described in paragraph II of the complaint herein maintained a summer residence and fishing camp.
“IV. — That Mrs. E. Irvin is the owner of a small tract of land adjoining said lands of the plaintiff on the south and maintains thereon a place of public entertainment, where, for compensation, the defendant, as innkeeper, invites and receives the public and entertains all suitable persons who apply for entertainment at his said inn.”

The court also made the following findings of fact :

“V — That plaintiff has not constructed and maintained around all that portion of the lands described in the complaint, which are immediately adjacent to the Pecos river, a legal fence as required by the laws of New Mexico, nor a fence equal to or greater in strength than that defined by the laws of New Mexico as a legal fence.
“VI — That the defendant, his agents, servants and employees, have never willfully turned in upon or driven upon the said land of the plaintiff any horses or any animals belonging to the defendant.
“VII — That the horses of the defendant have at times been upon the said lands of "the plaintiff, but that said horses have entered said lands at places where there was, no fence, or where there was not a fence equal to or greater in strength than that required by the laws of New Mexico for a legal fence.
“VIII — That there has been no repeated or continued trespass by the defendant, his agents, servants, guests, or associates, upon the lands of the plaintiff for the purpose of taking fish from the Pecos river within the inclosure of the plaintiff or for any other purpose.
“IX — That defendant has never advised or incited his agents, servants, employees, or guests to trespass upon the lands of the plaintiff or any part thereof.
“X — That the plaintiff did not publish in any newspaper in the county of San Miguel, state of New Mexico, any notice warning persons not to hunt and fish on the lands described in the complaint as required by section 2433, Codification of 1915, Laws of New Mexico.
“XI — That the plaintiff did not obtain from the state game and fish warden the permit required by section 11, chapter 133, Session Laws of New Mexico of 1919.”
“XIII — That the defendant did during the summer of 1925 without the consent of the plaintiff, enter upon the lands of the plaintiff and dig a small ditch for the purpose of conveying the waters of the Pecos river from a point on the plaintiff’s land to a point on Mrs. Ed. Irvin’s land, but that said ditch was used only for a short time and has since become filled up and, abandoned. That the defendant is not now using said ditch and does not threaten to continue to use the same in the future.
“XIV — That the defendant did cut the wires of the fence of the plaintiff for the purpose of taking out said ditch, but immediately thereafter repaired said fence, and has not threatened to cut or continue to use said opening in the future.
“XV — That there has been no continued trespassess by the defendant or threats to continue said trespasses, as alleged in the complaint.”
From these findings of fact, the court, as conclusions of law, found:
“(2) — That there has been no .continued or threatened trespass upon the lands of the plaintiff by the defendant.
“(3) — That the plaintiff is not entitled to the injunction nor to the relief prayed for.”

These findings of fact expressed the converse of what was alleged in the complaint as-a basis for injunctive relief, so it is not necessary to set out at length the allegations of said complaint, which in the main were denied. In considering on review questions of fact and findings thereof specifically with respect to equitable actions, we have said:

“Where the evidence in an action for an injunction is conflicting, specific findings of fact will not be disturbed.”

Ariz. & C. R. Co. of New Mex. v. Denver & R. G. R. Co., 16 N. M. 281, 117 P. 730.

“Where the trial court hears all the witnesses testify, and is thus able to observe their manner and demeanor while testifying, the appellate court will not review the evidence further than to determine whether or not the findings are supported by substantial evidence, in the absence of such an overwhelming weight of evidence against such findings as would clearly show that the trial court erred in its conclusions drawn therefrom; and in an equity case, where the court hears the witnesses ore tenus, there is no reason for a departure from the rule.”

Fraser v. State Sav. Bank, 18 N. M. 340, 137 P. 592.

Taking up the alleged trespasses in inverse order, we find that with respect to the trespass by cutting and maintaining ditch that the court found in its finding of fact No.

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Bluebook (online)
279 P. 873, 34 N.M. 199, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/field-v-irvin-nm-1929.