Honsberger v. Durfee

130 P.2d 189, 55 Cal. App. 2d 68, 1942 Cal. App. LEXIS 21
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 19, 1942
DocketCiv. No. 11985
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 130 P.2d 189 (Honsberger v. Durfee) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Honsberger v. Durfee, 130 P.2d 189, 55 Cal. App. 2d 68, 1942 Cal. App. LEXIS 21 (Cal. Ct. App. 1942).

Opinion

STURTEVANT, J.

The plaintiffs commenced this action to obtain a decree enjoining the maintenance of a nuisance and for other relief. The defendant answered by setting up certain denials and alleging many facts of affirmative matter. The trial court made findings awarding to the plaintiffs certain relief and denying relief as to other matters. From parts of the judgment entered therein the plaintiffs have appealed and have brought up the judgment roll only.

The controversy involves the maintenance of two sets of drainage conduits. The defendant owns Lots 1 and 2 and the plaintiffs own Lot 3 of Block H of the subdivision of Bancho Potrero de Felipe Lugo in Los Angeles County. The two properties are adjacent and are located on the southerly side of Slack Avenue. Both properties are bothered with accumulated surface waters. In 1903 J. D. Durfee, the owner at that time of Lots 1 and 2, and Elizabeth Mulholland, the then owner of Lot 3, entered into an agreement that the former should lay a drainage pipe. He did so. Commencing at Slack Avenue he laid a pipe line 16 inches in diameter extending at right angles upon and along the boundary line between said properties south 10 chains and thence at right angles 20 chains or thereabouts. The head of the line was a catch basin or box located at the surface of the ground. The outlet of the line was exposed at the surface of the ground on the lands of Elizabeth Mulholland. That pipe line has been in use ever since. In 1913 the plaintiffs bought two parcels from Elizabeth Mulholland, each parcel is described in the amended complaint by courses and distances. In the amended complaint there was inserted a map. This court is unable from such data to ascertain what part of the map portrays parcel 1 and what part parcel 2 of plain tiffs’ lands. In 1917 the plaintiffs commenced a proceeding, LB-174, to register their lands under the Land Title Law (Stats. 1915, p. 1932; Deering’s Gen. Laws, 1937, Act 8589). [70]*70There were issued to them two certificates numbered respectively A-3872 and A-3873. The latter covered the land where the first course (hereinabove described) of the said pipe line was located. Said certificate contains an exception: ‘ Subject right of way for storm waters.” The other certificate contains no such exception. But the record does not show that the pipe line or any part thereof was laid in, or extended into, any part of the lands described in certificate A-3872.

In 1920 J. D. Durfee died and this defendant inherited from him Lots 1 and 2. In March, 1939, the defendant made certain alterations and repairs to said pipe line. He also constructed two sluices laying parallel with Slack Avenue and a short distance west of it. He connected those sluices with said pipe. By its decree the trial court enjoined the maintenance of said sluices. Prom said portion defendant appealed, but he has dismissed his appeal and said portion of the decree need not be further discussed. But the trial court refused to enjoin defendant from making proper repairs to said pipe line. Of that refusal the plaintiffs complain. They contend the findings do not support the judgment.

Before discussing each finding so attacked it is important to note that the first two findings were as follows:

“I
“That all of the allegations of the complaint herein filed as amended by the amendments herein filed are true except as hereinafter otherwise expressly found.
“II
“That all of the allegations of the defendant’s answer herein are true except as hereinafter otherwise expressly found.” In view of those findings it follows that every affirmative allegation set up by the defendant which is not expressly found against him is, in effect, found in his favor.

The first finding which the plaintiffs attack is:

“VIII
“That it is not true that by the terms of the deed by which the plaintiff, William Honsberger, acquired title to said premises, the said title was conveyed subject to any easement or right of way in writing of record across the same, or any part thereof, in favor of said defendant, or his predecessor in interest, or otherwise or at all. It is not true that in the decree of registration of said lands insofar [71]*71as the first described piece or parcel of land is concerned, and it is not true that in the registrar’s certificate issued in pursuance of said decree, the first described piece or parcel of land was made' subject to any easement or right of way for storm waters or for any other purpose. It is true that by the terms of said decree and by certificate of the registrar of land titles issued thereon, the second described parcel of land does contain the words: ‘ Subject, right of way for storm waters. ’ The court finds that the defendant entered upon the said plaintiff’s lands and did certain work thereon over the protest of the said plaintiff and in disregard to the rights of the said plaintiffs, but the same were not done with malicious intent to injure plaintiff but under belief that the defendant had the right to so construct underground flumes and connect the same with the said pipe line, in which said belief defendant was mistaken.” As to what was the wording of the deed to William Honsberger we are not concerned. As the plaintiff contends his rights are governed by the recitals in his certificate. (Cooper v. Buxton, 186 Cal. 330, 332 [199 P. 6].) However, as shown above, certificate A-3873, only, is involved. That certificate contained an exception of a “right of way for storm waters.” The trial court, in effect, held such right of way was the identical way for which the defendant contended. It follows that the defendant clearly had an easement.

At all times looking upon the case as presenting solely the rights of a single owner regarding his right to discharge excess flood waters or surface waters, the plaintiffs make said attacks on said findings. But this is not such a case. Prior to 1903 both the owner of Lot 1 and Lot 2, and the owner of Lot 3, were confronted with a problem of disposing of surface waters. Some of such waters accumulated on Lots 1 and 2, some accumulated on Lot 3. It was so alleged by the defendant. The very location of the pipe line shows, and defendant alleged, that drainage was attempted to be accomplished for both properties. The pipe line began on the boundary line of the two properties. It ran 10 chains thereon. Obviously it drained from the right and from the left. In its continuing course it was laid on the lands of Elizabeth Mulholland. In that course it intercepted waters which would have flowed off the Mulholland lands onto the lands of the defendant. As to that matter the record does not speak. The evidence is not before us, and this court is wholly unable to say that any finding is not supported by [72]*72the evidence or that the findings do not support the judgment.

Reading together the express findings of the trial court (and the allegations of the defendant which the trial court adopted), no inconsistency whatever appears and neither does it appear that the trial court failed to give full force and effect to the decree rendered in the preceding hearing number LR-174, supra.

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Bluebook (online)
130 P.2d 189, 55 Cal. App. 2d 68, 1942 Cal. App. LEXIS 21, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/honsberger-v-durfee-calctapp-1942.