{
  "id": 8611392,
  "name": "D. L. GORE v. CITY OF WILMINGTON",
  "name_abbreviation": "Gore v. City of Wilmington",
  "decision_date": "1927-11-02",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "450",
  "last_page": "459",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "194 N.C. 450"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "190 N. C., 715",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
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        8613288
      ],
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    {
      "cite": "88 Va., 402",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Va.",
      "case_ids": [
        1874823
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/va/88/0402-01"
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:26:29.544042+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "D. L. GORE v. CITY OF WILMINGTON."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "ClaeKSON, J.\nThe main assignment of error made by defendant was that the court below overruled defendant\u2019s motion for judgment as in case of nonsuit at the close of plaintiff\u2019s evidence and at the close of all the evidence. O. S., 567. In this we think there was no error.\n\u201cIt is the settled rule of practice and the accepted position in this jurisdiction that, on a motion to not\u00edsuit, the evidence which makes for the plaintiff\u2019s claim and which tends to support her cause of action, whether offered by the plaintiff or elicited from the defendant\u2019s witnesses, will be taken and considered in its most favorable light for the plaintiff, and she is 'entitled to the benefit of every reasonable intendment upon the evidence, and every reasonable inference to be drawn therefrom.\u2019 Christman v. Hilliard, 167 N. C., p. 6; Oil Co. v. Hunt, 187 N. C., p. 159; Davis v. Long, 189 N. C., p. 131.\u201d Nash v. Royster, 189 N. C., at p. 410.\nThe action was one for actionable negligence. The evidence of plaintiff was to the effect, shown by direct and circumstantial evidence, that Jacobs Run was a natural watercourse, Jacobs Run watershed draining an area of about thirty-five acres. In comparatively recent years the streets affected by this drainage territory or watershed have been graded and hardsurfaced; that prior to the building of the hardsurfaced streets in the drainage area, the streets were sand and porous and absorbed the rainfall, 44% of the drainage is street area. If the streets were all sand, like they once were, 80% would be absorbed and 40% run off, but now 90% of the water flows over the hardsurfaee.\nThe defendant had changed the streets from sandy, porous soil to hardsurfaee, creating an artificial flow of water of much greater volume into Jacobs Eun.\nThe garage was built over Jacobs Eun. The natural flow on the streets was down to the garage, which was lower. To drain the run through courthouse yard, above the garage, an 18-inch terra cotta pipe underground was installed, which drained into a manhole or catch-basin on the east side of Third Street. Then there is a 36-inch masonry culvert under Third Street. Then in front of the garage on the west side of Third Street is a manhole or catch-basin, connected to two 24-inch terra cotta pipes underground leading under the garage, extending on towards Second Street and emptied into the Cape Fear Eiver. The old culvert and terra cotta piping was put in Jacobs Eun when the streets in the drainage territory or area were sand, prior to the hardsurfacing of said streets \u2014 Market, Third and Princess.\nThe water coming down the streets, since the hardsurfacing, during heavy but not unusual rains, would be of such volume and traveling at such speed that large and excessive quantities would not go into the manholes or catch-basins, but would flow down the hardsurfaced streets into the garage of plaintiff\u2019s lessee.\nThe gutter on the west side of Third Street, in front of the garage, was about 20 inches below the level of the entrance of the garage. From the accumulation and velocity of the water in the streets, the water would flow down Third Street to the lowest level in ordinary, but not unusual, rains into and flood the garage. The Johnson Motor Company provided a special cut board of pine 1 x 12 inches to fit the door of the garage to hold the water back, and the water even then came over the 12-inch board. This condition could be seen from the City Hall and continued for years. The water would accumulate a foot deep over the manhole or drain in front of the garage, and it would not carry the water off. On 25 July, 1922, at the time the wall collapsed, the water burst through the big swinging front doors of the garage and washed right through like a river. It banked up on the back of the building. The weight of the water shoved the building out. The wall fell completely from top to the bottom. It didn\u2019t drop down, but turned out both ways, west and south.