Parke v. Kilham
Parke v. Kilham
Opinion of the Court
This case was decided at the last April Term of this Court, and
Taking the language of the brief in connection with the facts as proved, we did so understand the counsel. It was proved by Cunningham, one of defendant’s witnesses, that “ the base line was run for the purpose of determining where the ditch would strike the creek. This point was ascertained by starting at the upper end of the base line, and leveling up the creek far enough to allow the ditch a sufficient declivity, which we did in October, 1852, and we placed our notice of claim of water at this point on the creek above the end of the base line.” “ It was not until the spring of 1853, that we thought of adopting the upper line, on which we dug the ditch.”
This statement of the witness is very explicit, and shows that the point where the notice was placed, was intended as the upper terminus of the ditch. This being true, the argument of the learned counsel would hardly be applicable to the facts proved, unless taken as we understand it. We, however, cheerfully make the correction.
It is, undoubtedly, true, that a base line is generally first run from the point where the water is to be used, to the stream from which it is proposed to be taken. This line is run upon a level, and the object is to ascertain the fact, whether the water in the stream can be made to flow to the point where it is intended to be used. The line upon which the ditch is actually intended to be dug, should afterwards be run within a reasonable time, which must depend upon the circumstances of each particular case.
The instruction offered by the defendants, we now think, was substantially correct, and should have been given.
There was a point made by the defendant which we did not notice in our former opinion. It is insisted that there is a misjoinder of parties plaintiffs, as they were tenants-in-common, and should have brought separate suits for the restitution of the water. In the case of Johnson v. Sepulveda, 5 Cal., 149, it was held, that “for injuries to their common property, as trespass, guare clausum, fregit, or nuisance, etc., tenants-in-common should all be joined, but they must sue severally in real actions, generally, as they have separate titles.” See also Throckmorton v. Burr, 5 Cal., 400.
The injury complained of in this case, is in the nature of a nuisance. It is very similar to the obstruction of ancient lights.
For these reasons, the plaintiffs properly brought their suit jointly. It would have been error for them to have sued separately. The judgment of the Court below is, therefore, reversed, a new trial ordered, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.
Reference
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- PARKE v. KILHAM
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- Syllabus
- Actions for the diversion of the waters of ditches, are in the nature of actions for the abatement of nuisances, and may be maintained by tenants-in-common in a joint action. The line upon which a ditch is actually intended to be dug, should be run within a reasonable time after the line of preliminary survey has been run, in order to make the right of the ditch-owners date baek to the survey. What is a reasonable time, must depend upon the circumstances of the case. Where a party stands by and sees a ditch-owner appropriate the water of a creek to his own use, at a great expense, and does not inform him of his claim to the waters, he and his vendees aré estopped from afterwards claiming the water. To turn aside a useful element from premises, is as much a nuisance as to turn upon them a destructive element. A ditch, to carry off water rightfully flowing to a mining-claim, is as much a nuisance as a dam to flood it.