Rice v. Moorehouse , 150 Mass. 482 ( 1890 )

Devens, J.

The defendant had been sued, under the St. of 1887, c. 348, for maintaining unnecessarily a fence over six feet in height, for the purpose of annoying the plaintiff. At some time previous to the trial, but after action brought, the defendant cut down the fence from sixteen feet to seven and a half feet in height. At the trial, the jury were instructed that they must be satisfied that, for some time after the passage of the statute and before the bringing of the action, the defendant had maliciously maintained this fence solely or mainly for the purpose of annoying the plaintiff; that any evidence as to the defendant’s conduct at other times was only competent as it might have a tendency to show her purpose during this time; and that her intent in erecting or .maintaining the fence at other times was not an issue for the jury. To these instructions no exception was taken, and, the jury having found for the plaintiff, a motion was made by the plaintiff for judgment that the fence be abated. The defendant contended that the court had no authority to order an abatement, but the presiding judge decided otherwise, ruled that he had authority under the statute to order judgment for an abatement of so much of the fence as exceeded six feet in height, and ordered judgment accordingly. To this ruling and order the defendant excepted.

That, if this order of the court was one within its discretion, no exception would lie thereto, will hardly be controverted. Codman v. Evans, 7 Allen, 431. The contention of the defendant is, that the only fence which had been adjudged a nuisance was one much higher than seven and a half feet; that there was no adjudication that the fence, as it existed when the order of abatement was passed, was a nuisance; that the court had no discretion in regard to the' subject; and that therefore such order was erroneously made. The provisions of the Pub. Sts. c. 180, concerning actions for private nuisances, are made applicable to cases arising under the St. of 1887, c. 348. Section 1 of this chapter authorizes the court, when the plaintiff has prevailed in an action for a nuisance, besides the costs and damages, to enter judgment that the nuisance be abated and removed. Section 3 of the same chapter, when a judgment is rendered for a continuance or repetition of the same nuisance, makes it the duty of the court to enter such an order.

The allegation made against the defendant was that of unnecessarily, and for the purposes of annoyance, maintaining a fence over six feet in height. If it was found that she had so done, it was for the court to determine whether it should be abated. By herself reducing the height of the fence, either before or after the trial, she did not prevent the court from exercising this discretion. The maintenance of the unlawful structure gave the court jurisdiction of the matter of which the plaintiff complained. Of this the defendant could not deprive it by-making alterations, whether material or immaterial, in that which had constituted the nuisance. If material, they would undoubtedly be taken into account in determining whether there should be an order for abatement. Any other rule than this would lead to almost endless confusion and trickery before such a nuisance could be abated, as the defendant might see fit to reduce her fence foot by foot, or it may be inch by inch, and the remedy given by the statute upon such an interpretation of it would be practically valueless.

We are therefore of opinion, that the court had authority to exercise its discretion in determining whether the fence should be abated. Exceptions overruled.