\nDefendant showed that in the last ten years there had been in that section an increase in rainfall; that the manholes or catch-basins, including those in front of Johnson Motor Company Garage, are of the ordinary, usual and customary design. Princess Street was paved before 1908. Third Street was paved about 1912. The manholes or catch-basins were constructed when the streets were paved. It was usual and customary for engineers to provide for a rainfall not to exceed two inches per hour; that is the basis in Eastern North Carolina, so that in designing the catch-basins, manholes or storm sewers, the city provided drainage based on a certain rainfall of not exceeding two inches per hour. This was reasonably adequate prior to the last four or five years, for that purpose; that the injury to plaintiff\u2019s building was caused by obstructions to the manholes or drains by plaintiff\u2019s lessee.\nThe defendant also offered evidence tending to show that the foundation of plaintiff\u2019s building was not properly constructed for the wall of the kind, under the conditions. On cross-examination J. L. Becton, a witness for defendant and civil engineer representing defendant in street construction work, testified, without objection, in part: \u201cI have recently made complete survey of the area of Jacobs Run and designed a sewer for the city and installed it to take care of three inches per hour. After making that investigation of Jacobs Run it is a fact that I decided, as an engineer, that it was necessary for the city to provide other means of drainage, and as a result of that I began at the river at the Market Street dock and installed a culvert, constructed of cement from that point up to the courthouse, for the purpose of relieving the water in this drainage area. This culvert is 54 inches at the river and 48 inches from Second to Third Street, and 42 inches from there to near Fourth and Princess. Old Jacobs Run was 36 inches, and my pipe is 48 inches where I come into it. The Jacobs Run pipe was 36 inches. That 36-inch pipe extended just across Third Street to the manhole in front of the Johnson Garage. From the manhole in front of Johnson\u2019s Garage, Jacobs Run consisted of a couple of 24-inch pipes approximately the same carrying capacity as the 26-inch. The area of the cross-section of a 48-inch pipe is twice as large as the area of the two 24-inch pipes. The comparison between the 36-inch pipe as compared to the 48-inch pipe is about seven to twelve. In other words, the 48-inch pipe would carry in the proportion of seven to twelve. The new system recently installed has been substituted for Jacobs Run. It has about twice the carrying capacity of Jacobs Run. Jacobs Run, where we tore it up at Second Street, was in good condition. As far as we could observe to Johnson\u2019s Garage it was in reasonably good condition. One of the pipes was cracked, but didn\u2019t look to be in serious condition. The new drain only takes care of three inches of rainfall per hour. At present the capacity of the new drain is twice as much as the old one. Jacobs Run, ten or fifteen years ago would, I would say, have been adequate with the experience and practice at the time, for a two-inch run-off on an area like this. Tbe fellows wbo put in that system considered its capacity in excess of requirements. There is very little difference in tbe area of paved streets in tbis drainage area now as compared to July, 1922. It is practically tbe same now as it was tben, in designing tbe new drainage system. Tbe fact of tbe increased rainfall in tbe last few years caused me to change tbe basis of my calculation. I have increased tbe capacity about double. I do not say that tbe rainfall has increased that much, but I am designing for tbe future and not for today. I don\u2019t know what tbe condition of Jacobs Eun was in 1922, and I am unable to say whether at tbe time it was adequate to take care of tbe water.\u201d\nTbe court below correctly charged tbe law of negligence and proximate cause.\nAn assignment of error to tbe following excerpt from tbe charge cannot be sustained: \u201cTbe court charges you that where a municipal corporation constructs and controls tbe sewers or drains solely, and they, by reason of their insufficient size or condition of use, clearly demonstrated by experience, result under ordinary conditions, in overflowing tbe private property of an adjoining or connecting owner, that tbe principle of exemption from liability for defect or want of efficiency of plan does not extend to such a case, and if you should find from tbe evidence and by its greater weight that experience bad demonstrated that these sewers or drains were insufficient to carry off tbe water, and by reason of such insufficiency water was backed or thrown onto tbe premises of tbe plaintiff and resulted in injury, you will answer tbe first issue, Yes.\u201d\nIn Dillon on Municipal Corporations, 5th ed., Yol. 4, sec. 1739, tbe principle is laid down as follows: \u201cWe now add that tbe later cases tend strongly to establish, and may, we think, be said to establish, and in our judgment rightly to establish, that a city may be liable on tbe ground of negligence in respect of public sewers, solely constructed and controlled by it, where by reason of their insufficient size, clearly demonstrated by experience, they result under ordinary conditions in overflowing tbe private property of adjoining or connecting owners with sewage, and that tbe principle of exemption from liability for defect or want of efficiency of plan does not, as more fully stated below (sees. 1745, 1746), extend to such a case.