Forest City Cotton Co. v. Mills

Supreme Court of North Carolina
Forest City Cotton Co. v. Mills, 218 N.C. 294 (N.C. 1940)
Stacy

Forest City Cotton Co. v. Mills

Opinion of the Court

Stacy,'C. J.

The trial court seems to have fallen into error in instructing the jury to answer the issue of liability “No” if they should *295find that tbe defendant “bas not made any unreasonable use of its riparian rights, ... or, if reasonable, bas not taken in whole or in part any of plaintiff’s land.” Tbe plaintiff bad abandoned its allegations of negligence and was proceeding only in trespass. It was, therefore, entitled to have tbe cause submitted to tbe jury on tbe theory of trespass without reference to tbe allegations of negligence or wrongful taking. Cline v. Baker, 118 N. C., 180, 24 S. E., 516: Chaffin v. Mfg. Co., 135 N. C., 95, 47 S. E., 226.

Tbe challenged instruction placed too heavy a burden on tbe plaintiff. In trespass, tbe plaintiff is entitled to recover nominal damages if be only show that tbe defendant broke bis close. Lee v. Stewart, ante, 287; Chaffin v. Mfg. Co., supra; Little v. Stanback, 63 N. C., 285.

New trial.

Reference

Full Case Name
FOREST CITY COTTON COMPANY v. HENRIETTA MILLS
Cited By
2 cases
Status
Published