Crawford v. Inglin , 44 Idaho 663 ( 1927 )

Appellant and respondent are adjoining land owners. Some years ago respondent constructed a ditch on the land now owned by appellant and one Emery for the purpose of carrying "waste water" from a draw on appellant's land to certain of respondent's land for irrigation. The ditch, as now constructed, extends from an irrigation ditch on respondent's land through the draw, thence on through the lands of appellant and Emery to another part of respondent's land, and, the evidence shows, has been used for conveying live water from the irrigation lateral as well as collecting and conveying waste water. Because the ditch interfered with the use of his land and overflow water rendered certain of his land unfit for cultivation, appellant sought the permission of respondent to change the course of the ditch. The request being refused, appellant placed a siphon under the ditch, where it crossed the draw, in order to permit the overflow water, or that which stood on the upper side of the ditch, to escape from his land.

Respondent commenced this action to enjoin appellant from maintaining the siphon, otherwise interfering with the flow of water into and in the ditch, and quieting his title to the ditch and to the waste water. A temporary injunction was issued, the cause was tried without a jury and findings of fact and conclusions of law were made in favor of respondent, on which a decree was entered.

Among other things, the complaint alleged that respondent had diverted and appropriated fifty inches of waste water which "flowed across the land of defendant . . . . into a draw or low land," by means of drains and ditches, and applied said waste water to a beneficial use; that respondent entered into a parol agreement with Clawson, who then owned the land, under which Clawson agreed, in consideration of the construction of the ditch to carry off the waste water, to "grant and did grant" respondent all the land necessary for the construction of the ditch. It was further alleged that appellant had placed a siphon under the ditch and refused to remove the same, to the damage of respondent in no stated amount. Appellant denied specifically the allegations of the complaint, set up certain affirmative defenses, an offer to change the ditch to another part of his land, and, by cross-complaint, sought damages for the overflow of water on his land.

The decree directs "judgment against defendant . . . . excepting only the defendant is authorized . . . . to modify and change plaintiff's ditch" in a designated manner "on defendant's own lands and entirely at the expense of defendant, and it is further decreed that the defendant is bound to maintain, to perpetuate and keep all of that portion of said ditch so constructed by him in a good and proper manner perpetually." The temporary injunction (which is not in the record) is made permanent, except as to the permitted change in the location of the ditch.

The only evidence of the arrangement between respondent and Clawson for the construction of the ditch was testified to by respondent's son, as follows:

". . . . and father asked me one night when I was going up there, I was going to a party at Clawson's house, and he asked me to speak to Charley about making — about him making a ditch up through this field to take up this waste water, so that he could get it over on the south side of his high land. I asked Mr. Clawson about it and he said that was all right, to go ahead and do it.

"Q. Was the question of waste water discussed between you and Clawson at that time?

"A. I don't remember that it was discussed, other than by making the statement that we wanted to make this ditch to pick up waste water."

This evidence is wholly insufficient to sustain the court's finding that Clawson agreed to or did grant the lands necessary for the construction or maintenance of the ditch, and shows only permission from Clawson to construct "a ditch up through this field to take up this waste water, so that he (Crawford) could get it over on the south side of his high land." However, the case was tried upon the theory that respondent, by the permission to construct the ditch, together with its construction and maintenance and use, had acquired a right to maintain and use it to convey whatever water was wasted into it. The right to maintain this ditch and convey therein whatever water wasted into it did not give respondent the right to transport "live" water in the ditch, or commingle live and waste water therein and thereby, or for any reason, overreach the capacity of the ditch and overflow appellant's lands. If, therefore, by reason of the incapacity of the ditch, because of a failure to keep it in proper repair, or an improper grade, or the flowing therein of live water, the ditch did not carry off all the water, of whatsoever nature, appellant had the undoubted right to permit the surplus water to escape from his lands, and, to convey such surplus water as the ditch would not collect and carry, he acted within his rights in placing the siphon under the ditch. The permission given by Clawson was not to flood the lands now owned by appellant, and no right other than that given by Clawson has been proven.