\u201d See Dillon, supra, sec. 1731 to 1746, inclusive; Chalkley v. City of Richmond, 88 Va., 402, 29 Am. State Reports, p. 730, and notes.\nAn assignment of error to tbe following excerpt from tbe charge cannot be sustained: \u201cTbe court further charges you that while municipal authorities may pave and grade their streets and are not ordinarily liable for an increase of surface water naturally falling on tbe lands of a private owner, where the work is properly done, they are not allowed, from this or other cause, to concentrate and gather such waters into artificial drains and throw them on the lands of an individual owner in such manner and volume as to cause substantial injury to the same and without making adequate provision for its proper outflow, unless compensation is. made, and for breach of duty in this respect an action will lie, and if you find from the evidence, and by its greater-weight, that, in the construction of the drain and the paving of the city\u2019s streets, it did not provide an adequate system of drainage for the proper outflow of such water as may have been collected and directed through plaintiff\u2019s property, or if you find that, even though the system was properly constructed, it was not properly maintained; or the city negligently permitted trash and other things to obstruct the flow of water into the manhole, and that forced a large quantity of water upon the property of the plaintiff, causing his damages, you will answer the first issue, Yes.\u201d\nThe first part of this instruction is taken verbatim, from Yowmans v. Hendersonville, 175 N. C., p. 574, at p. 578; Eller v. City of Greensboro, 190 N. C., 715. We think both of the above cases sustain the charge, and in both cases text-books and numerous authorities are cited that sustain the charge.\nThe defendant requested the court to give the following instructions, which was done: \u201cIt is not sufficient to show that in grading and paving its streets, the city diverted upon the plaintiff\u2019s property more water than would naturally flow there; because in regard to the flow and disposal of surface water incident to the grading and paving of streets, a city acting under legislative authority is not ordinarily responsible for the increase in the flow of water upon abutting owners, unless there has been negligence on their part, and such negligence is the proximate cause of the damage complained of. So, that in this case, the burden is upon the plaintiff to establish by the greater weight of the evidence, (a) that his property has been damaged in the manner alleged in the complaint; (b) that the city was careless and negligent in the manner in which it paved the streets, or in which is constructed and maintained the traps and drains, or in some other particular; (c) that such negligence on the part of the city was the proximate cause of the plaintiff\u2019s damage. If the plaintiff has so satisfied you by the greater weight of the evidence, you would answer the first issue, Yes; otherwise you would answer it No.\nIf at the time these streets were graded and paved and drains constructed the city, in the exercise of due and reasonable care under the conditions then existing, made adequate provisions for the flow and disposal of surface water under all ordinary rains and storms likely to occur, and the damage to the plaintiff\u2019s property was caused by unusual or excessive rain or rains, which in the exercise of due care and caution, the city could not have foreseen or provided for, then the plaintiff would not be entitled to recover, and you should answer the first issue No. If, at the time these streets were graded and paved and drains constructed, the city, in the exercise of due and reasonable care under the conditions then existing, made adequate provision for the flow and disposal of surface water, under all ordinary rains and storms likely to occur, and the damage to the plaintiff\u2019s property was caused by the plaintiff\u2019s own negligence, in the manner in which the concrete floor of the garage was constructed and maintained, if you should find that the same was negligently constructed and maintained, or, on account of the negligent manner in which the plaintiff constructed the south wall of the building, if you should find that the same was constructed in a negligent manner, or, on account of the negligent manner in which the plaintiff or his lessee permitted the same traps to be obstructed, if you should find the same were so negligently obstructed, the plaintiff in either of those events would not be entitled to recover, and if you so find, you should answer the first issue No.\u201d\nThe charge was more favorable than the defendant was entitled to, as follows: \u201cThe city could not have foreseen or provided for.\u201d In Hudson v. R. R., 176 N. C., p. 492, \u201cThat it is not required that the particular injury should be foreseen and is sufficient if it could be reasonably anticipated that injury or harm might follow the wrongful act.\u201d Ellis v. Power Co., 193 N. C., p. 357.