Sutherland v. Jackson , 32 Me. 80 ( 1850 )

Wells, J.

One of the grounds, upon which the plaintiff claims to maintain this action, is that by the deed of the proprietor under which he holds, he obtained title to the centre of the street or way. In this State a grant of land bounded on a highway carries the fee to the centre of it, if there be no words to show a contrary intent. Johnson v. Anderson, 18 Maine, 76. The exact width and length of the two lots are specified in the deed, and it does not appear, that lot numbered thirty extends into the street, allowing to it the full width named in the deed. But the lots are conveyed by a plan, and by the copy of the plan, furnished to us, it does not appear that the lot last mentioned embraces any part of the way. The southern line of the lot separates it from the way. Whether that is regarded as the line of the lot, or the line of the way, or both, it clearly delineate# the limits of each, and a conveyance of the lot by the plan does not carry the fee to the centre of the way, for in order to have that effect, the grant must extend beyond the southern line of the lot as laid down on the plan. The boundary of a lot by a wall or fence would limit the grantee to it, although it might also be the boundary of a road. The same rule of construction must apply to a line on a plan.

But a street is laid down on the plan adjoining the plaintiff ’s land, and the conveyance is according to the plan. The fair construction of the deed must be, that the proprietor intended the street for the use of the grantee, and those who might purchase land adjoining it. He exhibited to the purchaser the advantages attendant upon the grant, and not only sold him the land, but the land as it is described upon the plan, where there appears to be a street, in which it would not have been unreasonable for him to have understood, that he was to have an easement. And such appears to be the fair interpretation of the language employed in the conveyance. This case falls within the principle, which was decided in Van O’Linda v. Lothrop, 21 Pick. 292, where it'was held, that a grant of land bounded on a street, the soil of which belonged to the grantor, though it did not convey the fee in the street by the terms of the grant, yet the grantee acquired a right of way in the street by implication or estoppel. In that case, the deed described the land as bounded on the street, in this it is conveyed according to the plan, which represents the land as adjoining the street, and the plan is in contemplation of law a part of the deed. So also in New York, if a lot be sold bounded on a street as designated on a map of the city, or of the owner’s land, the purchaser takes the lot with the indefeasible privthege of a right of way in the street as an easement.

The fee of the street remains in the vendor, but subject to the easement, and the value of his fee is but nominal. 3 Kent’s Com. 433, and cases there cited; 1 Hill, 189 and 191. The plaintiff must be considered as entitled to a right of way in the street delineated ^>n the plan as adjoining his land.

It follows necessarily, that if the plaintiff has a right of way he may exercise it. When the municipal authorities may think proper to open the street, whether the vendor or his grantee of the fee of the street can recover damages, or whether the sale would, under the circumstances, be considered a dedication of the street to the public so far as to prevent a recovery of damages, it is not now necessary to inquire. The proprietor may at any time open the street, but if he does not do so, and it is not done by the public authorities, the purchaser is not precluded from the use of the easement, but may exercise the right as soon as it has accrued to him, if there be no restraint imposed upon him in the deed.

But as the plaintiff’s right consisted in the use of the way, no detriment could arise to him until he was obstructed in such use. The defendant claiming under the proprietor could cultivate the land designed for a street, or devote it to any lawful purpose, without being liable to the purchaser while he manifested no disposition to use it. When the plaintiff undertook to use the street, he had the right to do so without obstruction, and such obstruction would constitute his ground of injury and claim for damages.

When this case was presented to the consideration of this court at a prior time, upon exceptions to the rulings of the Judge of the District Court, it then appeared by the exceptions, that the street had never been opened or used. But by the testimony now presented it does appear, that the street or a part of it, had been used several years before the defendant erected his house upon it, and, as we understand, the plaintiff and others had. participated in its use. The house built by the defendant was from fifteen to eighteen feet wide, and twenty-eight feet long. No one can doubt that such a house would very materially obstruct the ordinary and daily use of the street, and impede the plaintiff in the actual use of his right of passage. The evidence does not disclose very clearly the degree of the injury done to the plaintiff, but it is to be inferred from it, that he sustained some.

For the injury done to the plaintiff by obstructing his passage over the way, he can maintain an action and recover damages. . It is a mere private nuisance. Shaw v. Cummisky, 7 Pick. 76; Kent v. Waite, 10 Pick. 138; Parker v. Smith, 17 Mass. 413. If the way was a public one, so that its obstruction would be a public nuisance for which an indictment would lie, the plaintiff could sustain no action without proof of particular and special damages not common to others. Coke Lit. 56, a; Herbert v. Groves, 1 Esp. 148. But the way in the present case is a private one, and according to the case of State v. Sturdivant, 18 Maine, 66, no indictment could be sustained for obstructing it, and the plaintiff would have no remedy in a court of law unless he could maintain an action for damages.

From the want of more definite proof in relation to the amount of damages, it is apprehended, that the principal object of the plaintiff in bringing the action is to have the question of his right to the use of the way settled; they will therefore be but nominal.

According to the agreement of the parties, a default must be entered, and the damages are fixed at one dollar, but according to the decision of this court in the case of Morrison v. Kittridge, 32 Maine, 100, the plaintiff will be entitled to full costs.