Wilson v. Hagins

50 S.W.2d 797, 1932 Tex. App. LEXIS 1682
CourtTexas Commission of Appeals
DecidedJune 1, 1932
DocketNo. 1286-5758
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 50 S.W.2d 797 (Wilson v. Hagins) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Commission of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilson v. Hagins, 50 S.W.2d 797, 1932 Tex. App. LEXIS 1682 (Tex. Super. Ct. 1932).

Opinion

RYAN, J.

This is the second appeal in this case. 116 Tex. 538, 296 S. W. 922; (Tex. Civ. App.) 262 S. W. 770.

This suit was filed by A. J. Hagins and B. J. Hagins against W. T. Wilson to recover damages alleged to have resulted to the plaintiffs’ lands from the erection of an embankment by defendant which caused the flood waters of Duck creek to.be diverted from defendant’s land and to flow across the lands of plaintiffs, and to enjoin such diversion.

Duck creek is not a perennial stream and is dry and does not flow except in times of rains and freshets.

It is alleged by the plaintiffs, Hagins, supported by their evidence, that the northeast corner of section 153, the northwest corner of section 154, the southwest corner of section 167, and southeast corner of section 168, are common corners; that A. J. Hagins is the owner of and in possession of the north ⅛ and the southwest ½ of section 154, and B. J. [798]*798Hagins, of tlie southwest ½ of section 167, and the defendant Wilson, of the east ⅛ of section 153 and the south ½ of the southeast ½ of section 168, and one Carlisle, of the northeast ¼ and of the north ½ of the southeast ¾ of said section 168, all situated on Duck creek, the general course of which is from northwest to southeast; also, that Wilson owns a farm on the west side of the natural channel of .Duck creek and the Hagins’ farms are situated east of said creek, which has a considerable watershed, and during rainy seasons and after freshets, the overflow at times covers the entire creek bottom, which is about seven hundred yards from hill to hill at the places where the farms of the parties are situated; that during overflows caused by heavy rains, much of the flood water left the creek bed on the west side of the natural channel and ran southerly across Wilson’s land, and in order to protect his land from such overflows he dug a ditch from the foot of the high ground or hill on the west side of the creek diagonally in a southeasterly direction to the natural channel of the creek opposite the Hagins’ farms, and built an embankment along the south side of and the length of such artificial ditch, as a result of which, flood and overflow waters which had theretofore flowed southerly over Wilson’s land were diverted onto and flooded Hagins’ farms.

During overflows caused by unusual rains, a great deal of the flood water left the creek ■bed on the west side of the natural channel and ran southerly across and flooded Wilson's land; the effect of the ditch and dam erected by him was to prevent the overflow and protect Wilson’s land therefrom and to divert this flood water onto the Hagins’ farms. Wilson’s land on the west side of the creek was several inches lower than the surface of Hagins’ land.

There is evidence to the effect that at one time Duck creek channel entered the north half of the southeast quarter of section 168 ■owned by Walter Carlisle (which is immediately north of W. T. Wilson’s land) and continued approximately from a point designated on the plat in evidence, as the “Plum Thicket” on Carlisle’s land; thence meandering north, northeast, and easterly to a confluence with another dry creek marked on said map “Button Willow Creek”; thence making a large bend southeasterly and southwesterly on B. ,T. Hagins’ land (the southeast quarter of section 167) to near the common corner of sections 153, 154, 167, and 168; thence in a southeasterly and southern direction over the western portion of section 154 owned by A. J. Hagins. This portion of the channel between the “Plum Thicket” and “Button Willow Creek” filled up and ceased to exist; but as said by the Court of Civil Appeals, 25 S. W.(2d) 916, 918: “It does not appear that Duck creek was threatening to change its course and to cut a new channel across Wilson’s lands. No such issue was submitted to the jury, and if the evidence raises such an issue, it has been abandoned by the appellant’s failure to have it submitted. Ormsby v. Ratcliffe, 117 Tex. 242, 1 S.W.(2d) 1084.”

