Stanley v. Stanley , 2007 Vt. 44 ( 2007 )

Stanley v. Stanley (2005-499)
2007 VT 44[Filed 25-May-2007]
NOTICE: This opinion is subject to motions for reargument under
V.R.A.P. 40 as well as formal revision before publication in the Vermont
Reports. Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions,
Vermont Supreme Court, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0801 of
any errors in order that corrections may be made before this opinion goes
to press.
2007 VT 44No. 2005-499
John Stanley Supreme Court
On Appeal from
v. Essex Superior Court
George Stanley January Term, 2007
Brian J. Grearson, J.
Steven A. Adler of Axelrod & Adler, PLLC, St. Johnsbury, for
Plaintiff-Appellant.
Jay Abramson, St. Johnsbury, for Defendant-Appellee.
PRESENT: Reiber, C.J., Dooley, Johnson and Skoglund, JJ., and
Allen, C.J. (Ret.), Specially Assigned
¶ 1. SKOGLUND, J. In this action against his brother and
tenant-in-common, John Stanley appeals from the Essex County Superior
Court's decision on the measure of damages for the removal of trees, the
denial of his request for treble damages under 13 V.S.A. § 3606, and the
denial of attorney's fees. The trial court held that John Stanley, the
plaintiff, is entitled to half of the fair market value of the timber
harvested and delivered to the mills, measured by the prevailing published
market prices for the wood reported sold. The court also found that the
timber trespass statute, 13 V.S.A. § 3606, does not apply to suits between
tenants-in-common for the sale of the common property, and that John is not
entitled to recover attorney's fees. We affirm.
¶ 2. The following facts are undisputed. In 1957, brothers John and
George Stanley bought a perpetual lease of a 100 acre woodlot in Victory,
Vermont. Defendant, George Stanley, paid the entire purchase price. They
were record owners, as tenants-in-common, at all times relevant to the
case. From the beginning of their ownership, defendant paid the annual
rent as well as property taxes when they were assessed. In 1965, defendant
received money from Portland Pipe Company for the right to lay pipe across
the property. In the spring of 2002, defendant hired a logging contractor
to harvest and sell the trees from the lot. The logging operation
commenced in June 2002 and was completed in August 2002. Defendant did not
discuss the logging operation with plaintiff until after it was completed,
believing that, "since he had been paying all the expenses relating to the
property, he should be able to make the decisions relating to the land."
Defendant received $45,803.32 for the timber removed from the lot.
¶ 3. In the summer of 2002, when plaintiff learned that the lot was
being harvested, he visited the lot, took pictures of the operation, and
attempted to reach his brother at his house on two occasions. Defendant
was not home on either occasion, and plaintiff did not leave a note.
Defendant does not have a phone. While the logging operation was underway,
plaintiff took no action to have it stopped, preferring, in his words, to
"wait and see what would happen." In October 2002, at least a month after
the cutting was completed, plaintiff retained counsel and filed a complaint
in Essex County Superior Court. The complaint requested an accounting,
partition, treble damages under 13 V.S.A § 3606, costs of the action and
attorney's fees. Plaintiff also sent a letter to defendant requesting an
accounting of the timber cut. Defendant's attorney replied to the letter
with a summary of all timber cut, the mills to which it was delivered, and
the amounts received, but provided no supporting documentation or payment
to plaintiff for his share of the timber.
¶ 4. The Essex Superior Court held a bench trial on May 16 and 17,
2005. Plaintiff presented testimony from three experts on the value of the
timber cut. First, Thomas Hahn, a private consulting forester, presented
two different methods of determining the value of the timber cut from the
property. Hahn offered testimony as to the prevailing market price of a
unit of wood in the summer of 2002 based on trade publications. Hahn used
these prices, along with the quality and quantity figures from a summary of
mill slips and trip tickets provided by the logging contractor to determine
that the fair market value of the timber sold was $61,785.79. Hahn also
offered testimony on the "timber cruising" or "sampling" method that would
support a finding that the fair market value of the timber was $82,000.
This method involves estimating the boundaries of the lot in question and
sampling plots of wood from both the cut lot and from the adjoining uncut
lot. Expert testimony on the value of the timber cut was also taken from
Stanley Robinson based on his review of the logging contractor's summary of
mill slips and trip tickets, and from Alan Bouthelier based on his visit to
the property prior to the logging. The testimony of these two experts
supported a finding that the fair market value of the timber cut was
approximately $80,000.
