Washington Water Power Co. v. Abacus Ass'n , 1914 Wash. LEXIS 923 ( 1914 )

Main, J.

This action was instituted for the purpose of acquiring title to land under the right of eminent domain.

The petitioner was a public service corporation. The appellant was the owner of a tract of land, consisting of approximately 180 acres, the north boundary of which was the Spokane river. The petitioner sought to condemn a 28-foot strip across the entire tract and adjacent to the river. The object of acquiring the strip of land was that it might be overflowed by the rise of the river on account of the erection of a dam therein, twenty-two miles below the appellant’s property, where an electric power plant was installed.

In the petition, it was sought to acquire the entire title to the strip taken; but, when the case was called for trial, the petitioner offered what it termed a stipulation wherein it declared its intention to be to acquire only the right to flood the land and that the appellant and its successors should retain every other right thereto, such as crossing the same in any manner, erecting or maintaining houses or other structures thereon, the running of pipe lines across or through the same at any point or place that might be desired. Over the objection of the appellant, this stipulation was permitted to be filed. Thereupon the appellant moved for a continuance on the ground of surprise, which motion was denied.

The cause was tried to the court and a jury. After both parties had finished the introduction of evidence, the petitioner moved that all the evidence upon the question of the reduction in the velocity of the stream, and as to the portion of land remaining, be withdrawn from the jury, for the reason that there was no evidence showing either damage on account of loss of the motive power of the stream or of the amount of damages, if any, to the tract of land from which the strip was taken. This motion was sustained by the court for the reasons given.

The question submitted to the jury was the value of the strip taken, and an instruction was given to include in the verdict nominal damages to the remainder, and also nominal damages on account of the reduction in the velocity of the stream. A verdict was returned in the sum of $18.

Motion for new trial was seasonably made and overruled. Judgment was entered upon the verdict, from which the appeal is prosecuted.

The appellant’s brief contains fifty-one assignments of error. To attempt to follow the discussion of these as contained in the briefs would prolong this opinion to forbidden lengths. It is sufficient to say that the record has been carefully read and all the assignments of error have been considered. We do not find in any of them substantial merit.

The judgment will be affirmed.

Crow, C. J., Ellis, Fullerton, and Morris, JJ., concur.