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63 Cal. 499

Freeman v. Stephenson

California Supreme Court

Decided June 14, 1883

California Supreme Court · decided 1883-06-14

The action was brought to enjoin the defendant from draining his lands in such a manner as to discharge the water on the lands of plaintiff, and for damages caused plaintiff thereby. Specific issues were submitted to a jury and findings were made by them. The court found differently upon the same issues. The answers to the questions asked Moore and Ricketts tended to show that the acts complained of by the plaintiff produced benefits rather than injuries.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently December 1891

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1883-06-14

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Per Curiam.

¶1There was no error in overruling the objections to the questions put to the witnesses Moore and Ricketts. Both questions had a bearing iqion the matter of damages.

¶2In an equity case, where the court has taken the advice of a jury as to specific issues, and then, as here, finds on the same issues differently from the jury, the finding of the couH determines the fact.

¶3The findings show that by reason of drains on his own land, connecting natural depressions, the water which naturally runs from defendant’s to plaintiff’s land ivas somewhat increased in quantity, and flowed with a, somewhat accelerated current, but that such drains did not cause any greater quantity of water to stand or remain on plaintiff’s land than would have stood or remained had such drains not existed, and that the same had not caused any damage to plaintiff.

¶4Judgment and order affirmed.

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