Yakima Water, Light & Power Co. v. Hathaway
Yakima Water, Light & Power Co. v. Hathaway
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the oourt was delivered by
This cause involves a controversy between respondent Rudkin and appellants Yakima Rational Bank and Hoffman over the distribution of a fund in the custody of the superior court of Yakima county. The fund was paid into court by appellant Yakima Water, Light and Power Company pursuant to a decree of appropriation of right-of-way for a canal conveying water to the town of Rorth Yakima.- The right-of-way so appropriated was through the premises of respondent Hathaway. In 1890 the appellant corporation by parol license entered upon the premises of Hathaway and constructed its canal for carrying waste water after the same had been used to supply the city and its inhabitants with water and electric lights, and for mechanical purposes, and such canal has been used ever since for the same purposes. In September, 1894, Hathaway executed a mortgage on a portion of the premises through which the canal was constructed to the ap-pellant Hoffman. In Bebruary, 1895, Hathaway commenced an action in the superior court of Yakima county against the appellant corporation, alleging that he was the
1. Several objections are made to the appeal by respondents Rudkins and Hathaway. One is to the bond on appeal. We think the mention of the names of the sureties in the body of the bond and their subscription to the justification is sufficient execution by them of the bond, and further, questions going to the sufficiency of the appeal bond should first be raised in the superior court. The only persons interested in this fund or in this proceeding are
2. The canal was constructed through Hathaway’s premises in the year 1890 by consent of Hathaway. Until the revocation of the license to the appellant corporation in 1895 by Hathaway’s demand for a cessation of its operation, the appellant corporation was not a trespasser. It was only after the revocation of the parol license that it became such trespasser and liable to damages; hut the action commenced by Hathaway was not for damages for prior acts of trespass, but to put the appellant corporation off his premises after he had revoked its license there. In that action the court, finding that appellant corporation had power to condemn the right-of-way, stayed the injunction to allow the exercise of condemnation. The result of such condemnation was a decree of appropriation of Hathaway’s interest in the land, and of the interest of all incumbrancers upon the land and all persons interested therein.
Section 649, 2 Hill’s Oode (Bal. Code, § 5638), prescribes that notice of condemnation of the premises sought to he appropriated shall be served on each and every person named therein as owner, incumbrancer, of tenant, or
The appellant Hoffman became a party to the condemnation proceedings and the appellant bank became an incumbrancer while such proceedings were pending and before judgment. It is insisted for respondent Eudkin that. Hathaway could assign damages arising from a trespass, either before or after judgment, and this is the test of the rights of the respective parties in this controversy. The contention that such damages may be assigned is undoubtedly correct, but if the decree of appropriation in the condemnation proceedings was of an interest in the land over which the right-of-way ran, then the damages for taking or injuriously affecting Hathaway’s land was for an interest in the realty. Our statute governing the appropriation for rights-of-way is broader than most of the state statutes.
Section 653, 2 Hill’s Code (Bál. Code, § 5642), declares the judge shall enter a judgment or decree of appropriation of the land, real estate, premises, right-of-way or other property sought to be appropriated thereby, vesting the legal title to the same in the corporation seeking to appropriate for corporate purposes, and while it is not necessay to construe this statute as meaning literally the absolute appropriation of the fee, we are satisfied that the appropriation is of a substantial interest in the land. The money awarded upon the taldng is not for the trespass
The judgment of the superior court is reversed and further proceedings directed in conformity to this decision.
Scott, O. J., and Ankers and Dunbar, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Yakima Water, Light and Power Company v. J. H. Hathaway, and Yakima National Bank
- Cited By
- 8 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- APPEAL BOND — SUFFICIENCY OF — NOTICE OF APPEAL — PRESUMPTION AS TO SERVICE—RECORD — CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS — RIGHTS OF MORTGAGEE AND JUDGMENT LIENORS IN DAMAGES AWARDED. Where sureties upon an appeal bond are named in the body ■of the bond and subscribe to the justification, it is a sufficient execution by them of the bond, although their names may not be subscribed to the bond otherwise. Where an acknowledgment by respondents of service of a notice of appeal is dated on the same day as the filing of the notice, the presumption is that the service was made before the filing. Where judgment iias been entered in a cause based upon an agreed statement of facts and a stipulation for a waiver of formal pleadings, and the facts are sufficiently stated to show the claims of the respective parties, such statement of facts and stipulation are a sufficient record to warrant the action of the appellate court thereon in case of appeal. Under the statutes of this state, the decree of appropriation awarding damages in condemnation proceedings is for an interest in the land taken, and the holders of mortgage and judgment liens on such land at the time of its appropriation are entitled to share in the damages awarded to the extent and according to the priority of their liens.