{ "id": 11277882, "name": "M. DORSEY and wife v. SAMUEL H. ALLEN", "name_abbreviation": "Dorsey v. Allen", "decision_date": "1881-10", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "358", "last_page": "363", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "85 N.C. 358" } ], "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": "5 Jones Eq., 57", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Jones Eq.", "case_ids": [ 8684263 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/58/0057-01" ] }, { "cite": "2 Ired. Eq., 199", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ired. Eq.", "case_ids": [ 8681506 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/37/0199-01" ] }, { "cite": "2 Jones, Eq. 386", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Jones Eq.", "case_ids": [ 8693311 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/55/0386-01" ] }, { "cite": "2 Dev. Eq. 38", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Dev. Eq.", "case_ids": [ 8684064 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/17/0038-01" ] }, { "cite": "8 Ired. Eq. 115", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ired. Eq.", "case_ids": [ 8681210 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/43/0115-01" ] }, { "cite": "73 N. C. 232", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8689138 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/73/0232-01" ] }, { "cite": "5 Jones Eq., 57", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Jones Eq.", "case_ids": [ 8684263 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/58/0057-01" ] }, { "cite": "2 Ired. Eq., 199", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ired. Eq.", "case_ids": [ 8681506 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/37/0199-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 617, "char_count": 9010, "ocr_confidence": 0.423, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.227130430376819e-07, "percentile": 0.9409164395298723 }, "sha256": "9ef15b5bcee5e7a0c7cebd8475e253f445b00fcbd7dd8608c3d39986085e238a", "simhash": "1:23e7fbe64b988822", "word_count": 1471 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:20:18.719028+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "M. DORSEY and wife v. SAMUEL H. ALLEN." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "SMITH, C. J.\nThe defendant having begun the erection of the necessary'buildings for a planing mill and eotton gin, to be operated by steam on his lot-adjoining that-owned and occupied by the plaintiffs as their place of residence, this .-action d-s-instituted to arrest the farther prosecution of the work -upon the ground mainly that the proposed use of (the houses when .completed will expose their -premises to increased perils -of fire,, and that the noise from working the .machinery will render their dwelling uncomfortable and unfit for a residence. The complaint invokes the exercise of the .restraining power -of the eourt in this early stage of the enterpise, -and insists that the defendant-should build upon the rear part of his lot, where there is ample space equally convenient and accessible, and thus avert the apprehended danger of fire, and lessen, if not -remove the annoyance occasioned by -the -operations carried .on in the mill \u25a0and gin house through -the agency of steam power. The plaintiffs .state that a division fence nearly eight feet high \u2022separates the .respective lots, from which the defendant\u2019s buildings are removed but about-nine feet:; that the p-laning -mill and.gin house are one hundred.and eleven feet apart,, the first being .118 feet and -the latter 89 feet from their \u25a0kitchen, and respectively 1,70 and -67 feet from their dwelling, all the structures being of wood.\nNumerous affidavits were produced .and read upon the .-application for a preliminary-restraining order, upon the ..examination of which we find no reasons for a dissent to the conclusion. reached by His Honor upon the' hearing. Much- of the testimony and largely that of the plaintiffs\u2019\u2019 express the apprehensions entertained by the witness as to-the probable effects of the works when-in full operation, in the disturbing noise produced and the increased perils of fire, and the consequent impairment in value of the plaintiffs\u2019 premises as a residence.. Other testimony is as- to the-pub-lic convenience tobe subserved by the additional means-of ginning provided, and the-public- needs of the mill in-furnishing b-uilding materials required in the thrifty an d rapidly improving- to-wn in which it is-located. Many of the witnesses say that the noise and disturbance of trains-running on the railroad track, from which the plaintiffs\u2019\u2019 dwelling is distant forty yards, by night and day greatly exceed any caused by the defendant\u2019s operations, and while-there is a concurrence in- the- opinion that these erections-may become anno-ying and a source of discomfort to-the-plaintiffs and their family,, rendering their-residence-less desirable and of less market value as such, the preponderance-is greatly in favor of the public advantages to- be derived from, both establishments.,\nSome of the witnesses, an.d among them- the- defendant\u2019s engineer who has charge of the engine and is superintendent of the business, testify to the superior character of. the machinery and the careful provisions a-gainst accidents, and say that very little- noise- is made by the running of the engine and gin, which then bad been in use several days.\nWe reproduce these- leading features-in the-testimony to-show that while the buildings erected, for the- purpose of dressing timber and ginning cotton by the motive power of\u2019 steam, are not necessarily nuisances and may become sounder some circumstances, to- be determined by the jury, it was eminently proper in the- judge to decline to interfere-in the case before him and stop the progress of the work,, before the question of nuisance hue been,,or could be decided..