It must not be understood that we pass on the question of whether respondent had or had not the right to run "live" water through the ditch. He neither alleged nor proved any right to convey live water but bases his right to maintain and operate the ditch solely on the permission of Clawson "to take up this waste water."

In the conclusions of law, it is stated that "the defendant is enjoined from interfering with plaintiff's ditch or with the collection in plaintiff's ditch of any of the waste water or interfering with the flow into plaintiff's ditch as it has heretofore naturally flowed therein of any waste water finding its way therein." This conclusion goes too far; it is not justified from the facts. There is no evidence whatever of a grant of any water from Clawson. The most that can be said, from the testimony of respondent's son, is that Clawson permitted certain of his water to waste and to be carried away by respondent. Clawson did not agree to permit water, to which he was entitled, to waste for any definite time. While respondent, under the issues here presented, would seem to be entitled to all the water that collected in the ditch, appellant cannot be required to waste water into the ditch. He can use all his water, waste none of it, or apply it on other lands, and thereby prevent its flow into the ditch. (Sebern v.Moore, 44 Idaho 410, 258 P. 176 (filed June 27, 1927); 1 Wiel on Water Rights, sec. 56 et seq.; Davis v. Martin, 157 Cal. 657,108 P. 866. See, also, Gerber v. Nampa etc. Irr. Dist.,16 Idaho 1, 100 P. 80 (concurring opinion by Sullivan, C.J., pp. 29-31); Nampa Meridian Irr. Dist. v. Petrie, 37 Idaho 45,223 P. 531).

The court refused appellant's request to permit him to change the ditch so that it would follow "the quarter section line," but did authorize a change in the location of the ditch on condition that appellant was required "to maintain, to perpetuate and keep all that portion of said ditch so constructed by him in a good and proper manner perpetually." If this is such a lateral ditch as is referred to in C. S., sec. 5660, with respect to which the findings are silent, it would seem that appellant may change it at his own expense, so long as such change does not prevent or impede the flow of the water into or in the changed ditch or injure respondent, but we know of no power to require such a ditch, when changed, to be perpetually maintained by the land owner.

Appellant also complains that the court erred in requiring, as a condition to changing the ditch, that it be so constructed as to "carry plaintiff's live water and also plaintiff's wastewater." Since, as heretofore stated, no right to carry live water through the ditch was alleged or proven, and, although the evidence shows that the ditch has been used at times for that purpose, if respondent had no right to carry live water through the ditch, appellant should not be required to so construct any new or changed ditch as to convey live water.

No finding was made on appellant's cross-complaint for damages for the flooding of his land. This was error. The court should have determined the issue raised by the cross-complaint. (Carson v. Thews, 2 Idaho 176, 9 P. 605; Wood v. Broderson,12 Idaho 198, 85 P. 490; Later v. Haywood, 14 Idaho 45,93 Pac. 374; Berlin Machine Works v. Dehlbom Lumber Co., 29 Idaho 494,160 P. 746.)

In the trial court, respondent's costs were taxed against appellant. The taxing of costs is governed by statute. C. S., sec. 7218, requires one who claims costs to file and serve a memorandum thereof within five days after "notice of the decision of the court." The memorandum of costs was filed more than ten days prior to notice of the decision and was not served. Respondent failed to serve or file the memorandum of costs within the time provided by statute, and the court erred in taxing costs against appellant. (Steensland v. Hess, 25 Idaho 181,136 P. 1124; State ex rel. Riddell v. District Court,33 Mont. 529, 85 Pac. 367; Houghton v. Barton, 49 Utah, 611, 165 P. 471;Sellick v. De Carlow, 95 Cal. 644, 30 P. 795.) No objection is made by respondent to the manner in which this question is presented for consideration.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded to the trial court, with directions to grant a new trial. Costs to appellant.

Taylor and T. Bailey Lee, JJ., concur.

Givens, J., disqualified.