Law v. McDonald

62 How. Pr. 340
New York Supreme Court·Decided September 15, 1881·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

Bockes, J.

— The plaintiff had recovered against the defendant in the two former actions the damages to which he was entitled for all unlawful acts committed by him against the plaintiff’s rights prior to October 15, 1875.

Those acts were the removal of and injury to the plaintiff’s pipe leading from the spring to his dwelling and outhouses, and the consequent interruption of the flow of water through it to his premises; and, by the judgment in the first action, he was awarded a perpetual injunction against the defendant, restraining the latter from in any way interfering with such pipe. There is no proof in the case, nor do we understand that it is pretended, that the defendant, after October 15, 1875, ever in any way interfered with the pipe or with the flow of water through it, or, by threats or otherwise, prevented the plaintiff from maintaining it in proper place or [342] in repair. It appears that prior to the recovery in the former actions, and in 1872, the plaintiff attempted to replace and repair the pipe, and was prevented from so doing by the defendant, but no such attempt was thereafter repeated until in the spring of 1877, when no opposition was offered; nor did the defendant thereafter (1872), at any time or in any way, interfere with the plaintiff’s rights as they were ultimately established by the judgment of the court in those suits. The second action was commenced October 15, 1875. Thus it seems that all right of action against the defendant for everything wrongfully done or suffered by him relating to the subject-matter of plaintiff’s complaint in the present (third) action occurred during the time covered by the former suits. If so the recoveries in those actions barred the present claim, for the plaintiff recovered, or should have .recovered, his entire damages in those suits, and this would be so whatever might be the form of action. The rule of law applicable to the case would be the same whether the actipns were in trespass, or what were formerly denominated actions on the case. The wrongful acts complained of occurred long prior to October 15, 1875; they were not repeated or continued after that time. The recovery in this (third) action seems to have been based on the idea that the defendant was under obligation to maintain the pipe in good repair. But he was not so obligated. The extent of. his obligation was to permit the plaintiff to enjoy his easement ; that is, to lay and retain the pipe in place, keep it in repair and take the water through it from ■ the spring. .In the exercise of this right he had been interrupted prior to October 15, 1875, and for such interruption damages had been awarded him in the former suits. But theré was no interruption or interference with the right by the defendant subsequent to October 15, 1875, the time covered by the third and last suit. The case is not like that of a continuing nuisance, hence the authorities cited by the respondent’s counsel are not in point. The defendant did not disturb the pipe or the flow of water through it after October 15, [343]*3431875, nor did he thereafter prevent the plaintiff from maintaining the pipe in place and in proper repair. The case, in principle, as regards the subject under examination, is not unlike Porter agt. Cobb (22 Hun, 278). After October fifteenth the defendant did nothing to produce the injury complained of, and, as above stated, for all wrongful acts by the defendant prior to that time, damages had been awarded against' him. The plaintiff could have but one suit growing out of a single cause of damage. This was held in Johnson agt. Long (1 Ld. Ray., 370). And in Fitter agt. Beal (1 Let. Ray., 339) it was held that after a recovery in an action for an injurious act, no action can be maintained on account of any further consequences occasioned by that act. The authorities are clearly and indisputably to the effect that damages for a single wrongful act can be awarded but once, and in one suit only. When sued for such wrongful act the plaintiff may recover his damages caused thereby, both past and prospective ; that is, he takes his equivalent for the entire injury in damages. He cannot split up his damages and" have separate and independent recoveries. This principle obtains in all classes of actions. The rule, says judge Cowen, in Bendernagle agt. Cocks (19 Wend., 215;, “goes against several actions for the same wrong, and against several actions on the same contract. All damages accruing from a single wrong, though at different times, make but one cause of action, and all debts or demands already due by the same contract make one entire cause of action.” So it was held in Phillips agt. Berick (16 John., 137), that a- claim arising from one entire contract, or from one single tortious act, cannot be divided into distinct demands and made the subject of separate actions (See, also, Farrington agt. Payne, 15 John., 432 ; Fish agt. Folley, 6 Hill, 54 ; Bull agt. Cotton, 22 Barb., 94-96 ; Secor agt. Sturgis, 16 N. Y., 558 ; Staples agt. Goodrich, 21 Barb., 317 ; Burritt agt. Belfy, 47 Conn., .323 ; S. C., 36 Am. Rep., 79). As regards prospective damages, it is laid down in Moak's Underhill on Torts (p. 82), as follows:

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Law v. McDonald, 62 How. Pr. 340 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1881).

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