Miles v. Du Bey

Pemberton, C. J. — The appellant contends that this action was properly brought under section 1260, page 997, of the Compiled Statutes. This section is as follows: “Sec. 1260. In any suit hereafter commenced for the protection of rights acquired to water under the laws of this territory the plaintiff may make any or all persons who have diverted water from the same stream or source parties to such action, and the court may in one decree settle the relative priorities and rights of all the parties to such suit. When damages are claimed for the wrongful diversion of water in any such suit the same may be assessed and apportioned by the jury in their verdicts, and judgment thereon may be entered for or against one or more of several plaintiffs, or for or against one or more of several defendants, and may determine the ultimate rights of the parties between themselves.” But we think this contention cannot be maintained. This is not a suit “for the protection of rights acquired to water.” It is not a suit to “settle the relative priorities and rights of all the parties” to the water or the use thereof of the stream mentioned. It is a suit at law for damages to crops resulting from the alleged joint torts of the defendants. There is no allegation in the complaint that would authorize the court to grant equitable relief; nor does the evidence show that plaintiff! is entitled to such relief. To entitle the plaintiff’ to equitable relief the allegations of the complaint should show him to be entitled thereto, and the proof should support such allegations. (Pomeroy’s Remedies and Remedial Rights, 2d ed., §84.) In Blaisdell v. Stephens, 14 Nev. 17, the court say: “ The general principle is well settled that when two or more parties act, each for himself, in producing a result injurious to plain [342] tiff, they cannot be held jointly liable for the acts of each other.” In the case just cited the court say: “ It does not appear from the evidence that the defendants acted in concert, or that the act of either in any manner produced the act of the other.” This case is almost exactly similar in pleadings and proof to the one at bar, and the court held that a nonsuit, should have been granted. Section 1260, above quoted, we think contemplates an equitable action, in which the court may settle in one decree the priorities and rights of all the parties to the water or the use thereof; and when damages are claimed in such action, for the wrongful diversion of water, the same may be assessed and apportioned by the jury, and judgment therefor may be entered for or against one or more several plaintiffs or defendants, and the ultimate rights of the parties may be determined in such action. But in order to enable the jury to assess and apportion the damages against one or more several defendants, and authorize a separate judgment therefor, there must be evidence showing what particular damage any particular party has committed. Such verdicts and judgments could not be rendered without evidence showing what damage had resulted from the separate acts of the parties. There is no such evidence in this case, even if it were brought under said statute, as to authorize such separate verdicts and judgments against the separate defendants. We are of the opinion that this is purely an action at law against joint tort-feasors for damages alleged to have resulted from their joint acts; that there is nothing in the complaint or evidence to authorize the granting of equitable relief, or any relief under section 1260, as contended by the appellant. The judgment appealed from is affirmed. Affirmed; De Witt, J., and HUNT, J., concur.