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25 Mich. 354

Christ v. Kusterer

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided July 13, 1872

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1872-07-13

Appeal in Chancery from Kent Circuit. This bill was filed to enjoin the defendairts from excavating upon their own premises and establishing a reservoir of water there, because, as was claimed, it would result in cutting off and diverting from its natural course, a subterranean stream or water course that issued from the ground in a perennial spring upon complainants’ adjoining premises, where the latter had long used . it in their brewery, in the manufacture of malt liquors.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently March 1902

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1872-07-13

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Graves, J.

¶1Upon deliberate consideration, we are all of opinion that the evidence in this case is too vague and conflicting to warrant any decree designed to settle the rights brought in •controversy by the parties.

¶2The case is one in which a jury would be much better ■qualified than a court of last resort, to pass upon the facts. *356They could view the neighborhood, and from the light thus obtained, place a better estimate upon the verbal testimony than it is possible for us to do with nothing but the record to guide us. The necessity for referring such facts to a jury, in nuisance cases, as is frequently done, is no greater than exists here.

¶3We think the decree below should be so modified as that the dismissal of the bill, with costs to defendants, shall be without prejudice to any proceedings at law the complainants may be advised to take, or to any equitable proceeding based upon any verdict given in their favor. The defendant will recover costs in this court.

The other Justices concurred.
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