The map in evidence shows the lines of two channels in two old draws, running south from the vicinity of the dividing line between Wilson on the north and Carlisle on the south, on section 168, over section 153, made- by overflows, the flood waters of which were carried south over section 153 and discharged on lands south of the south line of section 153. These flood waters were diverted from that flow by the erection of Wilson’s ditch and dam, into the creek on A. J. Hagins’ land, and (as claimed by him) caused the overflows on his land, which would not have occurred but for such diversion.

The cause of action is based upon the alleged wrongful diversion of flood waters. The evidence shows that flood waters flowed across Wilson’s land prior to the construction of the embankment, which, as a result of and after such construction, were diverted onto Hagins’ land to the east.

After the plaintiffs had dismissed as to J. W. Carlisle and the court had disposed of B. J. Hagins by instructing the jury to find against him, the ease was submitted to a jury upon three special issues, viz.:

(1) “Did the defendant divert the natural flow of the waters of Duck Creek in such a manner as to damage the land of plaintiff, A. J. Hagins, by the overflow of said water so diverted, if any?” The jury answered: “Tes.”

(2) “If you answer issue No. One in the affirmative, then state in.,what sum, in dollars and cents, the land of plaintiff A. J. Hagins was so damaged.” Answer: “$250.00.”

(3) “If you find that the defendant did divert the natural flow of the waters of Duck Creek in such manner as to damage the land of plaintiff, Ai J. Hagins, then state whether or not damage will occur in the future to the land of A. J. Hagins from waters so diverted.” Answer: “We do.”

Based upon the verdict, the court rendered judgment for A. J. Hagins for the amount assessed by the jury, and perpetually enjoins Wilson from maintaining the ditch and embankment, provided that he is not required to fill up and close the.diteh cut by him, but after the removal of certain obstructions, the ditch shall be and remain as it now is, except that he is enjoined from erecting any embankments, levees, or dykes along or upon the same and from making said ditch deeper or wider.

This judgment was affirmed by the Court of Civil Appeals. 25 S.W.(2d) 916.

Whether the waters causing the damages in issue are to he treated as surface wa[799]*799ters or as tlie waters of a stream or drainage way, if tlie natural flow thereof was diverted in such a manner as to cause damage to another’s land by the overflow of said water so diverted, the result is the same and the party causing such diversion and damage is liable therefor.

In Miller v. Letzerich et al. (Tex. Sup.) 49 S.W.(2d) 404, 408 (not yet reported in State Report), Chief Justice Cureton announces the rule, under the civil law, as to surface waters, to be as to coterminous estates, as follows: “Rainwater which falls on lands is, so long as it remains on the land, the property of the owner, to do with as he pleases, in the absence of some prescriptive or contractual right.

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

Related

Ladd Vien v. Mark Del Buono and Mary Del Buono
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2010
Elzie Bell v. State
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2010
Scott v. King
647 S.W.2d 394 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1983)
Cone v. City of Lubbock
431 S.W.2d 639 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1968)
Robertson v. Robertson
309 S.W.2d 957 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1958)
Coleman v. Wright
155 S.W.2d 382 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1941)
Panhandle & S. F. Ry. Co. v. Montgomery
140 S.W.2d 241 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1940)
South Texas Coaches, Inc. v. Woodard
123 S.W.2d 395 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1937)
City of Corpus Christi v. McMurrey
109 S.W.2d 366 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1937)
Eurengy v. Equitable Realty Corp.
107 S.W.2d 68 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1937)
Citizens' Mut. Life & Accident Ass'n of Texas v. Ragle
81 S.W.2d 264 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1935)
Crow v. First Nat. Bank of Whitney
64 S.W.2d 377 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1933)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
50 S.W.2d 797, 1932 Tex. App. LEXIS 1682, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilson-v-hagins-texcommnapp-1932.