Lewis v. Springfield Water Co.

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Lewis v. Springfield Water Co., 176 Pa. 237 (Pa. 1896)
35 A. 187; 1896 Pa. LEXIS 1064
Dean, Fell, Greek, Sterkett, Williams

Lewis v. Springfield Water Co.

Opinion of the Court

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Williams,

The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh assignments of error relate-to the action of the court in permitting certain witnesses to express an opinion upon the value of the property of the plaintiff as it was before and after the appropriation by the defendants of water from Crum creek. The defendants had seized under-the right of eminent domain two millions of gallons per day of' the water which was not returned again to the stream. The plaintiff used the stream to aid in propelling their machinery, and the withdrawal of two millions of gallons had the effect of" reducing the value of the stream as a water power by about two and a half horse power. The question before the jury was the *245extent to which, this action of the water company had reduced the actual value of the plaintiff’s property. The evidence offered bore directly upon that question, and we think the witnesses were properly admitted. They showed upon the examination to which they were severally subjected a sufficient knowledge of the subject to which their attention was called to qualify them to speak upon it. The value of their testimony was for the jury to determine.

The eighth assignment of error complains of the answer of the learned judge to the defendant’s first point. It is contended that the answer was calculated to leave the jury under the impression that the plaintiff’s damages were simply so much money as would replace with steam the two and a half horse power previously furnished by the water taken by the defendant company. We do not think the answer justifies the criticism thus made upon it. On the other hand, the learned judge instructed the jury to ascertain the difference in value of plaintiff’s property, considering it first as it was before the appropriation of the water by the defendant and then considering it as it was affected by that appropriation. This is the true rule to apply. It fixes the loss of the party affected by the exercise of the right of eminent domain, and for that reason correctly measures the damages to which he is entitled. The ninth, tenth and eleventh assignments are directed to certain portions of the charge which it was alleged were harmful to the plaintiff. They contain statements, .explanations and remarks that were not necessary and that it might have been in better form to omit, but we are unable to see that they could have misled the jury or been injurious to the case of the plaintiff. These assignments are not sustained. We see no other subject raised by the assignments not already referred to that requires discussion.

The judgment is therefore affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Samuel C. Lewis v. The Springfield Water Company
Cited By
5 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Expert witnesses — Competency thereof. A witness who had been in the manufacturing business and knew the property in question, had experience in examination of manufacturing plants to determine their values, a general knowledge of the value of land in the vicinity, and who thought himself competent to testify as to the value of water powers, is qualified to testify, although he knew of no sales of such properties in the neighborhood for many years. A real estate agent acquainted with the values of property in the vicinity, who had made an examination of the property in question, and who based his value on the general condition of things, although he knew of the sale of but a single property within ten years, is a competent witness as to the value of the property. A manufacturer of experience who knew the rental value of water power although he had known of but a single sale is competent. An experienced real estate agent who had examined mill properties on the creek in question, and was acquainted with their valuation about as any real estate man would be, and had liad mill properties for sale, is competent to testify. Charge of court — Unnecessary remarks. The Supreme Court will not reverse for statements or explanations in the charge of the court that were not necessary, and which it might have been in better form to omit, but which did not seem to have misled the jury, or to have been injurious to the plaintiff’s case.