King v. Miller

280 S.W.2d 331, 1955 Tex. App. LEXIS 1898
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 3, 1955
Docket3178
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 280 S.W.2d 331 (King v. Miller) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
King v. Miller, 280 S.W.2d 331, 1955 Tex. App. LEXIS 1898 (Tex. Ct. App. 1955).

Opinion

LONG, Justice.

Appellees, M. C. Miller and nineteen others, institued this suit against appellant, John King, for an injunction. Appellees alleged that they were property owners and/or residents of that part of Taylor County lying just east of the city limits of the City of Abilene, Texas, known as T. & P. Lane; that appellant, John King, operated a gin near their homes and that he burns -or has burned the burrs and other refuse from said gin in such a manner that the prevailing wind carries smoke onto and into the homes of appellees. Appellees prayed for an injunction restraining appellant from burning cotton burrs and other refuse on the premises of his gin “unless some equipment be provided to allow such burning in a manner whereby unreasonable amounts of smoke and unburned particles will not be distributed onto the property of appellees.” Appellant answered by special exception, general denial and various other defenses. The case was tried before the court with the aid of a jury. The issues submitted to the jury and the answers thereto are as follows:

“Question No. 1: Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence, if any, that the defendant in the burning of cotton burrs at his gin plant allows smoke to emit from his gin plant in such a manner that it is carried in substantial quantities onto the property of the plaintiffs? Answer yes or no. Answer:. Yes.
“If you have answered the foregoing special issue Number One yes, then and in that event only, you will answer the following question:
“Question No. 2: Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence, if any, that the emission of smoke 'from said gin plant, if you have found that same does emit smoke, constitutes a nuisance *333 as that term is herein defined? Answer ‘It is a nuisance’ or, ‘It is not a nuisance.’ Answer: It is a nuisance.
“If you have answered the above and foregoing question number one, yes, and in that event only, then answer the following special issue:
“Special Issue No. 3: Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that the Defendant, John King, is acting unreasonably in burning the cotton burrs at his gin? Answer yes or no. Answer: Yes.”

The court entered judgment perpetually ■enjoining appellant from burning cotton burrs on the premises of his gin located on 'T. & P. Lane in Taylor County, Texas in the manner in which the appellant is now. burning cotton burrs. From this judgment •appellant has appealed.

Appellant contends the trial court erred in granting the injunction because appellees failed to plead and prove that they did not have an adequate remedy at law. We do not agree with this contention. Ap-pellees alleged that they did not have an adequate remedy at law and in our opinion, the evidence sustains such allegation. There is evidence that appellees, by instrument dated August 28, 1954, and prior to the filing of their amended petition upon which they went to trial, for a consideration of $500 paid by appellant, released the appellant from all claims for bodily injury, including damages for care and loss of services because of bodily injury, sickness or disease, including death at any time resulting therefrom sustained or alleged to have been sustained, caused or alleged to have been caused by appellant prior to and ■including September 7, 1953.. Appellant urges that in view of the fact that appellees settled their claim for damages that it was thereby conclusively established that they ■could be reasonably compensated for their loss by reason of the burning of burrs on the gin property and that they consequently had an adequate remedy at law and were not entitled to an injunction. In order for •a remedy at láw’ to be adequate it must give to the plaintiff complete, final and equal relief. Ex parte Warfield, 40 Tex.Cr.R. 413, 50 S.W. 933, 24 Tex.Jur. 82; Davis v. Gillen, Tex.Civ.App., 227 S.W.2d 834 (Writ Ref.).

The act of appellant in maintaining the nuisance is a continuing one and constitutes a continuing trespass. If appellees are forced to file suit for damages this would result in a multiplicity of suits.

“Many authorities support the rule that injunction is a proper remedy to restrain repeated or continuing trespasses where the remedy at law is inadequate because of the nature of the injury, or the necessity of a multiplicity of actions to obtain redress.” 32 A.L.R. 465. See also Knox v. Askew, 62 Tex.Civ.App. 217, 131 S.W. 230; City National Bank of Dallas v. Folsom, Tex.Civ.App., 247 S.W. 591.

The granting of' the injunction rested largely within the discretion of the trial court and unless it is shown that the court abused its discretion, we have no power to disturb the judgment. Lamb v. Kinslow, Tex.Civ.App., 256 S.W.2d 903.

By his fourth point, appellant contends the trial court erred in refusing to submit the following requested special issues to the .jury:-

“No. One: Do yoii find from a preponderance of the evidence that the plaintiffs have suffered damages as a result of the burning of burrs at defendant’s gin? Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Answer: -.
“No. Two: If you have .answered defendant’s Special Issue No. One in the affirmative, then you will answer .this issue, otherwise you need not answer requested Special Issue No. Two.
“Could the plaintiffs b.e compensated in damages for their injuries, if any? Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Answer:

We find no error in this, point. Appel-lees-were not seeking td 'recover damáges *334 but were asking only for an injunction. The question of whether the appellees had an adequate remedy at law was for the court and not the jury. The issues requested were immaterial and not controlling. Therefore, the court, under R.C.P. 279, was not required to give them.

By his second point appellant urges that the trial court erred in not declaring a mistrial when one of appellees mentioned insurance. While the appellee Pen-nell was being cross examined, by counsel for appellant, the following occurred:

“Q. Now, for the annoyance down there and discomfort, etc., you and all these other plaintiffs here, for a consideration of $500.00 executed a release to Mr. King, didn’t you?
. “A. That wasn’t my understanding at all.,
“Q. Well you did sign the instrument didn’t you?
"A. The way I understood that re-' leáse it was from an insurance company, that — .”

Counsel for appellant immediately objected to the answer and moved the court to discharge the jury and declare a mistrial which the court refused to do but instructed the jury not to consider the- question of insurance. We recognize the rule that in negligence cases under some circumstances, the mention of insurance, is reversible error but appellees were not seeking any damages in this case. We fail to see how the mere mention of insurance by the witness could have resulted in injury to appellant.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Holubec v. Brandenburger
58 S.W.3d 201 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2001)
Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. v. Kingston Investors Corp.
819 S.W.2d 607 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1991)
Morgan v. Morgan
657 S.W.2d 484 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1983)
David v. Bache Halsey Stuart Shields, Inc.
630 S.W.2d 754 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1982)
Jamail v. Gillingwater
612 S.W.2d 279 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1981)
Drever & Associates Professional Personnel Service v. Batey
572 S.W.2d 30 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1978)
Hart v. City of Dallas
565 S.W.2d 373 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1978)
Gihls Properties, Inc. v. Main Lafrentz & Co.
542 S.W.2d 203 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1976)
Estancias Dallas Corporation v. Schultz
500 S.W.2d 217 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1973)
Schiller v. Raley
405 S.W.2d 446 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1966)
Graham v. Morris
366 S.W.2d 792 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1963)
Fargason v. Economy Furniture, Inc.
356 S.W.2d 212 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1962)
Economy Furniture, Inc. v. Jirasek
345 S.W.2d 951 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1961)
Thomason v. City of Midland
304 S.W.2d 288 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1957)
Texas Lime Company v. Hindman
300 S.W.2d 112 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1957)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
280 S.W.2d 331, 1955 Tex. App. LEXIS 1898, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/king-v-miller-texapp-1955.