Joyce v. Columbus city

21 Ohio Law. Abs. 649, 1936 Ohio App. LEXIS 486
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 2, 1936
DocketNo 2630
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 21 Ohio Law. Abs. 649 (Joyce v. Columbus city) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Joyce v. Columbus city, 21 Ohio Law. Abs. 649, 1936 Ohio App. LEXIS 486 (Ohio Ct. App. 1936).

Opinion

OPINION

By BARNES, PJ.

The action clearly was one for a continuing nuisance and the basis of recovery was predicated entirely on damage to property.

The ground of demurrer was based solely upon the theory that by reason of the death of plaintiffs’ decedent the cause of action abated, and the trial court in sustaining the demurrer held to this view. Counsel for plaintiffs in error present the theory that while the suit or pending action abated, the cause of action survives.

The terms “abatement, revivor and survival,” as they pertain to pending actions or causes of action, are handed to us from the common law.

Much of the legislation in this state relative thereto is but an expression of the common law. However, the scope has, in many instances, been extended.

Under the common law all pending actions abated, and originally only actions ex contractu could be revived. By the statutes 3 and 4 W. 4, c. 42, No. 3, the common law rule was modified by giving an action in favor of the personal representatives for injuries to real estate and against personal representatives for injuries to real or personal property. This statute did not change the common law rule as to injuries to the person. The Supreme Court of Ohio, in the case of Russell v Sunbury, 37 Oh St, page 372, at page 374 of the opinion, makes the following statement:

“This statute may be regarded as part of the common law of this state.”

In the final analysis the question at issue in the instant case is determinable under pertinent legislative enactments touching the subjects of abatement, revivor and survival considered in the light of common law rules as determined through decisions of Ohio courts.

Sec 11397, GC, reads as follows:

“Sec 11397 GC. ABATEMENT BY DEATH OF PARTY. Unless otherwise provided, no action or proceeding pending in any court shall abate by the death of either or both of the parties thereto, except actions for libel, slander, malicious prosecution, for a nuisance, or against a justice of the peace [651]*651for misconduct in office, which shall abate by the death of either party.”

The language here used is very clear, explicit and unambiguous. While under the common law rule, all pending cases abated, the above quoted section provides that no pending action or proceeding abates except ‘libel, slander, malicious prosecution, for a nuisance, or against a justice of the peace for misconduct in office,” and as to these the last part of the statute says “which shall abate by the death of either party.”

In the instant case we are only concerned as to action “for a nuisance,” and this form of action is included in one of the exceptions and it is very specifically stated that a pending action for nuisance abates.

The petition in the instant case does not disclose that the decedent had pending an action for damages predicated on the same state of facts at the time of his death. However, the briefs of counsel for both parties state this to be a fact. Counsel for plaintiffs in error apparently recognize that the action was one for nuisance, and that the pending action of the decedent abated. This position would be in direct line with the section above quoted. The present action brought by the representatives of the decedent is on the theory that the cause of action survives, notwithstanding that the pending action abated. To hold that §11397, GC, refers to anything more than a pending action or proceeding would be extending the provisions beyond the clear language. In effect this would be judicial legislation.

From this section alone we get no aid on the question as to whether or not a cause of action for nuisance survives.

If the Ohio Legislature has provided that actions for nuisance survive, this would be controlling. If there is no legislation on the subject, then it will be necessary to determine whether or not, under the common law, the cause of action for nuisance would survive.

On this question of survival we are referred to §11235, GC, which reads as follows:

“Sec 11235 GC. WHAT CAUSES OF ACTION SURVIVE. In addition to the cases which survive at common law, causes of action for mesne profits, or injuries to the person or property, or for deceit or fraud, also shall survive, and the action may be brought notwithstanding the death of the person entitled or liable thereto.”

From the above section it clearly appears that the Legislature gave legislative expression to the rule of common law and also provided that other causes of action should survive.

“In addition” does not refer to specific causes of action, but rather in general terms, and encompassed therein will be such causes of action as fall within the general expression “for injuries to person or property.” The action in the instant case is obviously an action for injuries to property.

We can conceive of no rule by which it can properly be considered that the injury to property should be limited to certain classes' or forms of damage or injury and not include nuisance. The injury or damage is certainly just as potent if occasioned through nuisance as though occasioned by trespass.

Had the Legislature desired to limit the injuries to property to some form or classification, it could have very easily done so. Since it deals with the subject in general terms, the section must be given general application.

The only case in Ohio cited by counsel or found by us through an independent search similar in its facts and procedure is the case of Murray v Buckner, Executor, etc., 15 N.P., N.S., 424. This is a decision by the Superior Court of Cincinnati, and was decided December, 1913. In this case it was held that the cause of action abated and thereby plaintiff was denied recovery for his claimed damages for injury to his property by reason of a nuisance. After carefully reading this opinion, it is our view that the trial court in its construction of §11397, GC, failed to limit its provisions to pending actions. This is especially manifest from the following language at page 429 of the opinion:

“There is an apparent inconsistency of language in these two sections (referring to §§11397 and 11235 GC) in that by the terms of one we find that an action for injury to property survives and may be brought notwithstanding the death of the party liable thereto, while in the other, in equally positive terms, we find that an action for a nuisance, which may also be an action for injury to property, abates upon the death of the person liable thereto.”

Had the court properly observed the language of §11397, GC, in that it refers not to a cause of action but to pending actions or proceedings, the apparent inconsistency of language would have at once disappeared. We also find that the trial court in the reported case incorrectly analyzed the case [652]*652of Cardington v Fredericks, 46 Oh St, 442. Tn the statement on the first page, following the syllabus, it will be disclosed that the original action was commenced by Mary J. H. Fredericks against the Village of Cardington. After answer was filed, the plaintiff deceased, and by leave of court, her administrator became party plaintiff and filed petition. Then follows the following very pertinent comment:

“The sole issue in the case is as to whether an action can be maintained on that petition which is as follows.”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
21 Ohio Law. Abs. 649, 1936 Ohio App. LEXIS 486, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/joyce-v-columbus-city-ohioctapp-1936.