Hurwitz v. Carolina Sand & Gravel Co.

126 S.E. 171, 189 N.C. 1, 1925 N.C. LEXIS 235

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: January 24, 1925
• Status: Published

Opinion

Clarkson", J.

Jeremy defines an injunction to be “a writ framed according to the circumstances of the case, commanding an act which this Court regards essential to justice, or restraining an act which it esteems contrary to equity and good conscience.” Jeremy’s Eq., p. 301.

“Injunction has been styled the ‘strong arm’ of equity to be used only to prevent irreparable injury to him who seeks its aid. ... As a remedy for preventing wrongs and preserving rights the injunction has been regarded as more flexible and adjustable to circumstances than any other process known to law. The correctness of this estimate is seen in the readiness with which injunctions yield to the convenience of parties; the ease with which damages are substituted in their place when justice and the public interest so require; the facility with which a preventative and a mandatory injunction are made to cooperate so that by a single exercise of equitable power an injury is both restrained and repaired; and the facility with which injunctive relief can be applied to new conditions and adjusted to the changing emergencies of modern enterprise.” Joyce on Injunctions, Yol. 1, part of sec. 2, pp. 4, 5.

In 14 R. C. L., part of sec. 43, it is said: “Inadequacy of the remedy at law is the basis on which a court of equity founds the exercise of its power to afford relief by injunction. If it appears to the satisfaction of the court that a person has a property right and that he has no means of protecting' it from injury at the hands of another, the court may then exercise its extraordinary power.”

C. S., 843, in part, is as follows:

“A temporary injunction may be issued by order in accordance with the provisions of this article. The order may be made by any judge of the Superior Court in the following cases, and shall be issued by the clerk of the court in which the action is required to be tried:

“1. When it appears by the complaint that the plaintiff is entitled to the relief demanded, and this relief, or any part thereof, consists in restraining the commission or continuance of some act the commission or continuance of which, during the litigation, would produce injury to the plaintiff, or

“2. When during the litigation, it appears by affidavit that a party thereto is doing, or- threatens or is about to do, or is procuring or suffering some act to be done in violation of the rights of another party to the litigation respecting the subject of the action, and tending to render the judgment ineffectual.”

C. S., 860¿ in part, is as follows:

“A receiver may be appointed—

“1. Before judgment, on the application of either party, when he establishes an apparent right to property which is the subject of the action and in the possession of an adverse party, and the property or its rents and profits are in danger of being lost, or materially injured or impaired; except in cases where judgment upon failure to answer may be had on application to the court.”

It will be noted that these statutes give broad and liberal powers.

In Lumber Co. v. Wallace, 93 N. C., p. 27, Merrimon, J., in construing the above sections of The Code, says: “The provisions of The Code, secs. 338 and 379 (C. S., 843 and 860, supra), in express terms invest the court with very large and comprehensive powers to protect the rights and prevent the perpetration, or the continuance, of wrong in respect to the subject-matter of the action, and to take charge of and protect the property in controversy both before and after judgment, by injunctions and through receivers, pending the litigation; they facilitate and enlarge the authority of the courts in the exercise of these remedial agencies, and do not in any degree abridge the exercise of like general powers that appertain to courts of equity to grant the relief specified, or to grant perpetual injunctions in proper cases and the like relief.” . . . (p. 30). “It is against the policy of the law to restrain industries and such enterprises as tend to develop the country and its resources. It ought not to be done, unless in extreme cases, and this is not such an one. The court made its order granting an injunction until the hearing. This order must be so modified as to require the plaintiffs to execute a bond with approved security in such sum as the court may deem proper, payable to the defendants claiming the property, conditioned that the plaintiffs will pay to them all such damages and sums of money as the court may adjudge against them and in favor of the defendants upon the final determination of this action; and so, also, to appoint a receiver, who shall take, state and keep an accurate account of the timber that the plaintiffs shall now have on hand, and such as they shall cut henceforth until the final hearing of the action upon its merits, and make report to the court of his action as such receiver; and, further, so as to restrain the plaintiffs from removing such timber, 'or any part thereof, until the receiver shall take the account thereof as required by the order of the court appointing him. But if the plaintiffs cannot or will not give such bond, the court shall make such further order as to it may seem meet and just.” Lewis v. Lumber Co., 99 N. C., p. 11.

