Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. v. Baker

Supreme Court of South Carolina
Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. v. Baker, 131 S.E. 678 (S.C. 1926)
134 S.C. 106; 1926 S.C. LEXIS 12
Watts, Marion, Chiee, Gary, Purdy, Messrs, Coti-Iran

Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. v. Baker

Opinion of the Court

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Justice Watts.

This action is brought for the purpose of restraining the defendant from erecting a filling station upon land claimed *113 by the plaintiff as a part of its right of way. On hearing a rule to show cause why an injunction pendente lite should not be granted, Judge Dennis refused to grant the injunction and the plaintiff appealed.

An order was granted by a member of this Court, staying proceedings until the appeal could be heard. The plaintiff has a plain and adequate remedy at law to establish its easement. It does not allege that it needs the easement at present, and if the defendant owns the property, she would have a right to use it, subject to the easement, if the plaintiff has such easement, and until the plaintiff needs the easement.

It is true that the plaintiff was required to commence suit when the property was used antagonistic to its claim, but let the plaintiff establish its right on the law side of the Court. I am not in favor of government too much by injunction, and for this reason do not think the injunction should be granted.

Let the order of Judge Dennis be reported.

Affirmed.

Mr. Chiee Justice Gary and Mr. Acting Associate Justice R. O. Purdy concur. Messrs. Justices Coti-iran and Marion dissent.

Concurring Opinion

Mr. Acting Associate Justice R. O. Purdy

(concurring) : I concur in the opinion of Mr. Justice Watts, solely for the reason that the plaintiff has a plain and adequate remedy at law to establish its right. Should the plaintiff, on such issues as may be raised, establish its right to the strip of land in question, either in fee or as having a right of way, the loss of the erection of a building of a permanent nature upon it will fall upon the defendant; and while the plaintiff has alleged that the defendant is insolvent and will not be able to respond in damages, the nature of the situation, as disclosed by the affidavit, does not show such a threatened irreparable injury as would warrant the granting of an injunction pendente lite.

*114 The order staying the proceedings should be dissolved, and the case heard on its merits.

Dissenting Opinion

Mr. Justice Coti-iran

(dissenting) : It appearing that the action is for the sole purpose of an injunction and that .a temporary injunction, that is, an injunction pendente lite is essential to the assertion and preservation of a legal right, if established as alleged in the complaint, it follows that the refusal of such injunction was error of law. Alderman v. Wilson, 48 S. E., 85; 69 S. C., 156. Lumber Co. v. Tilghman, 55 S. E., 337; 75 S. C., 221. Ragsdale v. R. Co., 38 S. E., 609; 60 S. C., 681. Jones v. Atlantic Coast L. Corp., 75 S. E., 698; 92 S. C., 418. Strom v. American Co., 20: S. E., 16; 42 S. C., 101. Seabrook v. Mostowitz, 29 S. E., 202; 51 S. C., 434. Cudd v. Calvert, 32 S. E., 503; 54 S. C., 457. Darlington Oil Co. v. Ice Co., 40 S. E., 169; 62 S. C., 196. Riley v. Union Station, 45 S. E., 149; 67 S. C., 84. Childs v. City, 70 S. E., 296; 87 S. C., 566; 34 L. R. A. (N. S.), 542.

The Reporter will append the statement in the case, the* complaint, the order of Judge Dennis, and the exceptions.

The judgment of this Court should be that the order appealed from be reversed.

Mr. Justice Marion concurs.

Reference

Full Case Name
Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. v. Baker.
Cited By
4 cases
Status
Published