\nNor was it necessary, for before operations were, commenced! there was no increased danger from fire, and no disturbing noise made requiring judicial interference,, and the relief could he obtained1 after the results- were definitely ascertained if the plaintiffs should be found entitled to it.\nThe nuisance if incidental and not necessary to-the proper-conduct of the business, or inherent and inseparable from it, could then he abated, and the defendant\u2019s knowledge of the pending suit would take from him all just cause of complaint when it should be so adjudged. But it would be an unwise exercise of power, upon such uncertainty as to the practical working of an undertakened enterprise, and its consequent effects-, for the' court to-interpose and .prevent its-being carried out with its promises of substantial and lasting benefits to a community, because of the discomfort and inconvenience a single family or a small number of persons may experience from its presence in their vicinity, so inconsiderable when weighed in the scale with the public interests.\nWhile it is true that a business lav/ful in itself may become so obnoxious to neighboring dwellings as to render their enjoyment uncomfortable, whether by smoke, noxious and offensive odors, noises or otherwise, and justify the protecting arm of the law, yet there must he the ascertained and not probable effects apprehended. When- the anticipated injury is contingent and possible only, or the public-benefit preponderates over the private inconvenience, the-court will refrain from interfering.\n\u201c When an injunction is asked,\u201d says a recent author, \u201c to-restrain the construction of works' of such a nature that it-is impossible for the court to know until they are completed and in operation whether they will or will not constitute-a nuisance, the writ will be refused in the first instance.\u201d' High on Injunction \u00a7 488 and 489, note 1.\nSo too this extraordinary remedy of prevention will not be granted unless\u2018it; shall appear that the aggrieved party has no adequate redress -or reparation for Ms injury in an Action or in a succession of actions for the recovery of damages. 2 Black Rep.-546. \u201c Where the injury is irreparable,\u201d \u2022declares Mr. Justice Story, \u201c as where loss of health, loss of trade, destruction of the means of subsistence or permanent ruin to property may or will ensue from the wrongful act \u2022or erection, in every such case, courts of equity will .interfere by injunction in furtherance of justice and the violated rights of property..-\u201d \u2014 Eq. Juris. \u00a7-928.\n\u2022In like manner GastoN, J. remarks, delivering the opinion in Barnes v. Calhoun, 2 Ired. Eq. 199: But it (a court of equity) will .only act in a case of necessity when the act sought to be prevented is not merely probable bid undoubted., and it will be particularly cautious thus to interfere when the apprehended mischief is to follow from such establishments and erections, as have a tendency to promote the public convenience.\u201d\n\u201c It is settled in respect to private nuisances,-\u201d remarks Manly, J. delivering the \u00a9pinion of the court in the .ease of \" Ellison v. The Commissioners, 5 Jones Eq. 57, the purpose of the.complainant in which was to restrain the corporate authorities of the town of Washington from making use of a lot adjoining his own residence, as a place \u00a9f burial for the \u25a0dead, \u201cthat when the nuisance-apprehended is dubious or contingent, equity will not interfere, hut will leave \u2022complainant to his remedy at law ? \u201d\n\u201c If a man,\u201d says Pearson, C. J. in Hyatt v. Myers, 73 N. C. 232, \u201c instead of-contenting himself with the quiet and \u25a0comfort of a country residence, chooses to 1-ive in a town, he must take the inconveniences of noise, dust, flies, rats, smoke, soot and cinders, &c., and he cannot .complain of the owner of an adjoining lot, by reason of smoke, soot and \u2022cinders (the subject of complaint in the case) caused in the ase .and enjoyment ,of his property, provided the use o\u00ed it is for a reasonable purpose, and the manner of using it is such as not to cause any unnecessary damage or annoyance to his neighbors.\u201d\nWe subjoin some additional references furnished by the researches of defendant\u2019s counsel in confirmation of wbat has been' said: Simpson v. Justice, 8 Ired. Eq. 115; Wood on Nus. \u00a7 \u00a7 788, 789, 791, 792; Eason v. Perkins, 2 Dev. Eq. 38; Wilder v. Strickland, 2 Jones, Eq. 386.\nFor these reasons it must be declared there is no error in' the refusal of the restraining order and this will be certified.\nNo error. . Affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "SMITH, C. J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Messrs. Edwards,& Batchelor, for plaintiffs.", "Mr. W. H. Young, for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "M. DORSEY and wife v. SAMUEL H. ALLEN.\nInjunction.\nAn injunction will npt be granted to-restrain the erection of a planing \u25a0 mill and cotton gin (in process of construction) upon an allegation by plaintiff that the same, when completed, will expose his premises to-increased perils of fire, and that the noise, &e., will render his dwelling unfit for a residence.\n('Barnes v. Calhoun, 2 Ired. Eq., 199 ; Ellison v. Corn'es, 5 Jones Eq., 57 y Hyatt v. Myers, 73 NT. C., 232; Simpson v. Justice, S Ired. Eq., 118 y Eason v. P\u2019erkins, 2 Dev. Eq.,. 3S-; Wilder v. StvicMand, 2 Jones Eq'.., 3SG. cited and approved.!\nMotion for an injunction beard at Chambers in Henderson, Vanee county, on tbe 27th -of. October, 1881, before Gudger, J.\nThe .motion was refused and the .plaintiffs Appealed.\nMessrs. Edwards,& Batchelor, for plaintiffs.\nMr. W. H. Young, for defendant." }, "file_name": "0358-01", "first_page_order": 370, "last_page_order": 375 }