Sutton v. Brown

422 P.2d 63, 91 Idaho 396, 1966 Ida. LEXIS 291
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 29, 1966
Docket9836
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 422 P.2d 63 (Sutton v. Brown) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sutton v. Brown, 422 P.2d 63, 91 Idaho 396, 1966 Ida. LEXIS 291 (Idaho 1966).

Opinion

McFADDEN, Chief Justice.

Rex Sutton, plaintiff-appellant, instituted this action to quiet title to a certain water system or pipeline, located in the Cavanaugh Bay area of Priest Lake, in Bonner County, Idaho, in which system each of the several named defendants-respondents is alleged to claim some right, title or interest. This cause was before this court on a previous occasion; see: Sutton v. Brown, 85 Idaho 104, 375 P.2d 990.

The system or pipeline in question, consists of an underground pipeline leading southerly from a diversion works on Cougar Creek. The existing pipeline was originally constructed in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps to furnish water to its camp. The precise date of its construction does not appear. At the time of its construction a pipeline previously constructed by various parties, and which was used by them to furnish domestic water to their cabins, was destroyed. When the Civilian Conservation Corps closed its camp in the winter of 1939, the lower part of the line was removed, but the pipeline now in controversy (herein referred to as the C.C.C. pipeline), was left in the ground and abandoned.

In 1940 Mr. Sutton leased from the State of Idaho, lots 71 and 72, Priest Lake Cottage Sites. In 1942, he connected a ¾ pipeline to the end of the C.C.C. pipeline and ran the line to his leased property. This line extended about 200 feet on State land and across the land leased from the State by plaintiff.

The defendants are all lessees of similar Cottage Sites, from the State of Idaho. Their lots are all northerly from plaintiffs properties and are between the point where the 'plaintiff originally connected to the C.C.C. pipeline and the point of diversion from Cougar Creek. Each of the defendants is connected with the original pipeline.

*398 In 1929 Defendant Hawkins participated in the construction of a pipeline southerly from Cougar Creek, used to furnish water to several cabins. Construction of the C.C.C. pipeline and a service road to the camp necessitated destruction of this line. He later connected to the C.C.C. pipeline.

Defendant Goldsworthy bought his cabin in 1949. He testified it had been constructed in the 1920’s and was connected to the pipeline when he purchased it. Defendant Brown connected in 1947; defendant James in 1946; a connection to the pipeline was in existence when defendant Belles acquired his cabin in 1948; defendant Peringer connected to Brown’s lateral line in 1955; defendant Webb acquired his cabin and attached to the Peringer line or lateral in 1958.

Each of the defendant’s lease from the State on the Cottage Sites contained the following clause concerning use of domestic water:

“Lessee shall be entitled to water for domestic or cabin purpose to the extent only that the water system in the area is able to supply the same. * * * ”

Each defendant has used the water from the disputed pipeline for domestic purposes.

In the early 1940’s plaintiff was engaged in the construction and operation of a resort, known as “Sutton’s Resort,” then and later serviced by the C.C.C. pipeline and the extension he installed. In 1945 plaintiff purchased Lots 71 and 72 from the State and in 1947 he purchased the adjacent Lots 73, 74 and 75. He had also purchased farming property known as the “Fenton Place”, which was near by. In 1961 plaintiff subdivided portions of this property into 40 lots, a number of which he has sold. He testified he laid main lines with ¾” laterals from these main lines to furnish water to the individual lots. This system of “mains” and “laterals” is connected to plaintiff’s pipeline extension from the old C.C.C. pipeline.

Plaintiff claims absolute ownership of the whole of the system from the diversion works on Cougar Creek, including the old C.C.C. pipeline. He asserts that the use by the defendants of the pipeline was permissive only. In 1961, after the property was subdivided, plaintiff’s attorney by letter demanded of each defendant that he disconnect from the line, to which demand the defendants refused to accede.

Plaintiff’s claim of ownership of the pipeline is based on the deeds he received from the State of Idaho, and also on the decree in the case of Sutton v. Tovy, Rosenberger, and Wilson, Bonnier County Case No. 7596, mentioned in the first appeal. Plaintiff sought to have copies of the findings of fact, conclusions of law and decree in Case No. 7596 admitted into evidence in the instant action, which offer was denied.

None of the defendants complained of insufficient water for their purposes. Plaintiff has made no claim of insufficient water prior to the time he subdivided his property, but now claims he needs all the water the present system is able to provide, “and probably more”. Plaintiff asserts that this present action is not one for an adjudication of water rights, but solely to quiet title to the water system.

The trial court entered findings of fact, conclusions of law and judgment in favor of the defendants, dismissing the plaintiff’s action; plaintiff has perfectéd this appeal from the whole of the judgment.

The trial court did not err in refusing to admit into evidence the findings of fact, conclusions of law and decree in Bonner County Case No. 7596. The record fails to establish any connection between the defendants named in that case (No. 7596) and the defendants in the instant case. Even though Tovey, Rosenberg and Wilson were mentioned in the conclusion of law in Case No. 7596, as “defendant officers of the State of Idaho”, the instant record is devoid of evidence reflecting their capacity or how a decree against them would involve the instant defendants. In Sutton v. Brown, 85 Idaho 104, 375 P.2d *399 990, 992, this court in discussing Bonner County Case No. 7596 stated:

“There is nothing whatever in said second amended complaint, or in the defendants’ answer to indicate that the three defendants therein named [Tovey, Rosenberg and Wilson] are made parties in any capacity other than as individuals. * * *.
“From a careful examination of the record in case No. 7596 we are unable to find, nor is our attention called to, any support for a conclusion that the defendants in that case were authorized in any respect to represent the appellants named in this action as to their claimed rights to the pipeline, diversion works or water rights there or here involved. Nor is there any showing that the defendants in case No. 7596 undertook to or did in any respect represent these defendants. [The defendants in the instant case]” 85 Idaho at 108.

In order that these offered exhibits be admissible, as relevant to plaintiff’s claim of res judicata or estoppel by judgment, it was essential that the privity of the parties in the two actions be established. IB Moore’s Federal Practice, ¶[ 0.-441 [2] (2nd ed). The requirement of privity for the application of the doctrines of res judicata or collateral estoppel by judgment is applicable in quiet title actions. 44 Am.Jur. 80, Quieting Title § 95.

Plaintiff’s primary contention is that the trial court erred in its refusal to quiet title in him to the entire pipeline and diversion works.

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729 P.2d 1090 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 1986)
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Bluebook (online)
422 P.2d 63, 91 Idaho 396, 1966 Ida. LEXIS 291, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sutton-v-brown-idaho-1966.