Richmond Cotton Oil Co v. Castellaw

• Court: Georgia Supreme Court
• Writing for the Court: LUMPKIN
• Citation: Richmond Cotton Oil Co v. Castellaw, 67 S.E. 1126, 134 Ga. 472 (Ga. 1910)
• Decision Date: 27 April 1910
• Parties: RICHMOND COTTON OIL CO. et al. v. CASTELLAW et al.

67 S.E. 1126

134 Ga. 472

RICHMOND COTTON OIL CO. et al.

v.CASTELLAW et al.

Supreme Court of Georgia.

April 27, 1910.

(Syllabus by the Court.)

1. Corporations (§ 387^*)—Exercise of Powers—Persons Entitled to Question Corporate Powers.

The owner or occupier of a lot in a town has no right, by reason of that fact, to have an injunction to prevent a railroad company, theline of which runs near his property, from allowing a house to be built and occupied by its licensee for the storage of cotton seed to be forwarded over its line of railway, on the ground that such action is ultra vires of the company.

(a) On the subject of permitting a licensee to use part of a railroad right of way for storing freight to be transported by the railroad company, thus increasing its freights, and so as not to injuriously affect its power to discharge its duties, see Grand Trunk R. Co. v. Richardson. 01 U. S. 454. 23 L. Ed. 350; Michigan Cent. R. Co. v. Bullard, 120 Mich. 416. 79 N. W. 635; Gurnev v. Minneapolis Union Elevator Co., 63 Minn.'70. 65 N. W. 130, 30 L. R. A. 534; 111. Central R. Co. v. Wathen, 17 111. App. 582.

[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Corporations, Cent. Dig. § 1548; Dec. Dig. § 387.^2-*]

2. Railroads (§ 82*)—Interests in Land-Performance of Condition Subsequent-Persons Entitled to Enforce.

If a railway company receives a conveyance to land to be used for railroad purposes, with a condition subsequent therein for forfeiture on cessation of such use, one who is not the grantor or a privy in estate under him has no right to enforce such condition; nor has he, on account of it, a right to enjoin the company from a use of the land which he claims to be in violation thereof.

[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Railroads, Cent. Dig. 213-219; Dec. Dig. § 82.*]

3. Nuisance (§ 72*) — Public Nuisance — Rights of Private Person.

A public nuisance, which works a special damage to any individual in which the general public do not participate, gives him a right of action, and may authorize an injunction in his behalf. Civ. Code 1895, § 3859.

[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Nuisance, Cent Dig. §§ 164-169: Dec. Dig. § 72.*]

4. Nuisance (§ SO*)—Right to Injunction.

Mere apprehension of irreparable injury from an alleged nuisance, consisting of a house in course of construction for a lawful business use, is not sufficient to authorize an injunction. If it be a nuisance, the consequences must be to a reasonable degree certain. Civ. Code 1895, § 3863; Harrison v. Brooks, 20 Ga. 537; Bailey v. Ross, 08 Ga. 735.

[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Nuisance, Cent. Dig. § 192; Dec. Dig. § 80.*]

5. Evidence (§§ 324, 472*)—Opinions—Nuisance.

General opinions that a house in course of erection will be a nuisance are not admissible. Facts should be proved, tending to show whether it would be a nuisance. Nor is a general opinion of a nonexpert witness that the erection and use of a certain house will be injurious to neighboring property admissible, unless accompanied with the facts on which the opinion is based. Nor is it competent to admit evidence of certain witnesses that the house, when built, will, "as they are informed, " be used for storing certain noxious articles.

[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Evidence, Dec. Dig. §§ 324, 472.*]

6. Appeal and Error (§ 954*)—Review—Injunction Proceedings—Admission of Evidence.

The rules as to the admission of evidence are not in all respects as rigidly enforced in interlocutory hearings as on final trials, and the admission of some hearsay or opinion evidence may not necessarily be followed by a reversal of the grant or refusal of an injunction, resting largely in the discretion of the judge, where it is probable that no harm has been done thereby. But in the present case the allegations as to the act of ttie railroad company being ultra vires and as to a breach of condition in the deed under which it acquired its right of way, furnished no cause for injunction to the plaintiffs; and the allegations as to whether the house being built would cause a nuisance being meager, and not being supported in all respects by the evidence, the admission of such evidence on so vital an issue as that stated in the preceding head-note will have persuasive force in the grant of a reversal.

[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Appeal and Error, Cent. Dig. §§ 3818-3821; Dec. Dig. § 954.*]

Error from Superior Court, Henry County; E. J. Reagan, Judge.

Action by C. H. Castellaw and others against the Richmond Cotton...