Wait v. Hudson Valley Railway Co.

This action was commenced by the service of summons and complaint on the 11th day of September, 1901. The complaint alleges the plaintiffs’ ownership of a parcel of land specifically described, and that in June, 1901, the defendant’s predecessor entered thereupon, broke down and removed fences, dug up and removed soil, permitted cattle to injure and destroy grain and produce growing thereon, and also upon adjoining premises belonging to plaintiffs, and that defendant is in possession of the parcel particularly described, and demands possession thereof, and damages in the sum of $1,000. Sub

I am still inclined to the view expressed upon the argument—that an application to modify the restraining order should have been made in the condemnation proceedings in which the order was granted. I am, however, unable to perceive any necessity for a modification. It stayed' the defendants (plaintiffs here) from bringing or continuing any action or proceeding in respect to the possession which it authorized', and has no application whatever to any prior possession, or to any right of action which the plaintiffs may have had against the defendant for antecedent trespasses.

But if the order will bear the construction put upon it by the parties-to this motion, if would have been a nullity so far as restraining the plaintiffs from prosecuting their action as. to any prior possession or trespass. Section 3379 of the Code does not authorize the' court to restrain the owner of the premises sought to be condemned from maintaining a right of action which accrued prior to the commencement of the condemnation proceedings. Although I find no authority for the rule thus adopted, I am nevertheless of the opinion that it is well within the reasons of the following authorities: Matter of St. Lawrence & A. R. Co., 133 N. Y. 270 , 31 N. E. 218 ; Manhattan R. Co. v. Taber (Sup.) 29 N. Y. Supp. 220 ; and Village of Canandaigua v. Benedict, 8 App. Div. 475 , 40 N. Y. Supp. 707 . Despite the view so taken, I am nevertheless of the opinion that the plaintiffs were justified in making this application, as both they and the defendant have construed the order as restraining them from any further prosecution of this action, and an attempt on their part so to do without leave of the court might have subjected them to the annoyance of proceedings for contempt.- It therefore seems reasonable that the court should grant the permission asked for.

The defendant further contends that the damages resulting to plaintiffs from the defendant’s trespass prior to the commencement of the condemnation proceedings were submitted to the determination of the appraisers therein, and files a certificate by such appraisers to that effect. If this be, so, and it shall be made to appear upon the trial that such an adjudication was had, the award may be regarded as a bar to the maintenance of the action. I am, however, unable to find anything in the statute which authorizes the áppráisers to include damages for a

The further point that the present action is in ejectment, and may not be maintained after final judgment in the condemnation proceedings, requires attention. I am not satisfied that the complaint here, properly construed, constitutes an action in ejectment. The pleader seems to have attempted to join in the same complaint three causes of action, viz.: (1) For injuries to real property; (2) for ejectment; (3) for injuries to personal property—no two of which may be joined in the same action. Code Civ. Proc. § 484. No damages are sought to~be recovered for withholding possession of the property, or for its rents and profits, or for the value of its use and occupation, as the plaintiffs make no such demand in their complaint. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1496, 1497. The only damages sought to be recovered are those resulting from alleged trespasses upon real property and injuries to personal property. The complaint is clearly defective, being both indefinite and uncertain, and joining causes of action in violation of the provisions of the Code, but I do not think this is ground for a denial of the present motion. The application to modify the injunctive order is therefore denied, but plaintiffs may take an order granting leave to proceed with the prosecution of the action, without costs to either party.

Ordered accordingly.