Martin v. Bond Hill

One of the principal objections to the rulings of the trial judge (frequently made) was as to evidence offered by the village -for the purpose and with the object of showing, that instead of this improvement causing damage to the land of Martin, that it would greatly enhance its value, not 'by any special benefit to this particular tract, but as a general Jesuit of the improvement. For instance, on page 82 of the bill of exceptions, it is-shown that Mr. Harrison, a witness for the village, was allowed, over the objection and -exception of the counsel for Martin, to testify that the value of the-land a-s it then stood, without the improvement, was $15 or $20 per front foot, and that the fair and reasonable value of it, after the improvement was completed as contemplated by-the plans and specifications, would be $25 per front foot; and Mr. Murphy, on pages 94-6, and post, was allowed to testify to the present value of t'he-property as being $12.50 to $15 per front foot, and when completed according to the -specifications that it would be worth $5 per front foot more. In these questions and answers no attempt was made to confine their estimate of the increase in the value of the land after the improvement was made to an increase that would result from any special benefit that would come to the land of Martin, different from that which might result to the adjacent property, from having a good road.

Some time after this testimony was given, while a Mr. Woodward was being examined as a witness for the village on the same point, he testified that the present value of Martin’s property was from $32 to $14 per front foot, and he was *593then inquired .of by plaintiff’s counsel as to what its fair value would be after the improvement was made under the plan proposed. This question was objected to, and the objection was overruled, but before the witness answered it the court said: “Just-as it stands there, without any reference to any general increase by reason of the improvement that is made, excluding any benefit or improvement derived from the general improvement of the road?” And the witness then answered, “$18 or $20, I should say, after-that improvement is made.”

This was the first time, as it appears, that there was any suggestion whatever by the court that general benefits, which would result to tfie property in the vicinity, were not to be included in the estimate of the value of the property as it would Oe when the improvement was completed; and though occasionally thereafter a like suggestion was made to witnesses on this point, and a like statement was made in the charge to the jury, it was fir¿st clearly or explicitly done, and the evidence of the first two witnesses named, evidently given on a different theory, was not withdrawn from the jury, but allowed to stand over the objections taken thereto by the defendant. Indeed, we think it manifest from the bill of exceptions, that the testimony of all of the witnesses for the plaintiff as to the value of the land, after the improvement was completed, was on the theory that a good road like that contemplated would enhance Martin’s land in common with other land in the vicinity, for none of them claim or suggest any special benefit, peculiar to it alone, which would go to enhance its value.

We think that the rule on this point, in a case of this kind, may be properly-stated thus: that the measure of the damages to the owner of the land (if any) will be the difference and diminution in the value thereof, between what it is fairly worth in the condition in which it is, and its fair value as it will be when the improvement is made as contemplated; and when such diminution (if any) is brought about by causes not common to other lands or lots in the vicinity, and in estimating the value of the lands as they will be when the improvement is made, the general -increase in the value of lands in the neighborhood caused by the improvement should not be taken into the account. We think the evidence was not given in vieiw of any such rule, and that the defendant was prejudiced by the action of the court in allowing it to be given.

Objection was also taken to evidence of a different character. As has been stated, i-t appears that the plans and specifications adopted by the village made no provision for the extension of the culvert under the road (constructed by the county commissioners), out to the west line of the street, a distance of about eight feet; but on the contrary, if the plan was carried out, the street would be filled up to the west line thereof, and thus obstruct the mouth of the culvert, and prevent the flow of water from Martin’s land through the same. Yet the village was allowed to prove, over the objection of the defendant, by different members of the village council, that while the plans and specifications adopted by the village did not seem to call for the extension of the culvert, and did call for the filling up of the street, that such was not the purpose, and, if it became necessary to do so, the village would extend the culvert and take other proper means to prevent Martin’s land from being flooded.

This evidence, we think, was incompetent. The council of the village, by resolution and ordinance, had settled the plan on which the improvement was to be made; a jury was in the box to decide as to the amount of damages the defendant would suffer if the improvement was made on this plan. The members of the council, or the mayor, as individuals, had no power to bind the village to make a different improvement from that ordered, and the question of damage was to be settled in the light of this plan and specifications; and the jury had no right to hear any promise to do otherwise, or decide the question on such promise. It is possible that if at the trial it appeared that there was a defect in the plan, and which *594it was desired to remedy, and there was action of the council warranting it, a properl pleading might, on fair terms, be allowed to be filed, by which the village would! undertake to bind itself to extend the culvert, or take other steps to carry off thel water, and which could then be made binding by a judgment of the court. But] nothing of this kind was done, but the evidence narhed went to the jury, which! doubtless put confidence in these unauthorized statements of witnesses that those! additional improvements would be made, and thus prevent the flooding of Martin’s! land, and that for this reason they allowed him no damages. For these reasons! the judgment will be reversed and a new trial awarded.