Walker, J., in Stewart v. Munger, 174 N. C., p. 402, going into this matter thoroughly, citing and approving the cases, supra, and reason ing of Marrimon, J., says, at p. 407: ‘While we are of tbe opinion tbat plaintiff is entitled to relief, we do not deem it necessary in tbis ease, upon a review of tbe pleadings and affidavits, tbat resort should be bad to so drastic a remedy as tbat of injunction, because we believe tbat tbe plaintiff’s rights may be fully secured to him without seriously interfering with tbe operation of tbe defendant’s extensive plant, which it has constructed at great expense to carry on tbe business of cutting and removing tbe timber for commercial purposes. Several of our eases justify a milder process for dealing with tbe matter, and we think it should be adopted, especially as plaintiff has been somewhat slow, if not remiss, in prosecuting bis right, and looking on while defendant, if bis evidence be true, was investing large sums of money in bis plant and business.”

In tbe present case, it appears tbat tbe defendant is a going concern. Tbe plaintiffs bad a contract with one Royall to quarry certain sand, gravel and stone on plaintiffs’ land in Moore County, and defendant, Carolina Sand and Gravel Co., is assignee bolding under tbis contract. Tbis is not disputed by tbe record. Tbe contract made provision for stipulated rent and royalties to be paid to plaintiff. From tbe undisputed facts here, tbe defendant is in possession of tbe land and taking out tbe sand, gravel and stone. Plaintiffs contend tbe rent and royalties are in arrearage and tbe contract forfeited. Tbe defendant being in charge and control of tbe quarry operations and getting out tbe sand, gravel and stone, it is impossible for tbe plaintiffs to ascertain to what extent these operations are being carried on and what tonnage of sand, gravel and stone is being quarried and removed. Thus, it is impossible for plaintiffs to know what royalty they are entitled to under their contract. At tbe same time, it is important tbat defendant’s. operations should not be stopped by injunction, as it would, perhaps, seriously impair tbe credit of tbe defendant company, and, perhaps, as far as can be ascertained from tbe record, throw numerous persons out of employment and effect their livelihood. Tbis sand, gravel and stone, by common knowledge, is useful in commerce and is of considerable value in building operations, roads, and for other purposes.

A court of equity looks always towards doing justice to tbe parties, and in good conscience protecting their rights until tbe final adjudication of tbe controversy through tbe courts. No protection given plaintiffs before tbe bearing would do them justice in tbis case. Tbe courts of equity are gradually adjusting themselves to modern conditions and look to what in good conscience is for tbe best interest of tbe litigants, without resorting to any bard or fast rule.

We think by analogy to tbe cases cited and tbe statutes referred to, plaintiffs’ rights under their contract should be safeguarded; at tbe same time the defendant’s commercial enterprise should not be seriously hampered. The injury, under the facts and circumstances of this case, is not such' irreparable injury that plaintiffs’ rights cannot be protected by defendant giving bond or a receiver being appointed — a less harsh method than a temporary injunction.

There was error in the ruling of the court below in denying the plaintiffs all relief. Under the authorities, above cited, and on the facts of this record, it would seem that the plaintiffs are entitled to have the defendant execute a bond for their protection and file weekly or monthly statements with the clerk of the Superior Court showing the amount of sand, gravel and stone quarried; or, if such will not meet the exigencies of the case, a receiver might be appointed, or, as a final resort, an injunction issued. But, we leave the exact order to the sound discretion of the chancellor or judge of the Superior Court, who will inquire into all the relevant facts of the case.

The object of the court should be to so mold its orders and decrees as to afford relief to plaintiffs as indicated in this opinion, and also to permit the defendant to prosecute its industry under just restraint for the benefit of plaintiff in case of their recovery. Lumber Co. v. Wallace, supra, p. 31.

It is so ordered.

Error.