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Eaton v. Cormier
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MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT Reporter of Decisions
Decision: 2000 ME 65
Docket: Han-99-314
Argued: April 4, 2000
Decided: April 13, 2000
Panel:WATHEN, C.J., and CLIFFORD, DANA, SAUFLEY, ALEXANDER, and CALKINS, JJ.
MANFORD F. EATON et al.
v.
FRANCIS A. CORMIER et al.
DANA, J.
[¶1] Francis A. Cormier and the Galilean Gospel Temple appeal from
the judgment entered in the Superior Court (Hancock County, Marsano, J.)
finding them jointly and severally liable for a private nuisance created by
quarrying activities, awarding $20,000 in damages to Manford and Helen
Eaton and granting the Eatons a permanent injunction that restricts
quarrying activities to the hours between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Monday
through Friday. The Eatons cross-appeal and argue that the court erred by
not completely enjoining all quarrying activity and by limiting its damage
award. We affirm the judgment.
[¶2] This is the second time this case is before us. See generally
Town of Stonington v. Galilean Gospel Temple, 1999 ME 2, 722 A.2d 1269.
We previously determined that the Eatons had properly pled a cause of
action for nuisance against Cormier and the Temple and remanded for a trial
on the issue, as well as for a determination of whether Cormier and the
Temple should be held jointly and severally liable should a nuisance be
found. See id. at ¶¶ 13-16, 722 A.2d at 1272-74. We will not restate the
facts recited in our opinion in Galilean Gospel Temple that led to the
parties' first appeal.
[¶3] Following our remand, the court conducted a hearing in which it
took notice of evidence introduced in the prior proceeding and heard
additional evidence regarding conditions on the Eatons' property since the
prior proceeding. It also heard testimony from officials of the Town of
Stonington regarding their monitoring of the noise levels generated by the
quarry and testimony from Cormier's son who acts as foreman at the quarry.
The court then issued its decision in which it found that the quarrying
activities constituted a private nuisance and from which the parties appeal.
[¶4] We review the issuance of an injunction for an abuse of
discretion. See State v. Shattuck, 2000 ME 38, ¶ 23, 747 A.2d 174, __.
Furthermore, a court has broad discretion to fashion a remedy that will do
complete justice when granting a remedial injunction. See id.; see also 17
M.R.S.A. § 2702 (1983) (noting that a court may order a nuisance abated or
removed at the defendant's expense once one is found to exist). We cannot
say that after balancing the equities in this case, the court abused its
discretion by issuing an injunction that considerably restricted the quarry's
activities, but nevertheless allowed for limited operations to continue. Cf.
Daugherty v. Ashton Feed and Grain Co., Inc., 303 N.W.2d 64, 70 (Neb.
1981) (affirming trial court's injunction restricting operation of equipment
at a grain and feed storage facility to certain hours of the day and weekdays
only); DeNucci v. Pezza, 329 A.2d 807, 810 (R.I. 1974) (affirming trial
court's injunction limiting activities associated with freight terminal to
daytime only and noting that scope and quantum of relief rests in the sound
discretion of the trial court).
[¶5] With respect to the determination of damages, we have made
clear that a damage award is the sole province of the factfinder and that we
will disturb a damage award only if there is no basis in the evidence for it.
See Tang of the Sea, Inc. v. Bayley's Quality Seafoods, Inc., 1998 ME 264,
¶ 8, 721 A.2d 648, 650. Specifically, with respect to a nuisance that is not
permanent in nature, i.e., one that is susceptible to abatement, we have
noted that a landowner is "entitled to be compensated for the depreciation
in the . . . usable value of the property caused by the nuisance . . . during the
continuance of the injury, together with such special damage . . . as may be
proved." Pettengill v. Turo, 159 Me. 350, 356, 193 A.2d 367, 372 (1963).
This compensation may include elements for inconvenience and annoyance.
See Gillison v. Farrin, 632 A.2d 143, 144 (Me. 1993).
[¶6] Conversely, although we have recognized the well-established
principle that "coming to the nuisance" does not act as a bar to a suit for
nuisance, see Jacques v. Pioneer Plastics, Inc., 676 A.2d 504, 508 (Me.
1996) (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 840D (1979)), it is not wholly
irrelevant to a determination of the appropriate remedy in a nuisance action,
see, e.g., Escobar v. Continental Baking Co., 596 N.E.2d 394, 397-98 (Mass.
App. Ct. 1992) (noting that it is "a significant factor in determining what is
fair and reasonable"). We cannot say that the court's damage award has no
basis in the evidence before it, and therefore, we will not disturb the award.
[¶7] Finally, as we noted in our last opinion in this case, a landowner
is liable for a nuisance created by the activity of a third party on the land if
(1) the possessor knows or has reason to know that the activity is being
carried on and that it is causing or will involve an unreasonable risk of
causing the nuisance, and (2) the possessor consents to the activity or fails
to exercise reasonable care to prevent the nuisance. Galilean Gospel
Temple, 1999 ME 2, ¶ 21, 722 A.2d at 1273 (citing Restatement (Second) of
Torts § 838 (1979)); see also State v. Charpentier, 489 A.2d 594, 599 (N.H.
1985) ("liability for common law nuisance may be established if the
landowner knew or had reason to know that a public nuisance existed")
(citing Restatement (Second) of Torts §§ 838 & 839 (1979)); Benton v.
Montague, 117 S.E.2d 771, 776 (N.C. 1961) ("the owner of land is not liable
for injury caused by the acts of a licensee unless such acts constitute a
nuisance which the owner knowingly suffers to remain") (emphasis added).
[¶8] It is clear that the Temple consented to Cormier carrying on the
activity that caused the nuisance in this case, therefore the real issue for
purposes of determining joint and several liability is whether the Temple
knew or had reason to know that the activity "involve[d] an unreasonable
risk of causing the nuisance." Restatement (Second) of Torts § 838(a)
(1979). As the comment to this portion of the Restatement notes, however,
"if the possessor has reason to believe . . . that the activity itself creates an
undue risk of a nuisance . . . he is liable for the harm caused by the activity."
See id. at § 838 cmt. e. Given Cormier's relation to the Temple and the
degree of his involvement in the quarrying operation, we cannot say that the
court committed clear error when it found that Cormier's knowledge was
imputable to the Temple and that the Temple was therefore aware of the
risk of nuisance the activity posed. Therefore, the court did not err when it
determined that Cormier and the Temple are jointly and severally liable for
the nuisance.
The entry is:
Judgment affirmed.
Attorney for plaintiffs:
Christopher J. Whalley, Esq., (orally)
P O Box 516
Ellsworth, ME 04605-0516
Attorney for defendants:
Edmond J. Bearor, Esq., (orally)
Rudman & Winchell, LLC
P O Box 1401
Bangor, ME 04401
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