Thomson v. Condas
Thomson v. Condas
Opinion of the Court
Appeal from a judgment of no cause of action in a case tried to the court, where the complaint’s main thrust was to establish a “public thoroughfare” by more than 10 years continuous use by the general public under the provisions of Title 27-12-89, Utah Code Annotated 1953. Affirmed with costs to respondents.
As a preliminary matter it is significant to note that about 450 pages of testimony and other evidence were utilized in an effort to prove or disprove that the “public thoroughfare” claimed lay or did not lay on an abandoned railroad bed called the “Quarry Road,” formerly used as a spur to haul rock from a quarry off the railroad’s main line. At the end of this 450 page transcript, plaintiffs conceded that there was no merit to the claim asserted in their complaint before 1929 whereupon they
It is obvious from the record that the plaintiffs, in assembling their brief on appeal, recited facts favorable only to their own interests and claims, some of which appear to have been out of context with the whole record. Plaintiffs say the facts they recite were not controverted with which defendants, the trial court, and this court disagree. Moreover, we believe they do not measure up to that clear and convincing quantum and quality of proof universally demanded for the establishment of a public thoroughfare or the taking of another’s property.
This writer will attempt to review the briefs of the parties as to the facts each urges, with the belief that it will be a fair and accurate recount of their factual claims, — parenthetically observing that is the prerogative of the arbiter of the facts in our judicial system to believe or disbelieve testimony of a controversial bent,
Here’s what plaintiffs say are the facts: In 1894 there was a stone quarry from which stone was hauled by rail. The superintendent married witness Snyder’s sister, resulting in frequent visits via a wagon road to the quarry where buildings incident to the quarry were situated, including the superintendent’s house, bunkhouse, stable and blacksmith shop. On the visits mentioned the lower road was used. Between IS and 25 men worked there at the time, including two Chinese cooks. Later on another man operated the quarry. There was no fence or obstruction of the road. The quarry closed down after which one Garn lived in the bunkhouse, with no egress except the road, and a brother of the superintendent’s wife, bought the pigs used to consume garbage at the quarry from its owner and drove them away on the road. One witness, (without being asked) volunteered as he was leaving the witness stand, that at one time there were as many as 200 quarry workers (without saying when or for how long). The lower road was used for ingress and egress to the quarry between 1915 and 1920. In 1929 the (upper) Quarry Road did not exist, but the lower
From the facts abstracted above the plaintiffs say the trial court had to conclude that there was an uncontroverted continuous use by the general public for more than 10 years and that the facts related constitute such clear and convincing evidence that the trial court necessarily was supposed to have reached such results.
On the other hand, defendants say they disagree with plaintiffs’ statement of facts, urging that, in violation of the rule on appellate review, the plaintiffs have recited the facts for the most part more favorable to themselves, the losers, a luxury not reserved to them
In the complaint only the upper or Quarry Road was the one in issue. At the end of the case, plaintiffs were allowed to include the lower road over timely objection, whose existence was established as a wagon road from 1894 to 1898 terminating at the quarry during which time its only use was by the witness Snyder’s family, and those connected with the quarry. There was no evidence as to its existence from 1898 to 1915. In 1915 the lower road existed up to the quarry, but not beyond. It
We believe there was ample evidence, competent and admissible, that supported the trial court (in which event we must affirm) that the presumption of its correctness was duly supported, that the plaintiffs did not point up where the findings were not supported by evidence, which they must, that plaintiffs’ chose to recite evidence most favorable to its contention to the exclusion of other evidence favorable to defendants, which is not permissable on appellate review, and that in any event the evidence upon which they relied
We believe that Petersen v. Combe, 20 Utah 2d 376, 438 P.2d 545 (1968) and the cases cited therein, particularly the leading case of Morris v. Blunt, 49 Utah 243, 161 P.2d 1127 (1916), are dispositive of the instant case. See also the very recent case of Harding v. Bohman, 26 Utah 2d 439, 491 P.2d 233 (1971), this court.
This is a case bottomed on a “public thoroughfare” thesis and is not to be confused either with an “easement” or a “right of way” case.
. Petersen v. Combe, 29 Utah 2d 376, 438 P.2d 545 (1968).
. Charlton v. Hackett, 11 Utah 2d 389, 360 P.2d 176 (1961).
