Parker v. Griswold

17 Conn. 288
Supreme Court of Connecticut·Decided July 15, 1845·Published·Cited by 67 cases

Opinion

Storks, J.

The firsi question in this case, arises upon the [296] motion in arrest of judgment, and respects the sufficiency of declaration.

On comparing this declaration with the most approved precedents, in such cases as the present, there is an exact conformity between.them as to the principles on which they are framed, and the variation between them is of a merely circumstantial character. Most of the precedents in the books differ from this circumstantially, because they state the existence of a mill or other works of the plaintiff on his land, and that the same was worked by the water of the stream flowing through or past the land, whereas in the declaration before us, it is not alleged that the plaintiff had any mill or other establishment on his premises, probably because such an allegation would not be adapted to the case. The omission to state, that the plaintiff had any such works, which were operated by the water of the stream, is of no importance, if, independent of that circumstance, the declaration shows enough to constitute a legal right to the use of the stream, and a violation of that right, by the alleged acts of the defendant; and that these are sufficiently shown, we think there is no doubt. It is correctly claimed by the defendant, that it is not sufficient to allege merely, that a less quantity of water comes to the plaintiff’s land, in consequence of the acts of the defendant specified. It is undoubtedly necessary to state further, that a damage has accrued to the plaintiff from such loss. In this declaration, however, the plaintiff alleges, not only that the defendant, by the acts detailed, diverted and turned large quantities of the water of the stream out of its ordinary and natural channel, and away from the land of the plaintiff, and prevented the water of the stream from flowing along in its natural course to the land of the plaintiff, and supplying the same with water, as it otherwise would have done ; and that, by reason thereof, the water of said stream, during the time therein specified, could not, nor did, run or flow to said land, as it ought to, and otherwise would, have done ; but it proceeds to state further, that the plaintiff thereby, for want of such sufficient water, could not, during that lime, use his said land, in so large, extensive and beneficial a manner, as he might and otherwise would have done, but was thereby, during said time, deprived of the use and enjoyment of his said [297] land, and of all the benefits, profits, gains and advantages, which he otherwise might and would have derived from said land.

It is objected also, that no special damage to the plaintiff is here stated ; in other words, that it is not set forth in what manner the plaintiff has sustained damages, by the acts of the defendant. The allegation that, the plaintiff, in consequence of such acts, could not enjoy his land as beneficially as he otherwise might, and that he was deprived of the use and profits thereof, is as particular, however, as the statement of damage in most of the precedents ; and no case has been cited, which requires more particularity. Where there is a mill on the plaintiff’s land, and he is injured by the water being set back upon it, or unreasonably withheld from it: or if there is no mill on if, and the land is overflowed by the defendant; it is only necessary to allege the fact of such setting back, withholding or overflowing, and that, by reason thereof, the plaintiff could not enjoy his mill or his land as beneficially as he otherwise might have done, without more particularly describing the damage *, and so are the precedents. In Brown v. Best, 1 Wils. 174. which was an action for diverting a water-course from the plaintiff’s land, on which no mill or other establishment had been erected, it was only alleged, that in consequence of the diversion, the water was prevented from coming to the plaintiff’s grounds. Lee, Ch. J,, was of opinion, that the declaration was “very good;” and Dennison, J. said, that whatever the precedents may be in regard to water-courses to mills, yet as to natural water-courses, this is the most proper way of declaring. The form adopted and sanctioned in that case, fully supports the declaration in the present. A legal damage being alleged in the declaration, if indeed it were stated so defectively or informally that it would be insufficient on demurrer, still it would probably be cured by the verdict, since it is presumable that the court would not instruct the jury to give, and that they would not have given, damages, unless some damage had been proved on the trial. The question as to what would be a legal ground for assessing damages under this declaration, does not properly arise on the enquiry on the motion in arrest for the insufficiency of the declaration, but on the charge of the court. The declaration, therefore, is [298] sufficient; and the motion in arrest should be overruled. We are next brought to consider the questions arising on the motion for a new trial.

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

Parker v. Griswold, 17 Conn. 288 (Colo. 1845).

17 Conn. 288 (Parker v. Griswold) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Walmart Stores East, Lp v. Leverette
321 Ga. 854 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2025)
Wasserman v. Franklin County
911 S.E.2d 583 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 2025)
Mr. Eddie I. Sierra v. City of Hallandale Beach Florida
996 F.3d 1110 (Eleventh Circuit, 2021)
June Medical Services L. L. C. v. Russo
140 S. Ct. 2103 (Supreme Court, 2020)
Right v. Breen
890 A.2d 1287 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 2006)
Right v. Breen
870 A.2d 1131 (Connecticut Appellate Court, 2005)
Hi-Ho Tower, Inc. v. Com-Tronics, Inc.
761 A.2d 1268 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 2000)
Peck v. Edelman, No. Cv97-056833s (Jul. 10, 2000)
2000 Conn. Super. Ct. 9032 (Connecticut Superior Court, 2000)
City of Waterbury v. Town of Wash., No. X01-Uwy-Cv97-140886 (Feb. 16, 2000)
2000 Conn. Super. Ct. 2094 (Connecticut Superior Court, 2000)
Whitaker v. Amato, No. Hcnh 9711-133 (Feb. 24, 1998)
1998 Conn. Super. Ct. 1603 (Connecticut Superior Court, 1998)
Ward v. Frank, No. Cv93-0044402s (Aug. 24, 1995)
1995 Conn. Super. Ct. 9336 (Connecticut Superior Court, 1995)
Smith v. Lenoci, No. Cv93 45 51 30 S (Jan. 25, 1994)
1994 Conn. Super. Ct. 898 (Connecticut Superior Court, 1994)
Green v. Donroe
440 A.2d 973 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 1982)
Riccio v. Abate
407 A.2d 1005 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 1979)
Dimmock v. City of New London
245 A.2d 569 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 1968)
Flagiello v. Pennsylvania Hospital
208 A.2d 193 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1965)
Gager v. Carlson
150 A.2d 302 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 1959)
Keller v. Carone
85 A.2d 489 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 1951)