{
  "id": 2699017,
  "name": "Thomas J. Sneed and Barbara A. Sneed, Claimants, v. The State of Illinois, Respondent",
  "name_abbreviation": "Sneed v. State",
  "decision_date": "1983-04-20",
  "docket_number": "No. 81-CC-2195",
  "first_page": "211",
  "last_page": "213",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "36 Ill. Ct. Cl. 211"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill. Ct. Cl.",
    "id": 8793,
    "name": "Illinois Court of Claims"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 260,
    "char_count": 4104,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.889,
    "sha256": "9eb4a9e3951177b77a00694c074692f737bf31fe4eda5880e23f74a1b0310954",
    "simhash": "1:39b1c852498384bc",
    "word_count": 699
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:14:57.173915+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Thomas J. Sneed and Barbara A. Sneed, Claimants, v. The State of Illinois, Respondent."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Holderman, J.\nThis is a cause of action brought pursuant to section 8, paragraph (d) of the Court of Claims Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 37, par. 439.8 (d)), for property damage sustained by Claimants as a result of actions by a contractor for the State of Illinois in removing dirt from a roadway adjacent to Claimants\u2019 property permitting water from a flood to enter upon Claimants\u2019 property and destroy Claimants\u2019 trees and fruit crops.\nThe facts in this case, as disclosed by the record, are as follows. Claimants owned property directly south of a road called Sears Roebuck Road. Until the removal of the dirt by Respondent, it is evident from the record that the natural flow of water was not across Claimants\u2019 property. The record is completely devoid of any information as to when this road was constructed, who constructed it, or how long it had been constructed. The evidence does show that it had been in existence for a considerable period of time and, as a result of its construction, it changed the natural flow of water and afforded protection to Claimants\u2019 property so that they were not flooded at times when they might otherwise have suffered damage. The evidence is clear that construction work, under the control of Respondent, removed part of this road and, as a result, flood water entered upon Claimants\u2019 property and caused the damage complained of.\nIt is Respondent\u2019s contention that the State has no obligation to protect unnatural barriers such as the Sears Roebuck Road from the actions of its contractors, thereby changing the flow of water. Respondent cites law to the effect that the owner of a dominant estate is entitled to the uninterrupted flow of surface waters from its property to lower or servient lands. There is no question but that this is the law of the State of Illinois. In this case, however, we find that the natural flow of water had been altered by the construction of the road in question by parties unknown as far as this record is concerned and the period of its existence is also unknown.\nRespondent did not cite any law to the effect that the removal of a barrier such as the one in the present case which caused Claimants\u2019 damage is allowable. With the absence of such citations, it appears the action of the State was the proximate cause of the damage in question.\nThe record is clear that Claimants\u2019 personal property, trees and crops were damaged and Claimants were required to do extensive work with their own equipment to repair the damage and restore dirt to the road area.\nThe Court cannot accept Respondent\u2019s contention that it may destroy or alter \u201cunnatural impediments to water flow\u201d without regard to the consequences to persons and property owners who relied on the presence of such impediments to natural water flow to protect their property therefrom. Respondent did not offer any evidence or explanation showing it had the right to remove that portion of the Sears Roebuck Road and did admit that the removal was by Respondent\u2019s contractor. The only evidence submitted was to the value of the property and the damage sustained by Claimant which was in the amount of $2,170.00.\nAn award is hereby entered in favor of Claimants in the amount of $2,170.00.\nORDER ON DENIAL OF REHEARING\nThis matter comes before the Court upon motion of Respondent for rehearing.\nUnder date of April 20, 1983, an award was entered by this Court in favor of Claimants. Oral argument was held in this cause on November 8, 1983.\nThe Court, having heard oral argument and read the briefs submitted in said cause, is of the opinion that its original order granting an award in favor of Claimants was correct.\nRespondent\u2019s petition for rehearing is hereby denied and the original award in the amount of $2,170.00 is confirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Holderman, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Thomas J. Sneed, pro se, for Claimants.",
      "Neil F. Hartigan, Attorney General (Sue Mueller, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for Respondent."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "(No. 81-CC-2195\nThomas J. Sneed and Barbara A. Sneed, Claimants, v. The State of Illinois, Respondent.\nOpinion filed April 20, 1983.\nOrder on denial of rehearing filed January 23,1984.\nThomas J. Sneed, pro se, for Claimants.\nNeil F. Hartigan, Attorney General (Sue Mueller, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel), for Respondent."
  },
  "file_name": "0211-01",
  "first_page_order": 299,
  "last_page_order": 301
}