¶ 5. The trial court did not rely on the "sampling" method,
dismissing it as too speculative. Nor did it rely on the higher estimates
provided by Hahn, Robinson and Bouthelier as to the value of the timber
cut. The court ultimately relied on Hahn's testimony based on published
market prices in combination with the summary of mill slips and trip
tickets to find that the price the logging contractor paid defendant was
less than the fair market value of the timber. The trial court found that
the fair market value of the timber cut was $61,785.79, and that plaintiff
was entitled to half of this amount. It also ruled that 13 V.S.A § 3606
does not apply to actions between tenants-in-common for the sale of common
property. The court further found that plaintiff was not entitled to
attorney's fees, and granted the request for partition. Following the
hearing, defendant paid plaintiff $22,901.66, half of what he received for
the timber.
¶ 6. Plaintiff makes two claims of error. First, he argues that
the trial court erred in finding that he was not entitled to treble damages
under 13 V.S.A. § 3606 and therefore legal fees under 13 V.S.A. § 3701.
Second, he argues that the trial court erred in finding that the "timber
cruising" or "sampling" method of determining the quality and quantity of
the wood removed from the lot was too speculative. (FN1) We address each of
these in turn.
I.
¶ 7. Simply put, this case requires us to decide whether a
tenant-in-common can trespass on land in which he owns an undivided
interest for purposes of 13 V.S.A. § 3606. We hold he cannot. Vermont's
timber trespass statute, 13 V.S.A. § 3606, reads in relevant part:
If a person cuts down, destroys or carries away any tree or trees
placed or growing for any use or purpose whatsoever . . .
belonging to another person, without leave from the owner . . .
the party injured may recover of such person treble damages in an
action on this statute. However, if it appears on trial that the
defendant acted through mistake, or had good reason to believe
that the trees . . . belonged to him, or that he had a legal right
to perform the acts complained of, the plaintiff shall recover
single damages only, with costs.
13 V.S.A. § 3606.
¶ 8. In interpreting a statute, our goal is to implement the
Legislature's intent. Miller Jenkins v. Miller Jenkins, 2006 VT 78, ¶ 34,
__ Vt. __, 912 A.2d 951. Our first step in pursuit of this goal is to
apply the plain meaning of the statute, so long as it is unambiguous. Id.
If the intent of the Legislature is unclear, we look at the entire statute,
" 'including its subject matter, effects and consequences, as well as the
reason for and spirit of the law.' " Id. (quoting and citing In re Hinsdale
Farm, 2004 VT 72, ¶ 5, 177 Vt. 115, 858 A.2d 249).
¶ 9. The plain language indicates that the statute should not apply
in this case. First, the statute punishes one who cuts trees "belonging to
another person, without leave of the owner." 13 V.S.A. § 3606. The
language presupposes that the injured party has ownership rights to the
exclusion of the party from whom treble damages are being sought. See
State v. Singer, 2006 VT 46, ¶ 14, __ Vt. __, 904 A.2d 1184, (affirming
treble damages where the plaintiff's exclusive ownership of the timber was
not contested); Pion v. Bean, 2003 VT 79, ¶ 29, 176 Vt. 1, 833 A.2d 1248(affirming the trial court's application of § 3606 after finding that the
plaintiffs cut trees that they had no reason to believe belonged to them
and that were found to be on the defendant's property); Lavalette v. Noyes,
124 Vt. 353, 357, 205 A.2d 413, 416 (1964) (affirming treble damages where
the plaintiff's exclusive ownership of timber was not contested on appeal);
Amey v. Hall, 123 Vt. 62, 69, 181 A.2d 69, 74 (1962) (affirming treble
damages for trees cut beyond the defendant's proposed property line).
Since defendant had an undivided ownership interest in the trees at the
time of the logging, the treble damages statute simply does not apply.
¶ 10. The punitive aspect of the timber trespass statute serves to
deter intentional trespass and the wrongful taking of another's timber.
Singer, 2006 VT 46, ¶ 11. It is inapplicable in this case as defendant is
not a trespasser. See Masters v. Stone, 134 Vt. 529, 532, 367 A.2d 686,
688 (1976) (holding that 13 V.S.A. § 3606 only applies to trespassers). He
owns the land and trees in question as a tenant-in-common. A
tenant-in-common cannot bring an action for trespass against another
tenant-in-common for cutting and selling trees which grew on the common
property. We decided this principle in Booth v. Adams, 11 Vt. 156, 160
(1839), where we held that "one tenant in common of land cannot maintain
trespass against his co-tenant, unless he is expelled from the common
estate or deprived of the common enjoyment," and that "any act of the
co-tenant, which might be referred to as his right, as gathering in crops,
cutting trees fit to cut, or removing fences . . . is not the ground of
such action, even on the part of him who sowed the crop or erected the
fence." Likewise in Wait v. Richardson, 33 Vt. 190, 194 (1860), we held,
"[t]he mere entry upon the common land by one of the tenants, and cutting
and carrying off the timber therefrom, is no where treated as giving to the
other tenant the right to maintain an action of trespass of any kind."
