Rouse v. Martin

75 Ala. 510
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedDecember 15, 1883
StatusPublished
Cited by36 cases

This text of 75 Ala. 510 (Rouse v. Martin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rouse v. Martin, 75 Ala. 510 (Ala. 1883).

Opinion

SOMEB.YILLE, J.

The appeal is from a decree of the chancellor dissolving an injunction, which had been granted at the instance of the appellants to interdict the appellees from erecting a structure, with machinery for ginning cotton, in proximity to the dwelling-houses of the complainants and cer-' tain of their tenants in the city of Greenville. The nearest point of the proposed gin-house, which is to be a wooden structure, would be within about eighty-eight feet of the dwelling of one of the complainants, on a lot owUed by the defendants on the opposite, or south side of a public street. It is alleged by the complainants that the business of ginning seed cotton by steam-power, as purposed by the defendants, will work irreparable damage to them, -by rendering their houses uncomfortable and dangerous for occupation as places of residence, that the hazard of lire will be greatly increased, the noise of the machinery discomfort them, and that the atmosphere will be rendered impure and unwholesome by smoke,, dust, small particles of lint-cotton, decaying cotton seed, and other filth necessarily incident to the business, in 'which much stock will probably be used in hanling with wagons.

The foundation of this jurisdiction of equity, in assuming to restrain nuisances, rests in the imperative necessity of preventing irreparable injury and a multiplicity of suits at law.—State v. Mayor, etc., of Mobile, 5 Port. 279 ; 1 High on Inj. § 739 ; 2 Story’s Eq. § 925. It is the exercise of an extraordinary power, which, as was long ago said by this court, should be “cautiously and sparingly exercised.”—Ray v. Lynes, 10 Ala. 63. An injunction, therefore, of a private nuisance will generally be granted only where there is a strong and mischievous case of pressing necessity,'and not because of a trifling discomfort or inconvenience suffered by the party complaining. Coker v. Birge, 54 Amer. Dec. 347, note, p. 351 ; St. James Church v. Arrington, 36 Ala. 546.

The rule has long been recognized as quite different where the thing sought to be prohibited is goer se a nuisance, and wdiere it is not unavoidably noxious in itself, but may prove so according to circumstances, or otherwise. In the first class of cases an injunction will ordinarily be granted without waiting [514]*514for the result of a trial at law. In the second class the court will generally refuse to interfere until the matter has been tried at law.—St. James Church v. Arrington, supra; Adams’ Eq. (7th Amer. Ed.) 211, note 1.

The cases are numerous where equity has intervened to prevent the carrying on of a business or vocation, although lawful in itself, on the ground of its being obnoxious to the health, comfort or convenience of neighboi'ing residents, by reason of disagreeable noises, offensive odors, noxious gases and the like. 1 High on Inj. §§ 772-73. No general rule can be laid down sufficiently specific and certain to apply to all cases; but, as often said, each case must be decided upon its own particular state of facts, and the whole question must be largely one as to degree, being determined in the light of human experience.

Where the injury complained of is hot a nuisance per se, but may become so by reason of circumstances — being uncertain, indefinite or contingent — equity, as we have said, will not interfere. So the public benefit will be considered, and when it preponderates over the private inconvenience, no relief will generally be granted.—Dorsey v. Allen, 85 N. C. 358, (39 Am. Rep. 704). It is a rule of universal recognition, that in doubtful eases an injunction will always be denied, or dissolved on motion when granted ad interim. A very strong case must, therefore, be made by the bill,.and if there be a reasonable doubt as to the probable effect of an alleged nuisance, either on the proof, affidavits, or on the construction of the facts stated in the bill, there will be no interference until the matter is tested by experiment in the,actual use of the property.—Wood on Nuisances, §§ 796-97 ; 2 Story’s Eq. Jur. § 924a, Note 1; 1 High on Inj. § 788. As said in Kingsbury v. Flowers, 65 Ala. 479 “ there must be such a clear, precise statement of facts, that there can be no reasonable doubt, if the acts threatened are completed, grievous injury will result.” Hence, the following rule stated by a recent author : “ Where,” he says, an in junction is asked to restrain the construction of works of such a nature that it is impossible for the court to know, until they are completed and in-operation, whether they will or will not constitute a nuisance, the writ will be refused in the first instance.” 1 High on Inj. § 743. Great caution, he further observes, should always be exercised before interfering with establishments which have a tendency to promote public utility or convenience ; and in cases of this nature, “ equity will not enjoin the lawful use of such property in a city, when, by the proper application of scientific appliances and machinery, the evils complained of may be remedied ; and, in such case, the court will go no further than to require such appliances to be used.” 1 High on Injunc. § 787; Green v. Lake, 54 Miss. 540 (28 [515]*515Amer. Rep. 378). And where it is sought to restrain a busi ness establishment, which is not per se a nuisance, but only liable to become such by the manner in which it is carried on by the proprietor, the course now generally adopted by the courts is stated to be, to hold the bill until the objectionable results ■can be remedied by scientific and skillful appliances, at least where the answer discloses that such remedies are practicable. Wood on Nuisances, § 823. But this is a matter resting greatly within the sound discretion of the chancellor.

The law is settled, on sound reasons, that the mere fact of the diminution of the value of complainant’s property, or the increased risks from hazard of fire, occasioned by a structure erected by a defendant upon a lot adjoining the complainant’s premises, without more, is unavailing as a ground of equitable relief. — 2 Story’s Eq. Jur. § 925 ; Morris v. Prudden, 5 C. E. Green, 530; 1 High on Inj. § 788 ; Wood on Nuis. § 511, This is one of the many risks and discomfits naturally incident to town or city life, which persons of prudence can not fail to reasonably anticipate.—Ray v. Lynes, 10 Ala. 63.

Smoke, offensive odors, or disagreeable noise and vibration may of course constitute a nuisance so imperiling the comfort of one’s existence, his health, or the safety of his property, as to call for injunctive relief at the hands of a court of equity. This is upon the principle, that if one makes an unreasonable or unlawful use of his property, “ so as to produce material annoyance, inconvenience, discomfort or hurt to his neighbor, he will be guilty of a nuisance to his neighbor.”—Campbell v. Seaman, 63 N. Y. 568 (20 Amer. Rep. 567). It it a just sequence of the maxim, Sie títere ttw at alienum non Icedas. In determining the question of interference, the court will look at the facts which are stated in the bill, giving little or no weight to the mere opinion of the complainant that they will constitute a nuisance, unless such a conclusion clearly follows by proper inference from these facts. So of the denials of the answer, on a motion to dissolve an injunction which may have been granted.—Catlin v. Valentine, 9 Paige, 575 (38 Amer. Dec. 567) ; 1 High on Inj. § 790.

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75 Ala. 510, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rouse-v-martin-ala-1883.