Mitchell Realty Co. v. City of West Allis

199 N.W. 390, 184 Wis. 352, 35 A.L.R. 396, 1924 Wisc. LEXIS 285
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJune 23, 1924
StatusPublished
Cited by29 cases

This text of 199 N.W. 390 (Mitchell Realty Co. v. City of West Allis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mitchell Realty Co. v. City of West Allis, 199 N.W. 390, 184 Wis. 352, 35 A.L.R. 396, 1924 Wisc. LEXIS 285 (Wis. 1924).

Opinion

Doerfler, J.

The judgment in the instant case represents the total damages sustained by the plaintiff Mitchell Realty Company by reason of the alleged illegal acts not only of the city of West Allis but also of the private corporations whose plants are situated along the creek and to the east of and below the limits of such city, and it is conceded by the counsel in this case that the theory upon which this judgment is based assumed that the city of West Allis can be held responsible for all of the damages, such city and the private' corporations being joint tortfeasors. It also appears from the written opinion filed by the court that the city of West Allis may enforce contribution from the owners of the various industrial plants to reimburse it for the amount of the damages respectively caused by them.

Appellant’s counsel first raises the equitable doctrine of comparative convenience. It is contended that prior to the installation of the septic tanks the territory now comprising the city of West Allis and that along the banks of the creek to the east of the same, up to the point where the creek flows into the Kinnickinnic river, was devoted almost-exclusively to agricultural purposes; that since the city of West Allis was incorporated as a city the territory within its limits was [359]*359platted and laid out into lots, blocks, and streets; that large industrial plants were located in such city along the course of such stream; that to the east of the limits of the city the territory rapidly changed from an agricultural community to an urban community; that large areas in the town of Greenfield were platted; that residences arid factories sprang up along the course of such.stream, and that by reason of such facts the waters pf said creek necessarily cannot maintain their original purity, and that from necessity polluted liquids are led into the stream, and that such progress of events is at the foundation of the present polluted condition of the creek. That the waters as they flow eastward from the limits of the city of West Allis are greatly contaminated, and that such contamination increases as the waters flow down in their course to the river, is conceded by the defendant. That the condition which so results must be borne by the lower owners along the creek, and that the damages caused are damnum absque injuria. That the city of West Allis, in the discharge of its municipal functions, was legally bound to establish a system of proper sewage disposal; to construct sewers in its streets; to require drains to be led from residences and factories to such sewers; and that in doing these things it was performing governmental functions towards the public, and that the riparian owners of property below the limits of the city must endure the conditions which naturally result, and that they are remediless; that the establishment and maintenance of manufacturing plants and the building of residences for the inhabitants of the city are impelling necessities for the welfare of the residents of the city; that it was necessary for the city to supply the owners of the industrial establishments with an adequate water supply.; that Honey creek was an established watercourse which had existed from time immemorial, and that such watercourse afforded the principal means of drainage of the property from the city of West Allis.

On this branch of the argument defendant’s counsel rely [360]*360largely upon the case of Richmond v. Test, 18 Ind. App. 482, 48 N. E. 610. The Richmond Case is one where the plaintiff, a riparian owner, brought an action to recover damages by reason of the polluting of a stream by the city of Richmond. In its opinion the court uses the following language:

“It has long been the settled law of this state, that for consequential injuries resulting from the construction, maintenance, or operation of sewers, streets, and other public works, in the absence of negligence or want of due care and skill, a municipal corporation is not liable. . . . The improvement of streets and alleys by a municipality is a lawful act, and, if unavoidable injury ensue, no liability results. That which the law authorizes is not a nuisance, so as to give a right of action. . . . When the population becomes dense, and towns or villages gather along its banks, the stream naturally suffers still greater deterioration. Against such injury, incident as it is to the growth and industrial prosperity of the community, the law affords no redress. So, in cities and towns, with their numerous inhabitants and diversified business; with their mills, shops, and manufac-tories; with their streets and sewers, — all the products and means of a high civilization, — it would be impossible that the pure streams that flow in from the farm sides should remain uncontaminated; and those that live upon the lower banks of such stream must, for the general good, abide the necessary results of such causes. ... In the case before us the stream flowed through the heart of the city of Martins-ville before it reached the lands of appellee. Will it be said that there is any liability for contamination from the refuse of a city? Must it be that one who lives on the lower lands on the banks of a stream shall forbid forever the founding of a city on the lands above; forbid the grading of streets, the building of sewers, the erection of mills, factories, hospitals, or other means of livelihood, comfort, and convenience of the inhabitants?”

There is much force in what is said in the opinion in the Richmond Case. The matter of sewage disposal is one which has been particularly troublesome to municipalities [361]*361for many years past. The rapid progress of events in this country has resulted in cities springing up in a short period of time and growing to large proportions. Sanitation with respect to sewage disposal is essential to the health and welfare of the community, and it must be conceded that the promotion and the maintenance of the health of a municipality is one of the principal objects and aims of the municipal government. Therefore, cities are authorized to establish and maintain a system of sanitary and storm sewers and disposal plants.

While great progress has been made along the line of increasing the efficiency of sewage-disposal plants, nevertheless it is recognized that in most instances such plants fall short of the mark of a complete disposal. It appears from the evidence that the Imhoff plant, installed by the defendant, city, constitutes a standard and well recognized system, but that the average results achieved do not exceed approximately a fifty per cent, disposal; and it seems also to be conceded in this case that the plant installed by the city of West Allis is a few points above the average in efficiency of similar plants established in other municipalities. The natural drainage of the area comprising the city of West Allis and the town of Greenfield is towards the east, into Lake Michigan. The city of Milwaukee, and in fact the entire county, for many years past has been up against a similar proposition to that presented by the defendant city in this case. Some years ago the city of Milwaukee, which now has a population of about half a million inhabitants, found it necessary to install at great expense the so-called flushing plant, the object of which is to flush the river by means of large volumes of water pumped from Lake Michigan.

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Bluebook (online)
199 N.W. 390, 184 Wis. 352, 35 A.L.R. 396, 1924 Wisc. LEXIS 285, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mitchell-realty-co-v-city-of-west-allis-wis-1924.