Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

155 Mich. 608

Glenn v. Line

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided March 3, 1909

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1909-03-03

Bill by Rupert M. Glenn against William Line and Clyde Line to enjoin the obstruction of a drain. From a decree for complainant, defendants appeal. Complainant and defendants own adjoining farms in the township of Marion, Livingston county, Mich. Complainant’s land lies south of the land owned by defendants, and upon it is a huckleberry swamp which comes up to or very near the partition line between the farms.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently May 1949

1 state decisions

Relies on Gregory v. Bush · Boyd v. Conklin

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Affirmed · Decided 1909-03-03

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Brooke, J.

¶1(after stating the facts). It is the claim of the defendants that the complainant has not acquired a right by prescription to flow the water from the swamp across defendants’ lands; and, secondly, that, even i.f the complainant has acquired such prescriptive right, it has been forfeited by improper use thereof on the part of the complainant. The record clearly discloses the fact that, not only have the defendants’ grantors acquiesced in the *610complainant’s rights in the ditch for nearly 50 years, but that the defendants themselves during the time of their occupancy of the servient estate have definitely recognized this right. They have themselves, on at least one occasion, cleaned out a portion of said ditch, and have permitted the complainant on other occasions to do likewise. Indeed, the very work they were engaged in at the time the injunction was issued (that of putting in a four-inch tile drain through the southerly knoll and down to complainant’s land) was an unmistakable recognition of the complainant’s rights and their own duty in the premises ; the only contention between the parties at that time being as to the size of the tile. That an easement may be acquired by prescription to flowage of surface water collecting upon the land of one person over the lands of an adjacent proprietor is the settled law of this State. Gregory v. Bush, 64 Mich. 37; Boyd v. Conklin, 54 Mich. 583.

¶2It is not apparent from the record that the complainant has abused his right. It is true that for the purpose of removing his crop from an adjoining field he has from time to time thrown rails, straw, and other loose material into the ditch at a point just south of the line between the two farms. These obstructions, after harvest, were removed, and when in place, apparently only impeded, but did not wholly obstruct, the flow. The complainant claimed, and the circuit judge held, upon evidence which we think satisfactory, that a four-inch tile would be of inadequate capacity.

¶3Under the facts disclosed by the record, the complainant is entitled to the relief prayed.

¶4Decree affirmed.

Grant, Montgomery, Hooker, and Moore, JJ., concurred.
/155/mich/608 · .json · Public domain