Humble Pipe Line Co. v. Wm. T. Burton Industries, Inc.

217 So. 2d 188, 253 La. 166, 33 Oil & Gas Rep. 46, 1968 La. LEXIS 2483
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedNovember 12, 1968
Docket49117
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 217 So. 2d 188 (Humble Pipe Line Co. v. Wm. T. Burton Industries, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Humble Pipe Line Co. v. Wm. T. Burton Industries, Inc., 217 So. 2d 188, 253 La. 166, 33 Oil & Gas Rep. 46, 1968 La. LEXIS 2483 (La. 1968).

Opinions

HAMLIN, Justice.

Certiorari limited to the issue of whether defendant is entitled to recover for crop destruction and damage was directed to the Court of Appeal, First Circuit. Art. [169]*169VII, Sec. 11, La.Const. of 1921; 205 So.2d 724, La.App. 208 So.2d 326.

The record discloses that Humble Pipe Line Company, a common carrier pipe line company (LSA-R.S. 45:251), filed this expropriation suit under the general expropriation laws of Louisiana (LSA-R.S. 19:1 et seq.) to obtain second-line rights (8.01 acres) across defendant’s lands.1

The trial court found that plaintiff was entitled to the right to lay, construct, maintain and operate an additional trunk line sixteen inches in diameter within its own right of way.2 It concluded that the highest and best use of defendant’s land was for industrial purposes. It awarded defendant judgment in the sum of $13,649.04 ($5,206.50, the value of the right; $8,010.00, sugar cane crop damage; $432.54, loss of income from sugar refinery), plus court costs including $3,600.00 as fees for defendant’s expert witnesses.3

[171]*171The Court of Appeal amended and affirmed the judgment of the trial court. It reduced the award for compensation and rejected all claims for damages, stating:

“In considering prospective loss, no allowance can be made for damages arising from a use of the condemned property apart from its determined highest and best use. In order for the landowner to recover damages arising from the expropriation of property, the damages must be direct and certain and related to and arising out of and resulting from a deprivation of rights connected with the determined highest and best use of the condemned property for which compensation was awarded. Consequently, defendant’s claim for damages to its land, and the expenses for restoration of the land to agricultural use, and for replanting of sugar cane crop and loss of located on the property, all arising from sugar cane tonnage to the sugar mill the expropriation of the right of way, the highest and best use of which was determined to be industrial, must be disallowed.”

Our review is limited to a determination of whether a landowner whose land .is. expropriated for a right of way by a pipe line company is entitled to crop damage-where a finding is made that the best use-■of the land is for industrial purposes although it is planted in sugar cane at the-time of such finding. We conclude that the Court of Appeal erred in disallowing damages, and that defendant is entitled to sugar cane crop damage under the facts of this case.4

Counsel for Humble Pipe Line Company contend that the question of whether damages for the destruction of crops should be allowed, separate and apart from the-value of the land taken, must be decided negatively in this case because the highest and best use of the land was found to be for industrial purposes, and that the full and complete value of the land for this purpose was allowed the landowner.5 They argue that in Louisiana standing crops are immovable and are considered as part of the land to which they are attached. They rely on Article 465 of West’s LSA-C.C.,. which provides, “Standing crops and the [173]*173fruits of trees not gathered, and trees before they are cut down, are likewise immovable, and are considered as part of the land to which they are attached.” Counsel further argue that the value placed on the instant property included the value of the ■crops growing on the surface of the land.

We are cognizant of the fact that xxnder certain circumstances, such as those ■contemplated by Article 465, supra, crops are immovables. In the case of sale, xxnless reserved or excepted by contract or operation of law, crops attached to the land at the time of the sale generally pass to the purchaser of the land. 25 C.J.S. Crops § 6, p. 10. See, 21 Am.Jur.2d, Crops, Sec. 11, p. 589; Baird v. Brown, 28 La.Ann. 842; Bludworth and another v. Hunter and others, 9 Rob. 256. Crops, however, are property whether they be immovable when attached to the land or movable when severed. Such designation has been a part of our law since 1874. Crops can be the subject of pledge, pawn, or privilege; .they have significant value.6 It follows, therefore, that when crops are damaged or destroyed, their owners are subjected to loss.

Herein, plaintiff did not buy or pray for ownership of defendant’s land. There was no sale (West’s LSA-C.C. Art. 2439) or transfer of ownership (West’s LSA-C.C. Art. 488) ; Cf. 27 Am.Jur. Eminent Domain, Sec. 279, pp. 68-69. “The part of an estate upon which a servitude is exercised, does not cease to belong to the owner of the estate; he who has the servitude has no right of ownership in the part, but only the right of using it.” West’s LSA-C.C. Art. 658. The Court of Appeal remarked, * * * it is clear to us that there is a residual valxxe left in the property.” Therefore, defendant’s ownership became imperfect (West’s LSA-C.C. Art. [175]*175490), and plaintiff acquired a right of way — a servitude imposed by law (West’s LSA-C.C. Art. 664 et seq.); Cf. Tennessee Gas Transmission Co. v. Violet Trapping Co., 248 La. 49, 176 So.2d 425.

A servitude has been designated in our Civil Code as a “charge” laid on an estate (West’s LSA-C.C. Art. 647) and an “accessory” to an estate (West’s LSA-C.C. Art. 652) ; it is provided in West’s LSA-C.C. Art. 655 that, “One of the characteristics of a servitude is, that it does not oblige the owner of the estate subject to it to do anything, but to abstain from doing a particular thing, or to permit a certain thing to be done on his estate.” Article 665 of West’s LSA-C.C., relating to servitudes imposed for the public utility, further provides that “All that relates to this kind of servitude is determined by laws or particular regulations.”

“Under the express provisions of the Louisiana Civil Code, as well as by the established jurisprudence of the State, a road established by public usage, or even by appropriation and maintenance by public authority, does not carry with it the fee ownership of the property, but creates, at best, only a right of passage or servitude over the land. Civil Code Articles 658, 765; Fuselier v. Police Jury of Parish of Iberia, 109 La. 551, 33 So. 597; Paret v. Louisiana Highway Commission, 178 La. 454, 151 So. 768; Goree v. Mid-States Oil Corporation, 205 La. 988, 18 So.2d 591; Spier v. Barnhill, La.App., 168 So.2d 479.” Fontenot v. Texaco, Inc., D.C., 271 F.Supp. 753.
“ * * * If an easement is given then no estate at all passes but only a right of user. * * * ” Consolidated School District No. 102, Washington County v. Walter, 243 Minn. 159, 66 N.W.2d 881, 53 A.L.R.2d 218.

A civil law servitude has been compared with the “easement” of common law. The following statements found in American Jurisprudence are pertinent:

“The term ‘easement’ has been variously defined. An easement has been said to be a privilege which the owner of one tenement has a right to enjoy over the tenement of another. It has also been defined as a right which one person has to. use the land of another for a specific purpose not inconsistent with a general property in the owner, or as a servitude imposed as a burden on land. * * *

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Bluebook (online)
217 So. 2d 188, 253 La. 166, 33 Oil & Gas Rep. 46, 1968 La. LEXIS 2483, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/humble-pipe-line-co-v-wm-t-burton-industries-inc-la-1968.