\nThe assignments of error as to the issues submitted and the refusal to give those tendered by defendant, cannot be sustained. The case was tried out on the theory of actionable negligence and the charge on negligence and proximate cause was clearly given. Nor can the assignment of error as to the admission of certain evidence \u2014 it put the city, at le\u00e1st, on notice \u2014 in any event it was not prejudicial. We see no prejudicial error in the charge and it comes up to the requirements of C. S., 564. The charge must be considered as a whole, and taking the prayers given at the request of defendant, we think the court below, under all the facts set forth the contentions properly and the law applicable to the facts. Although the plaintiff may not in detail have set forth in his complaint how defendant negligently constructed, maintained and operated the drains, etc., no bill of particulars nor motion to\u201d make complaint more definite and certain were requested. Power Co. v. Elizabeth City, 188 N. C., p. 279. It was in evidence that for years the place owned by plaintiff had been flooded and many times each year. This was known to defendant; its courthouse with its officials was in sight. It knew, or in the exercise of due care ought to have known, this fact. Yet it allowed this flooding to go until on 25 July, 1922, the water, in the language of the witness, \u201cWashed right through like a river,\u201d the wall collapsed and \u201cfell completely from top to the bottom.\u201d The evidence, if not direct, was circumstantial that the drains, catch-basins, etc., were too small or improperly constructed, or not sufficient in number and the drainage system was wholly inadequate.\nWithout objection, the city engineer testified, on cross-examination, that after making an investigation of Jacobs Run it was necessary for the city to provide other means of drainage. A cement culvert was constructed from the river to relieve the water in this drainage area. This \u201cnew storm sewer,\u201d as it was called on the map in evidence, is 54 inches at the river and runs up Market Street, cuts across Third Street, and makes connection with the Jacobs Run 36-inch pipe. The new pipe at this location is a 48-inch pipe. The new storm sewer has about twice the carrying capacity of Jacobs Run system. The jury were entitled to consider all this evidence in arriving at a verdict.\nSpeaking to the subject Dillon, supra, p. 3037, says: \u201cUnder the general power to grade and improve streets or construct public improvements beneficial to it, cannot deprive others of their legal rights in respect of the watercourse or injure the property of others by badly constructed and insufficient culverts or passageways obstructing the free flow of the water without being liable therefor.\u201d\nThe line of demarcation sometimes is not easily drawn between municipal agencies acting in their governmental, legislative or judicial capacity or otherwise \u2014 ministerial or administrative. The direct and circumstantial evidence tended to show that in heavy but not unusual rains, that defendant in the construction of its drainage system in the particular area did so in such a negligent and unlawful manner that water was collected in large and excessive quantities. That the natural flow of the water on account of the lack of sufficient drains, etc., ponded in front of plaintiff\u2019s place of business. That when the streets were hardsurfaced by defendant the natural watercourse was substantially affected, the soil absorption eliminated and the flow accelerated over the hardsurfaced streets to artificial drains insufficient and inadequate to carry the water off. The topography of the area of land was such that the system constructed by the defendant was wholly inadequate and insufficient. In consequence, the free flow of water was obstructed and impeded, and large and excessive volume of waters were collected and ponded and thrown on plaintiff\u2019s land repeatedly so as to cause a positive and direct invasion of plaintiff\u2019s property and causing substantial injury. Plaintiff bad no control over tbis drainage and was dependent on tbe defendant to protect bis property from negligent construction, maintenance and operation of its drainage system in tbe area. Plaintiff bad no legal right or authority to attempt to or remedy tbis condition that so interfered with tbe use of bis property, and in consequence it became almost a continuing trespass or nuisance. Plaintiff and bis lessee for years bad tried to keep tbe accumulated water out of tbe place of business, but at last tbe water from tbe negligent congestion, impeded by insufficient drains, inadequate construction, etc., emptied on plaintiff\u2019s property and ultimately caused a collapse of tbe building and injury to tbe personal property therein. Only then did defendant remedy tbe inadequate and insufficient drainage system by making tbe capacity double what it was before. Tbe evidence was plenary to be submitted to a jury. We can find in law\nNo error.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "ClaeKSON, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Rountree & Garr for plaintiff.",
