Geer v. Fleming

Wells, J. If the plaintiff’s easement was a private right of way, his interest in the land to which it was appurtenant was sufficient to entitle him to maintain an action for its obstruction, without showing any special damage. As applied to such a way, the instructions were correct. But if his easement consisted in a right of way, in common with the public, over a town road, he could not recover for the obstruction of such a way without proof of special damage thereby to himself. Inconvenience to his tenant in driving the sheep and cattle, which belonged to the plaintiff and were leased with the farm, would not constitute such damage to the plaintiff personally, unless it was shown that he suffered some injury to his reversionary interest. It does not appear from the exceptions that the plaintiff was actually prevented from using this road for his wood and timber, and thereby put to inconvenience or Ices. And even if the evidence upon that point would warrant the jury in finding special, [41] damage, non constat that the verdict was rendered upon that ground, inasmuch as the instructions permitted it to be returned upon the other. The unqualified instruction that this action could be maintained if the jury “ should find the right of way established according to the instructions given them on that subject,” was therefore erroneous. The judge had ruled that the record produced by the plaintiff was sufficient to prove a town way legally established. We infer, therefore, that the instruction above referred to was applied to such a way. We are of opinion that the ruling upon the sufficiency of the record to prove a town way was correct. All reasonable presumptions are to be taken in favor of the validity of such ancient records. The law at that time (A. D. 1800) did not require a formal report of the selectmen to be placed on file before the meeting of the town; nor did it require that any of the previous proceedings should be extended upon the records of the town. The absence of these from the record does not therefore aid the defendant in impeaching the validity of the final vote of the town. On the contrary it will be presumed that such proper proceedings were had as will sustain that vote, unless the defendant shows some defect which renders it invalid. The defendant relies upon the insufficiency of the notice or article in the warrant, which was, “ To see if they will accept any roads or discontinue any roads.” This was sufficient, according to the decision in Avery v. Stewart, 1 Cush. 496. The road appears to have been laid out by the selectmen on the third day of May 1800, and accepted by the town at an. adjourned meeting on the fifth day of the same month. The original meeting was called in the previous February. The defendant contends that this road could not have been one of the roads covered by the article in the warrant. But there is nothing to show that the petition for this road was not pending before the selectmen when the warrant was issued. And if it were not, the decision already cited does not restrict the action of the town to roads in contemplation of the selectmen when draw [42] ing the warrant. It is there held to be sufficient that the inhabitants of the town are notified “ that they would be called upon to act on the subject ” of laying out roads. In Harrington v. Harrington, 1 Met. 404, it was held that a road, laid out by the selectmen after the issuing of the warrant for a town meeting, might legally be accepted by the town at such meeting. We do not see that the fact of a special reference to that proposed road in the warrant, makes any difference, if a general article is sufficient for action upon any particular road. Nor is the fact that the vote in this case was at an adjourned meeting, and the location by the selectmen was made in the interval, of any essential importance to the validity of the proceedings. No question is before us as to the sufficiency of the report or “ survey ” of the selectmen, for the purpose of defining and identifying the way intended to be laid out. The offer of the plaintiff to remit all but nominal damages does not relieve the difficulty of the case. There is no right of recovery for the obstruction of a town or public way, without proof of actual damage to the individual claiming a right to use it. The instructions permitted recovery without such proof. Upon that point alone, therefore, the Exceptions are sustained.