Warren v. Quill

By the Court, Hawley, J".: This cause was tried before the court without a jury. The court found the following facts: “ 1. The plaintiffs * * are and were at the time alleged in the complaint the owners of in fee simple and in the possession of the land ^nd premises described in the complaint. “2. The stream of water mentioned in the complaint flows in a natural channel over, through, and upon, said land, and supplies the plaintiffs in part with water for stock and domestic purposes, and to irrigate said land and the crops grown thereon. — 262 — “3. The waters of said stream and all thereof are necessary for the irrigation of plaintiffs’ said land and the crops grown thereon, and for their stock and domestic purposes. “ 4. That in the year A. D. 1865, in the month of May, the plaintiffs’ grantors appropriated all the waters of said stream for the irrigation of said land and for stock and domestic purposes, and ever since then, (except on the 12th day of August, a. d., 1871, when the same was diverted by the defendants) the plaintiffs and their grantors have used said water under claim of right, and adversely to all persons for the irrigation of said land, and for stock and domestic purposes during the irrigating season of each year. “ 5. That on the 12th day of August, A. d. 1871, the defendants wrongfully and unlawfully diverted the water oí said stream from the channel thereof, and deprived plaintiffs of the use thereof, to their injury and damage. “As conclusions of law the court finds that plaintiffs are entitled to have and use the waters of said stream, and the whole thereof, for the irrigation of said land, and for stock and domestic purposes.” Defendants moved the court for a new trial, which was refused. Hence this appeal. The only objection urged by appellants is that the evidence adduced at the trial and embodied in the statement, “ is insufficient to justify the findings, decision and judgment of the court, and that the same are against law.” This objection is based upon an alleged fact which does not appear in the findings of the court, viz.: That the stream in controversy has its source in a natural spi’ing on appellants’ land, and flows thence to and upon the land of respondents. It is contended by respondents that, inasmuch as no application was macfe to have additional facts found, no suggestions that the findings were defective, no exceptions taken to the findings, and the evidence being sufficient to support the facts as found, the judgment should be affirmed. — 263 — The statute regulating appeals provides that “in oases tried by the court, without a jury, no judgment shall be reversed for want of a finding, or for a defective finding of the facts, unless exceptions be made in the court below to the finding or to the want of a finding; and in case of a defective finding, the particular defects shall be specifically and particularly designated; and upon failure of the court below to remedy the alleged error, the party moving shall be entitled to his exceptions, and the same shall be settled by the judge as in other cases.” Comp. Laws, 1669. In McClusky v. Gerhauser, appellant sought to reverse the judgment because the court below failed to find a certain fact. The record failed to show that the fact was called to the attention of the court below, “or that any exception was taken to that failure on the part of the court;” and it was held that “when an exception is not taken in such case, the judgment will not be revised.” 2 Nev. 52. The same statute came up for consideration in Whitmore v. Shiverick, wherein the Court said “it would have been more satisfactory if the findings had been more explicit as to the tenure” by which certain property was held; and, after citing portions of the statute, added, “in this case it seems to us, if the plaintiff thought this finding not sufficiently specific * * * he should have excepted to this finding, pointing out its particular defects. In the absence of such exceptions, we think it sufficient to support the judgment.” 3 Nev. 312. Again: In the The State v. The Manhattan S. M. Co., where the Court held “that in some respects the court below was not sufficiently specific in its findings ” — the Court said, “to make this objection* available on appeal, application should have been made in the district court to correct or amend its findings. Nothing in the record appears showing that this was done. The point of objection cannot be raised for the first time in the appellate Court.” 4 Nev. 336. — 264 — A similar statute, under various objections taken to appeals from judgments, and to statements on motion for new trial, has frequently been presented to the supreme court of California for interpretation, and it has universally been held that unless objections are made and exceptions taken to the findings, as specified in the statute, there is no necessity for a finding of all the facts in issue. Warner v. Holman, 24 Cal. 229; Cook v. Pablo de la Guerra, 24 Cal. 241; Lyons v. Leimback, 29 Cal. 140; Lacas v. The City of San Francisco, 28 Cal. 596; James v. Williams, 31 Cal. 212; Merrill v. Chapman, 34 Cal. 252; 35 Cal. 87; Smith, v. Cushing, 41 Cal. 99; Poppe v. Alhearn, 42 Cal. 617. Each party is undoubtedly entitled to a finding upon every issue raised that is essential to the determination of his case, and the findings ought always to contain a concise statement of each specific essential fact established by the evidence; but this duty is not made obligatory upon the court unless the proper steps are taken by counsel. If the facts found by the court are contrary to, or unsupported by, the evidence, the remedy is