Merritt v. Houlton Water Co.

76 A. 951, 106 Me. 537, 1910 Me. LEXIS 36

• Court: Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
• Decided: June 29, 1910
• Status: Published

Opinion

Emery, C. J.

In their declaration the plaintiffs set forth their cause of action substantially as follows : — They are the owners and operators of mills propelled by water power on the Meduxnekeag Stream, and as such are and have been entitled to have come to their mills for power the water that would naturally flow down said stream past the mills, subject to its reasonable use by riparian proprietors above. After the erection and the beginning of the operation of the mills by the plaintiffs, the defendant company for some years diverted large quantities of water from one of the tributaries of the Meduxnekeag so that much less water than otherwise would, flows down the' Meduxnekeag to the plaintiffs’ mills. No complaint is sufficiently made of any trespass upon any property of the plaintiffs. The action is simply to recover damages for the diversion of the water from their mills.

But it clearly appears from the evidence, even that introduced by the plaintiffs, that the diversion of the water was well known to the plaintiffs and they made no objection to it. Indeed it further fully appears from their language and conduct that they consented to it, — distinctly gave the company to understand it might divert water as it did, without making any compensation. The first notice given the company of any change of mind was the service of the writ. It is evident that the plaintiffs cannot recover damages for a diversion to which they consented, and that, at the date of their writ at least, they had no cause of action therefor. Miller v. Auburn, etc., R. R. Co., 6 Hill (N. Y.) 61.

Judgment for the defendant.