THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE.� IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 239(d)(2), SCACR.
THE STATE OF
Randall Pallanck; Sarah J. Pallanck; James R. Liles; Paul W. Donaldson and David P. Howe, Appellants,
v.
Robert Lemieux and Cathy Ann Lemieux, Respondents.
Appeal From
�Curtis L. Coltrane, Special Circuit Court Judge
Unpublished Opinion No. 2005-UP-577
Submitted October 1, 2005 � Filed November 7, 2005
AFFIRMED
James H. Moss, of Beaufort; for Appellants.
David L. Tedder, of Beaufort; for Respondents.
PER CURIAM:� In this action, Randall Pallanck, Sarah J. Pallanck, James R. Liles, Paul W. Donaldson, and David P. Howe (Appellants) allege the circuit court erred (1) in failing to find Robert Lemieux and Cathy Ann Lemieux (Lemieux) created a nuisance by damming the water on their property; (2) in finding Pallanck encroached into the easement along Alexander Way; and (3) in ordering Pallanck to remove the curb along Alexander Way.� We affirm.[1]
FACTS
The parties own or once owned four adjacent lots located on
Several drainage easements also exist in the subdivision.� A thirty-foot drainage easement runs east-west between the boundary of the Pallanck and Liles lots and the Lemieux and Howe lots (the Pallanck-Howe easement).� Another thirty-foot drainage easement runs north-south along the eastern boundary of the Lemieux lot (the Lemieux easement).� In this drainage easement, there is an existing ditch that runs within the entire length of the Lemieux easement, and crosses the Liles-Howe easement.� The Lemieux lot also contains another ditch that runs along the western and southern boundaries of the property, and connects with the ditch in the Lemieux easement (the Lemieux ditch).� The Lemieux ditch is situated entirely within the Lemieux lot.�
Sometime in 1994, Lemieux built a pond on his lot, and also took steps to block the Lemieux ditch.� Thereafter, Pallanck placed curbing and poles along the portion of his lot that abuts
Recently,
The Appellants claim the flooding resulted from the actions taken by Lemieux.� Specifically, the Appellants allege the pond built by Lemieux and the blocking of the Lemieux ditch caused surface waters to flood
On August 11, 2001, the court issued an order for temporary injunction, prohibiting Lemieux from taking any action to interfere with, dam, barricade, or otherwise obstruct the �thirty foot drainage easement.�� On August 14, 2001, the circuit court concluded that under the �common enemy rule� the actions of Lemieux did not amount to an actionable nuisance, and dismissed the claims of the Appellants.� The circuit court order also (1) permanently enjoined Appellants from further trespass onto the Lemieux lot; (2) ordered Pallanck to remove any curbing or poles that were within fifty feet of the Alexander Way easement; and (3) allowed Lemieux to take any action necessary to abate the flow of water onto their property from the pipe or culvert placed across Alexander Way by the Appellants.� This appeal followed.[3]
STANDARD OF REVIEW
��������� An action by a property owner seeking to enjoin the owner of adjoining property from violating zoning ordinances and alleging special damages is not an action to abate a private nuisance but is an ordinary suit in equity.� Momeier v. John McAlister, 193 S.C. 422, 8 S.E.2d 737 (1940).
LAW/ANALYSIS
I. The �Common Enemy� Rule
Appellants first argue the circuit court erred in failing to find the actions of Lemieux constituted a nuisance.� Specifically, Appellants contend the blocking of the Lemieux ditch and the creation of the pond diverted surface waters onto
In its order, the circuit court applied the �common enemy� rule, which states:
The right of the owner of land to improve it, by changing its surface or erecting buildings and other structures on it, is not restricted merely because the improvement will cause surface water which naturally flows or accumulates on his land either to stand in unusual quantities on his neighbor�s adjacent lands or to pass onto and over them in greater quantities and in other directions than it was accustomed to flow.��
Johnson v. Phillips, 315 S.C. 407, 412, 433 S.E.2d 895, 898 (Ct. App. 1993) (citing Baltzeger v. Carolina Midway Railway, 54 S.C. 242, 32 S.E. 358 (1899)).� �The obstruction of surface water, or an alteration in its flow, affords no cause of action to a person who suffers loss or detriment therefrom against one who does not act inconsistent with the lawful exercise of dominion over his own soil.�� Phillips, 315 S.C. at 412, 433 S.E.2d at 898-99.
