Los Angeles County Flood Control District v. Southern California Building & Loan Ass'n

Action in eminent domain wherein respondents Lubin are real parties in interest. The taking is an easement, 18 feet wide, for the purpose of a covered storm drain. Pursuant to an order for possession B. A. Wattson Company, under contract with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, performed the work which included excavation for the underground tube. The company drove into the ground 52 I-beams for the purpose of shoring the excavation; this

It was stipulated at the trial that the work done by the contractor was accepted and approved by the board of supervisors, that final payment was made to the contractor and that the work was done in accordance with the plans and specifications ; however, they did not expressly cover the method of shoring the sides of the ditch or otherwise preserving natural support for the remaining land. There was no showing of negligence on the part of the contractor and no showing that the district’s plans were inherently dangerous or otherwise defective.

The district, as appellant, initially contends that it is not liable for incidental damage resulting from private negligent acts of an independent contractor, citing 29 Corpus Juris Secundum, section 161, page 1029. Respondents having asserted that there was no showing of any negligence, appellant in reply says: “Appellant does not expect this Court to assume, nor does appellant assume, as necessary to its position, that it had affirmatively carried the burden of showing specific negligent acts of its independent contractor which occasioned the damages awarded respondents. ... To the contrary, it is our understanding of the law that the burden of proof on the question of severance damage, both as to occurrence and amount, is upon the land owner. ’ ’

This question of burden of proof becomes inconsequential in the ease at bar for the stipulation above mentioned makes a case in favor of the landowner which, without more, must prevail. Respondent’s property was directly invaded in the construction of the excavation for the storm drain. But it is immaterial whether that was a direct or indirect invasion if damage to respondents’ remaining parcel was the proximate result of the doing of a public work pursuant to condemnation and in accordance with the condemner’s plans and specifications. In such case the condemning agency is liable under the damage provision of the Constitution (art. I, § 14) and this is true regardless of negligence on the part of a contractor who does the work for the condemner.

“We are of opinion that the right assured to the owner by this provision of the constitution is not restricted to the case

Heimann v. City of Los Angeles, 30 Cal.2d 746 , 756 [ 185 P.2d 597 ] : “The fact that the work was performed by the Works Progress Administration does not necessarily exonerate the city.

“Where a public improvement has been constructed and private property has been taken or damaged for a public use it is immaterial that the work of construction may have been done by a contractor. The public agency authorizing the work is the party to be held liable under the constitutional provision for damage resulting from the exercise of its power. If the public work is constructed according to the plans and specifications furnished by such public agency and upon completion is accepted by it, this is sufficient to fix liability. [Citations.] Or, as said in a recent case (Veterans’ Welfare Board v. City of Oakland, 74 Cal.App.2d 818 , 832 [ 169 P.2d 1000 ]) : ‘If the contractor follows the plans and specifications furnished by the public agency, and damage results to the adjacent property, the public agency and not the contractor is liable. [Citations.] Whether the contractor followed the plans or specifications or not, if plaintiffs’ constitutional rights have been adversely affected they are entitled to compensation from the public agency authorizing and supervising the work. ’ [Citations.] ”

That presence or absence of negligence upon the part of the condemner is not of the essence is clearly established in this state where, as here, the alleged negligence pertains to initial construction of the improvement rather than maintenance of a completed work. (See Reardon v. City & County of San Francisco, 66 Cal. 492 , 505 [ 6 P. 317 , 56 Am.Rep. 109 ] ; Clement v. State Reclamation Board, 35 Cal.2d 628 , 641 [ 220 P.2d 897 ] ; Bauer v. County of Ventura, 45 Cal.2d 276 , 285-286 [ 289 P.2d 1 ]; Youngblood v. City of Los Angeles, 160 Cal.App.2d 481 , 487-488 [ 325 P.2d 587 ] ; Ambrosini v. Alisal

On principle this is- clear because the condemning agency is charged with a nondelegable duty to protect the severed parcel from damage and with a concurrent duty to pay for such damage when inflicted. Snyder v. Southern Calif. Edison Co., 44 Cal.2d 793 , at 797 says [ 285 P.2d 912 ] : “ ‘The general rule of nonliability of an employer for the acts of an independent contractor is subject .to numerous exceptions.’ ” At page 800, quoting Harper, Law of Torts (1933), § 292: “ ‘Where the law imposes a definite, affirmative duty upon one by reason of his relationship with others, whether as an owner or proprietor of land or chattels or in some other capacity, such persons can not escape liability for a failure to perform the duty thus imposed by entrusting it to an independent contractor. .. . „ It is immaterial whether the duty thus regarded as “nondelegable” .be imposed by statute, charter or by common law.’ ’ ’

Perkins .v. Blauth, supra, 163 Cal. 782 , 789, discussing the general rule respecting liability of an employer for the tort of an independent contractor, says: “The principles to be deduced from the decisions in this state are that municipal corporations are not liable for dereliction or remissness of. municipal officers or agents in the performance, of public or governmental functions of the city, or in the performance of duties imposed upon those officers which are prescribed and limited by express law; and-when an injury resultó from the-wrongful act or omission of a municipal officer charged with duty prescribed and limited by law, the doctrine of respondeat superior is inapplicable. ... If the injury results, however, not: from the wrongful plan or character of the Work, but from the negligent or improper manner in which it is' performed, the one so negligently acting will always be responsible; and the public corporation may or may not be - responsible, depending upon the. relationship which it may sustain' to..that