Nicholson v. Maine Central Railroad , 100 Me. 342 ( 1905 )

Spear, J.

A writ of entry to obtain possession of certain parcels of land included within the bounds of which, was a strip of land six rods in width, that was in 1873, legally laid out, by the Bucksport and Bangor Railroad Company, for a railroad location, for all railroad purposes. In 1883 the Maine Central Railroad Company, the defendant, by proper mesne conveyances, succeeded to all the rights and privileges of said B. & B. Railroad Company, and have ever since been in the possession and exercise thereof.

The land described in the plaintiff’s writ also covered a strip of land two rods in width to which the defendant claimed title by prescription. A disclaimer was filed as to .all the rest of the premises described in the plaintiff’s writ. A more particular description of the locus in controversy is not now required in view of the question involved.

The defendant concedes the title in fee of the premises described in the plaintiff’s writ to be in the plaintiff, but claims that they are subject to an easement, in the defendant, both in the six' rod strip and the two rod strip.

The plaintiff does not deny the legal existence, in the beginning, of an easement in the six rod strip for a railroad location in the defendant’s predecessor, but asserts that that part of the location which fell within the premises described in his writ was abandoned before the date of this action. As to the two rod strip, claimed by the defendant by prescription, the plaintiff made no concession.

The real issue in the case was whether the easements claimed by the defendant were abandoned in whole or in part. If not the defendant was entitled, by some form of verdict, to the enjoyment of them. But whether the defendant was entitled to the enjoyment of the'easements which are claimed, or not, the plaintiff’s right to a verdict in his favor upon the main question of disseizin, was not in the least affected. “The fee in the land is to be regarded as distinct from an easement in the same. The fee may be in one and the easement in another. The demandant having the fee is entitled to recover, notwithstanding the tenant may have an easement in the passageway for the use of the mill. The owner in fee of land may maintain a writ of entry to establish his title against the owner of a perpetual right to use it for a passageway.” “It is no objection to a recovery in a real action that the tenant has an easement in the demanded premises.” Bank v. Morrison, 88 Maine, 163. Exactly in point is Ayer v. Phillips, 69 Maine, 50. Therefore the general verdict that the defendant did disseize, is, in any phase of the case, a correct one.

As before stated the real issue was whether the defendant had abandoned the easement, which it once had by virtue of the original railroad location, or had obtained by prescription, if any, or whether it was still entitled to the úse and enjoyment of a part or the whole of the easement thus acquired. Upon this phase of the case the following question was submitted to the jury and a special verdict was rendered thereon, to wit: “Is the plaintiff’s title to and right to the possession of the demanded premises, subject to an easement belonging to the defendant to use any portion of the demanded premises for its railroad purposes?” Answer. “Yes.” The plaintiff moves to set aside this special verdict because it is against the evidence, the law and the weight of evidence, and also because it does not determine the rights of the parties. A careful examination of the evidence does not convince ns that the jury so erred in this special finding as to warrant us in setting it aside as against the evidence, whatever our own views might be were we vested with jury powers.

This brings us to a consideration of the plaintiff’s last reason why the verdict should be set aside, namely, that it does not determine the rights of the parties. The fact asserted in this reason must be admitted. The verdict does not determine the rights of the parties. It does not determine what part of the demanded premises is subject to the easement to which the verdict finds the defendant entitled. It gives neither the length, the breadth, nor the location of the part so subject. But the special verdict is the only one that could settle the rights of the parties. The plaintiff was entitled to the general verdict, whether an easement existed or not. It was the extent of the easement, if one was found to exist, that was desired. If the question put to the jury had been answered," “no,” that, with the general verdict, would have settled all the issues raised. Being answered “yes,” it left the only question in issue so indefinite and uncertain that a judgment, rendered upon the verdict, could not be pleaded in bar to protect any part of the easement claimed under it, as no particular spot on the face of the earth could be pointed out as the place which the verdict was intended to cover.

Should the verdict, which thus leaves the rights of the parties undetermined be allowed to stand? We find this to be a somewhat novel question. This is not one of the cases in which, through some irregularity the verdict may be set aside. This verdict was perfectly regular.

Its form was submitted to, and approved by, counsel on both sides. Its only defect is its indefiniteness. It does not cover all the issues involved in the case aud to this extent is defective. There seems to be no good reason why such a verdict should stand unless, to reverse it, violates some rule of law. We find no statute nor decision in this state that forbids setting it aside, but on the other hand we find several decisions of other courts that warrant it. The doctrine seems to be established and universally held, wherever the question has arisen, that a verdict, which will not support a judgment cannot stand. ■ .

“But nothing is better settled than that the verdict must find the very point in issue between the parties; or if it does not it will not support a judgment.” 22 Ency. Pl. & Prac. 863, note 3. Hall v. York, 16 Texas, 18. “A special verdict must find every material fact involved in the litigation. The findings of the special verdict should be of such a nature that nothing remains for the court but to draw from such facts the proper conclusions of law. 22 Ency. Pl. & Prac. 981. “Where a special verdict is rendered in a civil action it must contain a finding of every material controverted fact necessary to support a judgment for the one party or the other.”- 22 Ency. Pl. & Prac. 984. “Where the special verdict is silent as to an essential fact necessary to judgment in favor of the party having the burden of proof, the adverse party may move for a new trial, or if the facts found warrant a judgment in his favor, for judgment on the verdict.” 22 Ency. Pl. & Prac. 985, note. “Whether, then, we regard the verdict as a special one, not containing findings to support the judgment or as a general one rendered in pursuant of improper instructions, we reach the conclusion- that the judgment of the court below must be reversed and cause remanded, with instructions to award a venire de novo.” Ward v. Cochran, 150 U. S. 597.

