McIntire v. Western N. C. Railroad

The plaintiffs, through whose land the defendant's railroad passes, brought an action sounding in damages, under the C. C. P., for the injury sustained by the location of defendant's railroad on his land. His Honor below held, that as the charter of the railroad company prescribes a summary remedy by petition to recover damages of the defendants, the plaintiffs could not bring an action as at common law, or under the C. C. P. Other points were raised, which it is unnecessary to state, as the opinion of the Supreme Court proceeds entirely on the main question.

From this ruling of his Honor below the plaintiffs appealed. The only question presented in this case is, whether the common law remedy of an owner of land, by an action of trespass, against a railroad company which has entered on his lands for the purpose of building its road, is taken away by Rev. Code, ch. 61, secs. 9 to 21; or whether (279) the remedy thereby given is cumulative. We are of opinion that the intention of the act was, to deprive the owner of his common law remedy, and to give him the one provided by the act in lien of it. We come to this conclusion from the analogy between the policy of the act mentioned, and the act of 1809 on the subject of mills; Rev. Code, ch. 74. We admit that the language of the latter act more clearly excludes a resort to the common law remedy, than that of the one in question. But the decisions Gillet v. Jones, 18 N.C. 339; Gilliam v. Canady, 33 N.C. 106) do not go so much on the words of the act as upon its evident policy. If the owner of land overflowed by a mill dam could bring his action on the case for damages every day, no public mill could be established. In like manner if the owner of land taken by a railroad for its track, could bring his action of trespass every day, no railroad could be built. In such case the law considers the property though taken for an individual, or for a private corporation, as taken for the public use. R. R. v. Davis,19 N.C. 451. It is not forbidden by the Constitution, if compensation be made and compensation is provided for. The mode of obtaining it may not be so easy or satisfactory to the owner, but it is not illusory; a substantial and just compensation may be obtained. There can be no doubt that the Legislature had the right to take away the common law remedy; the only question possible is, as to their intention.

It is suggested, however, that the act only intended to furnish the company with a means of acquiring a title to the land needed, and not to deprive the owner of any remedy unless the company availed itself of the means furnished. But the act says either party may proceed by petition to have the damages assessed. If the officers of the company cannot enter on lands and make surveys without a trespass, they could never locate the road. And if the road were located, and (280) its construction delayed until the damages to all the land owners on the route were ascertained under the act, the delay would be indefinite, and of no benefit to any one. To hold that during the pendency of a proceeding by the company to have the lands condemned, it could not prosecute its works without being exposed daily to an action of trespass, would effectually defeat the policy of the act. The act intended to allow the company to enter and construct its road at once, leaving the question of damages (if the parties could not agree on them) to be settled afterwards. The company was not obliged to initiate proceedings. It is not obliged to know that the owner claims damages, until he claims them in the mode provided.

There is a view of the act which seems conclusive. What could be the sense or policy of giving to the landowner the comparatively feeble remedy provided by the act, unless it was intended or supposed, that be would thereby lose the one already possessed, so much more potent, and adequate for every occasion.

PER CURIAM. Affirmed.

Cited: Johnston v. Rankin, 70 N.C. 557; R. R. v. McCaskill, 94 N.C. 752;S. v. Lyle, 100 N.C. 503; R. R. v. Parker, 105 N.C. 248; Hilliardv. Asheville, 118 N.C. 853;Jones v. Comrs., 130 N.C. 453; Jones v.Comrs., Ib., 467;Dargan v. R. R., 131 N.C. 625;Teeter v. Wallace,138 N.C. 268;S. v. Jones, 139 N.C. 622, 624, 638; Beasley v. R. R.,147 N.C. 365;Jeffries v. Greenville, 154 N.C. 494, 495.

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