Smith v. City of Auburn

HISCOCK, J.

We think the judgment appealed from must be reversed, and a new trial granted, because the action was largely tried and decided upon a theory different from that set forth and outlined in plaintiff’s complaint. In order to appreciate the variance which we deem to exist, it will be essential to review some of the leading features of the case.

As indicated by the nature of the judgment already referred to, it is claimed by plaintiff that defendant has been guilty of unlawfully causing her premises in the city of Auburn to be flooded with water and sewage. There seems to be no question but what her premises were so flooded from time to time for several yéars prior to the commencement of this action, but there is a very substantial dispute in relation to defendant’s responsibility therefor. The flooding directly resulted from the overflow of a closed channel running across the premises in question. It was alleged in the complaint that defendant caused this overflow by connecting with this channel, at various points before reaching plaintiff’s lands, sewers, catch-basins and conduits, whereby a great amount of surface drainage from streets and sewage was collected and discharged into the channel, and ultimately upon plaintiff’s lands. Upon the trial it quite conclusively appeared that defendant had not connected any sewers with the channel in question, but had constructed various catch-basins and conduits, whereby the surface drainage from portions of streets lying in the vicinity were discharged into it; that whatever sewage was collected therein came from the private sewers of landowners living upon the line of the channel. The difficulty in the case arises from the fact, however, that plaintiff, by her complaint, sought to charge the defendant with liability for its acts upon the theory that this was a natural water course which extended across' plaintiff’s premises, whereas by the proofs and findings of the learned referee the defendant has been held liable upon the theory that the water course had been abandoned, and that there had been substituted therefor, with her cooperation and acquiescence, a sewer. There is no controversy but that originally there was a natural water course, originating with and fed by springs, traversing quite a portion of the city of Auburn, including plaintiff’s premises, and ultimately emptying into Owasco creek. Neither is there any dispute, as we understand it, but that the portions of the streets from which defendant collected and discharged into the channel in question the surface water lay within the natural watershed of this water course. Some time prior to the commencement of the action this water course had been inclosed or covered. As bearing upon our construction of the theory upon which the plaintiff framed her complaint, we may quote certain allegations therefrom, as follows:

“Plaintiff further alleges that running through said premises [of plaintiff] from east to west is a natural water course, fed by springs,' and in which water runs continually; that prior to about January, 1890, there was not at any time sufficient water in said stream to cause serious damage or injury to claimant’s said premises or the buildings thereon; that since about said time and down to the present time said defendant, acting through its certain officers and agents, caused certain sewers, drains, conduits, and .catch-basins to he built, constructed, and connected, * * * and so built, constructed, and connected said sewers, conduits, and catch-basins that the same should discharge into said water course above claimant’s said lands and premises; that said sewers, drains, conduits, and catch-basins were so located and constructed that thereby in and through them a large amount of rain and waste water an’d sewerage * * * is received * * * and are wrongfully made to drain, and wrongfully discharged into said water course, forming new and destructive currents and volumes of water and sewage.”

And at other places in said complaint are found other allegations referring to said water course as then existing, and to defendant’s wrongful use thereof by improper collection and discharge of water into the same. Without referring to all of these allegations in detail or at length, we think that a fair and reasonable construction and interpretation of them leads to the conclusion that plaintiff by her complaint limited her right of recovery against the defendant to an abuse by it of its rights in and to a natural water course flowing across her premises. The counsel for the respondent and the learned referee, in a discussion of this question, urge that other views may be taken of the complaint as a whole, but we are unable to agree with these contentions.

Without attempting to analyze completely and exactly the rules which would govern defendant’s use of a natural water course, it may be stated generally and without doubt that it had certain well-defined rights of drainage thereinto. This is not disputed by the respondent, but, so far as surface drainage of its streets is concerned; complaint alone is made because, owing to the macadamized surface of the streets, more water drained off than would have done in the natural condition of the earth, and also because by the construction of catch-basins and conduits the flow of water was accelerated. Again, without attempting' at this time to determine just what liability might attach to defendant if plaintiff’s complaint in these two respects was sustained, it still may be said that defendant certainly' would not become liable unless by this means the drainage was increased to an extent beyond that which could be accommodated by the water course in its natural condition. The defendant would not be made liable for any damages which might come to a landowner upon the line of the water course as the result of unduly narrowing and obstructing the same, as it is claimed the plaintiff has done.

When the case came on for trial the learned referee, in spite of the objections made in due form and time by the defendant, allowed proof that in 1880, by the construction of what was known as the Franklin street sewer, and at various and subsequent dates by other acts, the defendant had diverted and destroyed this natural water course, and that thereafter substantially upon its line a closed sewer or drain had been constructed, which existed at the time the action was commenced, and from which the overflows in question occurred. Evidence was also given to the effect that defendant had taken part in the construction and maintenance of this sewer or drain. And finally, by various findings and conclusions, directly or inferentially, the referee determined that the water course had been destroyed, and that in its place a sewer or drain had been constructed with the co-operation and acquiescence of the defendant, and for the condition and operation of which it was to some extent responsible; and the liability of the defendant, by necessary inference, at least, was predicated upon this theory. We do not deem it essential to spend considerable time in demonstrating that this was a very different form of liability from that originally alleged in the complaint. We shall merely advert again to the condition of the channel upon plaintiff’s premises. It appeared that its size under her barn was smaller than the dimensions which prevailed before her premises were reached. It also appeared that when the floods came upon -her premises they seemed to break out at this point. If defendant had adopted this form of construction, and thereafter drained into this alleged sewer a volume of water which it could not accommodate, it will be seen at once that its liability might be very different from that which would prevail in the case of a natural water course improperly obstructed by the plaintiff. The learned referee himself recognizes and very distinctly refers to the different rules of liability which would govern the two cases, respectively. The counsel for the respondent seemed to appreciate that there was a substantial variance between the pleadings and the proofs, for upon the trial he sought to have the former so amended as to conform to the latter. While we may feel that upon a trial had before a referee the ends of justice might have been furthered by allowing such an amendment upon proper terms, the referee for some reason refused to allow the same, and therefore the question is put into and remains in the case upon this appeal.

Various reasons are urged upon our consideration why the judgment should not be reversed for the cause discussed, but while we appreciate that the case has received very careful attention, and been elaborately considered in and covered by the findings of the referee, we feel unable to adopt this course.

It is suggested that this court now has the power upon this appeal to amend the pleadings so as to conform to the proofs which were offered upon the trial. We do not feel that we should do this. The question urged upon our attention by the appellant was fairly presented upon the trial. The motion to amend the pleadings was denied, and the ruling thereby in effect made that the parties should be governed in their conduct of the trial by the pleadings as they then existed. The learned counsel for the appellant may very well have elected to stand upon his exceptions, and try the action under the construction which he placed upon the complaint, rather than to accept the views of the referee, and try the case upon the theory which finally governed its disposition. The error, as we conceive it, which led to the results complained of by the appellant, was so substantial a one that we are unwilling to assume that the defendant may not have been injured by it. The judgment should be reversed and a new trial granted, with costs to the appellant to abide event.

Judgment reversed and new trial granted, with costs to appellant to abide event, upon questions of law only; the facts having been examined, and no error found therein. All concur.