The �common enemy� rule has two exceptions.� First, the rule is subject to the general law of nuisance.� Thus, if the obstruction or alteration of the flow of surface water creates a nuisance, it does not come within the rule.� See� Baltzeger v.
The traditional concept of a nuisance requires a landowner to demonstrate that the defendant unreasonably interfered with his ownership or possession of the land.� Silvester v. Spring Valley Country Club, 344 S.C. 280, 286, 543 S.E.2d 563, 566 (Ct. App. 2001); Ravan v.
Here, the circuit court found there �was no evidence in the record that supported [Appellant�s] claim that the construction of the pond, in and of itself, caused the flooding� of
Q:� After [Lemieux] put the pond in, what happened to the flow of water off of your property?
A:� The flow of water was still flowing.� That was no problem.� The problem came when he decided block this ditch.� That�s when the water would not flow anymore.
Q:� So he blocked the ditch right there and it quit flowing across the property?
A:� That�s correct.
Therefore, Appellants� own testimony demonstrates the creation of the pond, in and of itself, did not create the flooding on
The Appellants also claimed Lemieux, by blocking the ditch on his property, created the nuisance floodwaters.� The circuit court found the only evidence in the record supported a finding that Lemieux created this ditch in 1985 or 1986, and no evidence supported Appellants� argument that the ditch was a natural feature of the property.� The court also concluded there was no evidence that Lemieux�s title was burdened by an easement permitting others to utilize the ditch for drainage.� The evidence supports such a finding.� Throughout the trial, Appellants were repeatedly asked if they were aware of who built the Lemieux ditch, and each responded they did not.� On the other hand, Lemieux testified he built the ditch �sometime in 1985� while he was renting the property.�
The circuit court then balanced the competing interests of Lemieux and Appellants.� The court concluded the Appellants have no easement rights in the Lemieux ditch, and balanced that finding with the fact that Appellants have a platted drainage easement to solve this drainage problem.� Thus, rather than burdening the Lemieux lot with the drainage of the surface water, the court determined Appellants should avail themselves of the existing easement to solve the water problems.� After a review of the record, we agree with the balancing of interests as set forth by the circuit court and the conclusion that the actions of Lemieux are consistent with his rights as a landowner under the �common enemy� rule.
II. Pallanck encroachment into
Appellants contend the circuit court erred in finding Pallanck had encroached into the
The law is settled in
In this matter, Pallanck admitted at trial he installed the curbing and poles on the property, and there was testimony from the surveyors that the curbing was within the
III. Mandatory Injunction
Appellants argue the circuit court erred in granting a mandatory injunction requiring Pallanck to remove any of the improvements that encroach on the
The issuance of an injunction is within the sound discretion of the judge who heard the case.�
The circuit court found Pallanck had encroached onto the
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, the decision of the circuit court is hereby
AFFIRMED.
HEARN, C.J. and STILWELL and KITTREDGE, JJ., concur.
[1] We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.
[2] Howe was not originally a party to this action.� He was added as a party by motion, to which Lemieux consented.� Howe now occupies the property formerly owned by Donaldson.
[3] The Appellants do not appeal findings 1 or 3.
[4] The circuit court found that no evidence existed in favor of an easement that would obligate Lemieux to drain surface water through the ditch on his lot.� Moreover, the circuit court found the easement sought by the Appellants could not be established by prescription either.� The Appellants do not appeal these findings; therefore, they are now the law of the case.� See Unisun Ins. v. Hawkins, 342 S.C. 537, 544, 537 S.E.2d 559, 563 (Ct. App. 2000) (stating an unappealed ruling is the law of the case which the appellate court must assume was correct).��