      "K. 0. Burgwin for defendant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "D. L. GORE v. CITY OF WILMINGTON.\n(Filed 2 November, 1927.)\n1. Evidence \u2014 Nonsuit.\nOn the defendant\u2019s motion as of nonsuit the evidence, and every reasonable inference therefrom, is to be accepted as true and construed in the light most' favorable to the plaintiff, and he is entitled to the benefit of every reasonable intendment to be drawn therefrom.\n2. Water and Water Courses \u2014 Cities and Towns \u2014 Streets \u2014 Surface Waters \u2014 Negligence\u2014Damages.\nWhere there is evidence tending to show that a city has formerly constructed and maintained a proper drainage for its streets then sufficient to carry off the surface water, and prevent its accumulation to the damage to property situate upon the same, and by a change to hardsurfacing its streets the flow of the water has been so largely increased as admittedly to render its drainage system grossly inadequate: Held, it is sufficient to make out a case of actionable negligence against the city fox-damages caused to an owner of lands by reason of an overflow of water destroying a garage he had erected.\n3. Same \u2014 Drainage.\nIn hardsurfacing its streets and largely increasing the flow of surface water thereon, a city is required in the exercise of due care, to provide drainage reasonably sufficient to carry off the increase of the flow of water so as not to cause damages to the landowners.\n4. Instructions \u2014 Requests for Instructions \u2014 Statutes.\nWhere the judge has sufficiently charged the jury as to the law arising under the evidence in the case in compliance with O. _S., 564, such further matters of instruction as the appellant may desire should be offered by special request for instruction.\n5. Pleadings \u2014 Bill of Particulars \u2014 Motions.\nWhere the pleading objected to is sufficient in law, the party should aptly move for a bill of particulars to obtain more detailed information as to the matters alleged.\nAppeal by defendant from Bond, J., and a jury at May Term, 1927, of New HaNOveb.\nNo error.\nTbis is an action for actionable negligence brought by plaintiff against defendant for damages. Plaintiff is the owner of a certain piece of land in the city of Wilmington on the west side of Third Street, between Princess and Market streets, on which is located a garage known as Johnson Motor Company Garage. Formerly an open branch, or natural water course, known as Jacobs Pun, which empties into the Cape Fear Piver, flowed under said garage.\nThe plaintiff alleges: \u201cThat the city of Wilmington in constructing, maintaining and operating the said Jacobs Run and the surface drains along the streets of the city of Wilmington on Third Street and elsewhere in the neighborhood of the property of this plaintiff, has negligently constructed, maintained and operated said drains in that it has turned into Jacobs Pun and into surface drains adjacent to the property owned by the plaintiff great amounts of water in excess of the amounts which can be accommodated by said drains, thereby causing the water to overflow the said drains and streets frequently and repeatedly in case of large rains, though not unusual rains, thereby damaging the property of the plaintiff and others.\n\u201cThat on account of the said negligent construction, maintenance and operation of the said drains, .as above alleged, the said city of Wilmington negligently and carelessly caused to be turned into Jacobs Pun on or about 25 July, 1922, large quantities of water, causing great pressure against the underpining and walls of the property of the plaintiff, undermining same and causing the said walls to tumble and fall down, to the great damage of the plaintiff in the amount of about $3,500.\n\u201cThat the plaintiff promptly served notice on the city of Wilmington of the said claim and damage and demanded payment thereof by the defendant and the defendant has refused to pay same.\u201d\nThe defendant denied the material allegations of the complaint, and in further answer says: \u201cThat it has and exercises such control within its boundaries, of the construction, maintenance and supervision of the streets and sidewalks of said city and of the grades thereof and of tbe drains and watercourses within the city limits, as are conferred upon it by law, and as are particularly conferred upon it by chapter 244 of the Private Laws of 1907, and the acts amendatory thereof, together with such powers as are conferred upon it by the present city charter.\u201d\nThe issues submitted to the jury and their answers thereto were as follows:\n\u201c1. Was the injury and damage to plaintiff\u2019s property caused by the unlawful acts, or omissions of the defendant, as alleged in the complaint? Answer: Yes.\n\u201c2. What damage, if any, has the plaintiff sustained by reason of such unlawful acts, or omissions? Answer: $2,000, with interest from 1 October, 1922.\u201d\nNumerous exceptions and assignments of error were made by defendant. The material ones and necessary facts will be considered in the opinion.\nRountree & Garr for plaintiff.\nK. 0. Burgwin for defendant."
  },
  "file_name": "0450-01",
  "first_page_order": 518,
  "last_page_order": 527
}