Paine v. Incorporated Town of Lettsville

72 N.W. 693, 103 Iowa 481

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: October 25, 1897
• Status: Published

Opinion

Robinson, J.

1 The defendant is an incorporated town of this state, and the plaintiff is the owner of a lot and store building which front on one of its streets. There is no ordinance fixing any grade in the town. In the latter part of the year 1894, the defendant caused changes, to be made in the street in front of the property of the plaintiff. He claims that the building on his lot, including brick foundation walls, was constructed with reference to the natural surface of the lot and street; that the defendant unlawfully excavated the street in front of his premises to a depth of three feet below the natural grade, to his injury in the sum of seven hundred dollars, and for that sum he asks judgment. The answer of the defendant contains a general denial, and alleges that the work performed, and the changes, if any, made, in the street, were under the instructions and directions of the plaintiff, tad for that reason he is estopped to claim damages in consequence of what was done. The verdict and judgment were for the sum of two hundred dollars.

I. The appellant insists that the evidence does not sustain the verdict, but shows that the earth removed was not a part of the original soil, and had been deposited in front of the plaintiff’s premises from excavations made in the vicinity, and perhaps from' other sources, and that the natural grade has not been lowered. It is not necessary to set out the evidence in regard to a change of grade, but it is sufficient to say that witnesses for the plaintiff testified positively that the street had been excavated in front of the plaintiff’s building to a considerable depth below the original grade, while witnesses for the defendant testified as positively that the excavation had not extended below the natural surface of the ground. In fact, the greater number of witnesses who testified in regard to the original grade and the alleged change sustain the defendant’s claim. But there was a fair conflict in the evidence with respect to that issue, which was properly submitted to the jury, and we cannot say that its finding is not supported by the evidence. Moreover, the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdict is not questioned by the assignments of error.

II. It is said that, before the work complained of was done, the plaintiff agreed that the changes proposed might be made. It is doubtful if the evidence would have sustained a finding that an estoppel had been established. The plaintiff denied some of the statements charged to have been made by him, and we think the finding of the jury as to the alleged estoppel should be regarded as final. It is proper to state that this question also is not presented by the assignments of error. ¡ i

2 III. The last objection urged against the legality of the proceedings of the district court is that it did not give to the jury any rule for estimating damages. It is true that the jury was not instructed in regard to the measure of the plaintiff’s recovery, but the case was tried on the theory that, if he was entitled to recover anything, it would be the difference between the value of his property immediately before and immediately after the alleged change of grade. The defendant did not ask an instruction in regard to that matter, did not except to any portion of the charge given, and did not make the omission to charge in regard to the measure of damages a ground of the motion for a new trial. Therefore it appears that the objection now urged is made for the first time in this court. We think it is made too late. Kidd v. Pill & Medicine Co., 91 Iowa, 268; Duncombe v. Powers, 75 Iowa, 188; State v. Helvin, 65 Iowa, 291; Smith v. Railway Co., 60 Iowa, 514.

IV. The liability of the defendant in case the averments of the petition are sustained by the evidence is not questioned. See Trustees of the Diocese of Iowa v. City of Anamosa, 76 Iowa, 539. What we have said disposes of all questions presented in the arguments. As there was no error in the proceedings of the district court of which the defendant can justly complain, the judgment is affirmed.