¶ 11. Plaintiff relies on Guild v. Prentis, 83 Vt. 212, 74 A. 1115(1910), for the proposition that the timber trespass statute is applicable
even where there is no trespass. Plaintiff, however, misreads Guild. That
case was brought by lessors under the timber trespass statute against the
defendants who cut trees that afforded shade for lessors' summer cottage.
Id. at 213, 74 A. at 1116. Thi Court held that the owners of the land, who
had conveyed the fee of the same land to another reserving to themselves
the right to cut and remove the trees on the land, could give no leave to
cut the trees during the ten-year tenancy and that the timber trespass
statute applied so as to award treble damages to the injured lessors. Id.
at 214, 218, 74 A. at 1116, 1118. Whereas the plaintiffs in Guild v.
Prentis, as lessees, did have the right to exclude owners in fee during the
term of the lease, here, plaintiff can demonstrate no similar right.
¶ 12. This conclusion comports with the goal of the statute to deter
intentional trespass and the wrongful taking of another's timber. Singer,
2006 VT 46, ¶ 11. Defendant, as co-owner of the trees, is not among the
intended targets of the statute, those " 'tree pirates' " and " 'arboreal
rustlers' " who trespass on another's property and remove timber to which
they have no right. Id. (quoting King v. Grecco, 111 S.W.3d 877, 881 & n.2
(Ky. Ct. App. 2003)). Nor would treble damages deter one who "has good
reason to believe that the trees . . . belonged to him." 13 V.S.A. § 3606.
Considering the plain language and purpose of this statute, we find no
error in the trial court's denial of treble damages under 13 V.S.A. § 3606.
Therefore, plaintiff was not entitled to attorney's fees under 13 V.S.A. §
3701.
II.
¶ 13. Plaintiff next asserts that the trial court erred when it held
that the "timber cruising" or "sampling" method of determining the quality
and quantity, and therefore the value, of the timber was too speculative.
"We review the court's findings of fact for clear error." Guibord v.
Scholtz, 2006 VT 22, ¶ 4, 179 Vt. 623, 895 A.2d 202 (mem.); V.R.C.P.
52(a)(2). "A finding will not be disturbed merely because it is
contradicted by substantial evidence; rather, an appellant must show there
is no credible evidence to support the finding." Highgate Assocs. v.
Merryfield, 157 Vt. 313, 315, 597 A.2d 1280, 1281 (1991). "Findings of fact
will be set aside only when they are clearly erroneous, with due regard
given to the opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the
witnesses and the weight of the evidence." P.F. Jurgs & Co. v. O'Brien,
160 Vt. 294, 300, 629 A.2d 325, 329 (1993).
¶ 14. At trial, three experts presented evidence on the value of the
timber cut and sold. The trial court heard testimony from plaintiff's
experts Thomas Hahn, Stanley Robinson and Alan Bouthelier that would have
supported a finding that the fair market value of the timber removed from
the property was approximately $80,000. Hahn's testimony supporting this
figure was based on his use of the "timber cruising" or "sampling" method.
The trial court also heard similar value estimates from Robinson based on a
review of the mill slip and trip ticket summary and from Bouthelier based
on his visit to the property prior to the logging. Hahn, however, also
provided testimony that the fair market value of the timber cut and sold
was $61,785.79. He based this figure on the prevailing published market
price of a quantity of wood in the summer of 2002 and on the quality and
quantity figures of the timber that was reported sold in the summary of
mill slips and trip tickets. The trial court, after evaluating the
different methods, relied on this testimony to determine the fair market
value of the timber cut and sold. Since the trial court based its finding
on adequate evidence, its decision not to use the alternative calculations
was proper.
¶ 15. Plaintiff is due an accounting for his share of the fair
market value of the timber cut and sold. The trial court properly found
that he is due one half of $61,785.79, and that the timber trespass statute
does not apply in this case. Accordingly, we affirm.
Affirmed.
FOR THE COURT:
_______________________________________
Associate Justice
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Footnotes
FN1. Plaintiff does not appeal the trial court's finding as to the fair
market value of a unit of wood in the summer of 2002.