. Park v. Alta Ditch & Canal Co., 23 Utah 2d 86, 458 P.2d 625 (1969).
. Charlton v. Hackett, 11 Utah 2d 389, 360 P.2d 176 (1961).
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting) :
I dissent.
A quarry company obtained a quitclaim deed to a road on November 6, 1891. A quarry was in operation by the company prior to 1894 when the superintendent of the quarry married a girl who lived nearby. Prior to the marriage the superintendent and workmen from the quarry with their musical instruments would come to the home of the bride-to-be on frequent occasions.
It is difficult to find witnesses who have knowledge of occurrences 80 years ago. However, the brother of the bride testified to the above, and it is without question that the quarry company operated a business employing approximately twenty employees from prior to 1894 up to 1898, when the quarry was taken over by another operator. In addition to the men working in the quarry, there were the superintendent and his wife and two Chinese cooks working in the boarding house.
The road in question was used to service the quarry and for the workmen to travel to and from it. Visitors to the quarry also used the road. One witness testified that he worked in the quarry during the year 1915. After the railroad tracks were removed, stone was hauled from the quarry by the use of trucks. The road and the railroad were side by side, and after the removal of the tracks a part of the roadbed was used for vehicular travel for the reason that it was higher and not subject to the boggy condition of the old road in wet weather.
Much testimony was directed to the facts of the case after October 23, 1931, the date patent was issued to a predecessor in interest of the defendants. In my opinion the only relevant testimony after patent is that which bears on the question of legal abandonment. That testimony shows that Summit County still receives Class B road money on the road. It receives money on .8 of a mile on the old road and .4 of a mile along the old railroad bed.
This case is concerned with the proposition of whether a road was established
Section 2477, U. S. Revised Statutes, 43 U.S.C.A. § 932, in force after I860 reads: “The right of way for the construction of highways over public lands, not reserved for public uses, is hereby granted.”
There was no time limit required by the Revised Statutes for establishing a highway, and so it would depend upon territorial or state statutes to determine whether or not a road had been established across public lands.
Sec. 2. . . . A highway shall be deemed and taken as dedicated and abandoned to the use of the public when it has been continuously and uninterruptedly used as a public thoroughfare for a period of ten years. [In substance, same as Sec. 27-12-89, U.C.A.1953, Replacement Vol. 3.]
* * * * * *
Sec. 6. A road not worked or used for a period of five years ceases to be a highway. [Eliminated by Chapter 142, Laws of Utah 1911.]
Sec. 1116, Ch. 1, Title 25, R.S.U.1898, provided:
All highways once established must continue to be highways until abandoned by order of the board of county commissioners of the county in which they are situated, by operation of law, or by judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; • . . . [Sec. 27-12-90, U.C.A. 1953, Replacement Vol. 3. has practically identical language.]
It thus appears that for more than ten years prior to the issuance of patent the old road was used to service the quarry. The burden would be upon the defendants to show that for a five-year period prior to 1911 after the road was established it was neither travelled nor worked, or that it had been legally abandoned. The defendants did neither, and so I think the road is still in existence.
The fact that the use of the road was over a part of the old adjoining railroad bed has no effect upon the existence of the road. In my opinion the plaintiffs did not need to amend their complaint at all. In the case of Sullivan et ux. v. Condas, 76 Utah 585, 595, 290 P. 954, 957 (1930), this court said:
A point also is made of a change of the course of the road. Whatever change was made was slight and did not*135 materially change or affect the general course of the highway or of its location nor break or change the continuity of travel or use. [Citation omitted.]
However, plaintiffs did amend and are in my opinion entitled to a decree determining that the lower road is a public highway.
I would reverse the judgment of the lower court and remand the matter for a determination of the boundaries of the lower road, together with the assessment of such damages, if any, as plaintiffs may have sustained by reason of defendants’ interference, if any, with their right to use the road. I would award costs to the appellants.
. Ball v. Stephens, 68 Cal.App.2d 843, 158 P.2d 207 (1945).
. Wilson v. Williams, 43 N.M. 173, 87 P.2d 683 (1939); Ball v. Stephens, footnote 1, supra.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Alan C. THOMSON Et Al., Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. George J. CONDAS Et Al., Defendants and Respondents
- Cited By
- 9 cases
- Status
- Published