by motion for new trial. Green v. Clark, 31 Cal. 593; Rice v. Inskeep, 34 Cal. 226; Cowing v. Rogers, 34 Cal. 652; Prince v. Lynch, 38 Cal. 531. But where, as in the present case, certain facts have been found by the court which are warranted by the evidence, and there is an omission to find on an issue of fact essential to the determination of the rights of the losing party, it is the duty of such party to except to the findings as defective and point out the issue upon which he desires a finding by the court. If he fails to do so, the judgment will not be reviewed by the appellate court. In so far as the specifications of error permit an examination of the facts found, they warrant the conclusions reached. In making this statement, we must notjbe understood to intimate that a right to the use of water for agricultural purposes is to be maintained or protected under the act of — 265 — congress of July 26, 1866, unless it appears to have vested and accrued and to be recognized and acknowledged by the local customs, laws, and the decision of courts. Nor that a patent issued before the passage of the act of July 9, 1870, is subject to any such right. Upon these questions we express no opinion. Nor must the inference be drawn that in any case a riparian proprietor may take all the water of a stream for the purpose of irrigation, to the detriment of adjoining proprietors; for this is not the rule. If it is a material fact whether or not “the stream of water described in the complaint takes its source from a spring situate and being on the land ” owned by appellant Quill, as alleged in the answer, (a question of too much importance to be decided unless properly presented on its merits) appellants should have excepted to the findings and should have pointed out this particular defect, and requested a finding thereon. They had a remedy by following the provisions of the statute, and must abide the consequences which inevitably follow from such a departure from the settled rules of practice. After such a failure to comply with the provisions of the statute they should not be allowed the privilege they now ask, to build imaginary castles in the shape of implied findings and then bring in evidence to destroy this visionary superstructure. The case of Merrill v. Chapman, supra, is in many respects similar to this. That was an action of ejectment, tried before the court without a jury. No fact was stated in the findings respecting the defendant’s claim of title. Judgment was rendered for the plaintiff. The defendant moved for a new trial and under the general specification of error “ that the evidence is insufficient to justify the findings and decision,” pointed to facts that were not expressed in the findings. The facts recited in the written findings were sustained by the evidence, and it was held by the court, that — 266 — “it would be useless for the defendant, in bis motion for a new trial, to state as the grounds of bis motion, that such findings were contrary to the evidence; and under the operation of * * the Practice Act be is driven to the necessity of attacking the implied findings.” The court after stating that the defendant might bave excepted to the findings as defective, or requested the court for findings upon the facts upon wbicb the defendant relied for title, said: “ Had the request been made for findings in respect to the facts, upon wbicb the defendant relies for title, doubtless the court would bave complied. That, most certainly, is the better .practice in actions of ejectment, where the parties claim through different chains of title. When title is found in one party, the court is not required to find the facts constituting the title of the opposite party, for both cannot bold the same title; but, as such a finding would greatly facilitate the decision of the cause on appeal, it is not presumed that the court would refuse, when requested.” In Hidden v. Jordan, it was held that “if the judge * * * omits to find upon any issue essential to the determination of the case, the party desiring a finding may except * * * for a defect. * * * When be excepts for defects, the ‘particular defects shall be specifically and particularly designated;’ that is to say, be must specify particularly the point or issue upon which be requires the court to state the fact found.” 28 Cal. 304. In Hathaway v. Ryan, it was held that “if there be a material fact in respect to wbicb the findings are silent, this is a proper ground of exception to them; and if the court still refuses to find as to’ that fact, it will be error on appeal.” 35 Cal. 191. We have discussed some questions at greater length than was necessary for a decision in this particular case; because, although the principles involved are well settled by numerous decisions, there seems to be a disregard — 267 — of the provisions of the statute in relation to appeals, especially in cases tried before the court without a jury. It is to be hoped that the decisions this Court has recently been compelled to make upon preliminary objections, may have the salutary effect of remedying to some extent this erroneous practice. It is not our province to decide whether the statute is beneficial or wise. Our legitimate inquiry extends ■ only to the question, whether or not its provisions have been substantially complied with. Where no constitutional objections appear, it is much better for counsel to adhere strictly to the letter of the statute and by so doing avoid, what is always, to us, an unpleasant duty— a decision upon points preliminary to a consideration of the merits of a case. The judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.-