“The general rule undoubtedly is, that the verdict must comprehend the whole issue or issues submitted to the jury in the particular cause; otherwise the judgment founded on it should be reversed.” Wood v. McGuire’s Children, 17 Ga. 361; 63 Am. Dec. 246. “Judgment is erroneous when predicated upon the finding of a jury sworn to try the issues joined between the parties, but instead of finding upon all the issues, they return a verdict, special in form and referring to but one issue; This is the head note in Meighen v. Strong, 6 Minn. 177; 80 Am. Dec. 441, and fairly states the point of the case. Walker v. Dewing, 8 Pick. 519, was one involving the scope of a special verdict which, had been 'submitted to the jury by the court with the undoubted intention that it should cover all the questions in issue and form the basis of a judgment, but the court say, “no judgment can be rendered on this special verdict of the jury it being deficient in substance.” The difficulty with this verdict was, that it did not show the identity of a will presented with the one to which the verdict referred. At the end of the opinion the court add, “if the verdict is defective there can be no judgment.” Gerrish v. Train, 3 Pick. 124, is a well considered case bearing upon the point here raised and holds “if the court are at a loss how to give judgment a repleader will be awarded on motion of either party.” This same question was raised in Brunswick v. McKean, 4 Maine, 508, but the court held that the verdict in this case was consistent and in giving expression to their opinion use this language, “and a verdict if by fair intendment it may have a consistent construction is not to be set aside for uncertainties.” A clear implication from this language is that on the contrary if a verdict is so uncertain that by a fair intendment of the language a judgment cannot be based upon it, it is to be set aside for uncertainty.

Courts are instituted for the purpose of finally settling legal controversies and determining forever litigated rights. The object of a trial in court upon an issue framed, is to so settle that issue that the judgment of the court based upon the finding thereof, can ever after be pleaded to show that the facts directly involved and material to the issue, have been fully and finally determined. This is the object of a trial, yet it is not always possible to attain such a result. But when it is perfectly apparent that the verdict, upon the issue presented, does not determine the rights of the parties, it seems clear that the case, if possible, should be put in such a position, that the parties, by means of the action already pending which has been brought for that express purpose, may be able to have all their rights decided, instead of being left in uncertainty, their litigation and expense of no avail, with the necessity still resting upon them of bringing another suit to accomplish the very end the one in being was instituted to secure.

“Of course it is difficult, if not impossible, to lay down any general rule as to certainty or definiteness which will serve as a ready test in any case which may arise. It has been held, however, that a verdict must be sufficiently certain to stand as a final decision of the special matters with which it deals. So a verdict which is so uncertain that it cannot be clearly ascertained therefrom whether the jury meant to find the issue is bad. And a verdict which is so uncertain that no judgment can be rendered on it must, of course, be void.” 22 Ency. Pl. & Prac. 880.

Note 2 under the above text, after announcing the rule stated, continues; “It is of the greatest importance that when a final judgment is rendered the record shall' be definite and certain and show unequivocally what matters have been adjusted and that the decision shall be a finality in regard to the matters in issue.”

“Where, therefore, a verdict was uncertain to such an extent that it would require the finding of another jury to ascertain the intention of the jury who found the first verdict, it was held that such a verdict must be set aside.”

It may be said that the special verdict, not being pleadable in bar is no verdict at all; that it amounts to nothing in settling the rights of the parties; that the general verdict covered all the plaintiff sought to recover in his writ. But we do not so understand it. If the defendant had submitted to a default the plaintiff could have taken judgment upon the facts averred in his writ. But the defendant did not default. It filed pleadings which in effect confessed the plaintiff’s right to seizin in fee of the premises described, but sought to avoid the effect of the seizin upon one definite portion of the premises, by setting up an easement therein by virtue of a legal railroad location, and upon another portion by a prescriptive use. These pleadings were joined by the plaintiff and the issue thereby framed upon which the case was tried. Was there an easement in either or both of the ways claimed, was the question.

It seems evident that the special verdict was of paramount importance in settling this question. There could have been no reason, whatever, for developing the testimony in the case upon this issue, unless a special verdict was to be required, inasmuch as the plaintiff, if he had admitted the easements, would be entitled to the general verdict just the same, as we have before seen. In fact the issue actually tried out in the case could be settled only by a special finding of the jury upon the facts material to that issue. If the jury had found that the defendant was entitled to the whole easement claimed, or to any definite part, such a finding would be carried into effect in the judgment of the court. Bank v. Morrison, supra.

It was also expressly held in Ayer v. Phillips, supra, in a case precisely like the one at bar, that “the right of the demandant to recover is unquestionable so far as relates to the land demanded; but she is not entitled to have judgment and execution that would exclude' the Somerset Railroad Co., from complete possession and control of the premises for all purposes pertaining to the full exercise of its corporate franchises.” The general verdict therefore does not and should not conclude the rights of the defendant in this case. The jury have found that it is entitled to some easement, to which the general verdict under the last cases cited, is subject, and by which the judgment upon such verdict should be modified to the extent of giving “possession and control” to the defendant of so much of the premises as relate to the use of the easement. A special verdict is conclusive of the facts found by it, and is so decided in State v. Inhab. of Madison, 59 Maine, 540. “The question was submitted to the jury and by a special verdict they have found that this easterly channel, at the time the charter was granted was and ever has been a part of Kennebec River. No motion to .set aside this verdict has been filed. Therefore the verdict so far as it goes is conclusive.” To say therefore, that the special verdict may be regarded as surplusage for indefiuiteness when, if definite, it would have been valid, and would have fully settled the issue joined by the parties, and have materially modified the effect of the plaintiff’s general verdict, is avoiding the only question submitted to the court for consideration and decision.

For the above reasons both verdicts are set aside and a new trial granted.