Mabel Mining Co. v. Pearson Coal & Iron Co. , 121 Ala. 567 ( 1898 )

DOWDELL, J.

— This appeal is taken from the decree of the chancellor overruling a motion by appellant to dissolve the temporary injunction granted in the cause. The allegations of the bill are to the effect, that the complainant and defendant, both private corporations, are adjacent owners of certain described mineral lands; that the defendant company, without the consent and authority and against the protest of the complainant company, is trespassing upon the lands of complainant and with a large force of men is mining and taking coal therefrom; that the same is being done in such a manner as to throw the water from defendant’s mines in and upon the mineral lands of complainant, thereby rendering the same valueless; that complainant has already suffered great damage, and will suffer irreparable injury -unless the defendant is restrained. The prayer is for injunction, and for accounting for damages already done.

These averments are sufficient to give the bill equity. High on Injunctions, § 730. But this Ave need not further discuss as the equity of the bill, based upon the truth of its allegations, is not questioned. The only question Ave have to deal Avith, is whether the chancellor erred in refusing to dissolve the injunction upon the denials contained in the answer. '

The defendant’s 'answer admits the averments contained in the first, second, third and fourth paragraphs of the bill. Proceeding to answer the fifth and sixth paragraphs of the bill, the defendant says : “In ansAver to the fifth and sixth paragraphs of said bill, said defendant denies the facts there in set forth, and Avhile there are some few allegations therein which may contain some truths, the entire contents thereof, in the manner and form thereof, as therein stated, are wholly untrue and are hereby denied, and in lieu thereof and in contradiction thereof, the defendant avers the facts and the truth to be as follows, to-AATit:” and then folloAvs a statement of the defendant’s side of the case, with a denial of some of the facts charged in the bill, while as to other facts charged matters in confession and avoidance are set up. Parts of the ansAver also, are statements of affirmative matter not responsive to the bill. In its denials the answer is inconsistent or evasive and far from being direct and positive. It says, “some feAv allegations in the-fifth and sixth paragraphs contain some truths.” Which allegations are true, and which untrue? Unless informed by the answer, this question must remain unanswered, and the court be left to indulge in speculation. The defendant does, hoAvever, folloAV this"with the statement, “the entire contents thereof (i. e. paragraphs 5 and 6), in the manner and form thereof, as therein stated, are wholly untrue, etc.,” but this presents an inconsistency in aver-ments, and (when we look to the statements of facts as charged in the bill) renders the answer in its nature evasive. Following this general denial in the answer, the defendant proceeds to answer certain specified charges of the hill with a qualified denial. In that portion of the answer wherein the defendant undertakes to state the true history of the facts, it is denied that the defendant has mined from the complainant’s land the amount of coal charged in the bill, but the mining of a smaller quantity is admitted. Again, the denial is not full as to the flow of water upon complainant’s land as charged in the bill. In respect to this, the answer is as follows: “That while it is true and admitted that the water in process of mining in both mines in section 12 and 13 flows southward, it is Avholly untrue as stated, that by reason of anything done by defendant, in the making of said entries that water overflows the mines or works or lands of orator; and it is equally untrue that the water could penetrate or flood or injure the mines of orator, unless orator should willfully, negligently and foolishly drive its entries into the opening and mines of the defendant. No damage can there possibly arise to orator except by its own wrong and folly.” It is clearly admitted from this statement that the water from the defendant’s mines would flood and injure the mines of complainant, but that such could only occur by reason of what, in the opinion of the defendant, would be the folly of complainant. For aught that appears from this denial, nothing that complainant might do to operate and utilize its mines, would escape the defendant’s criticism of “complainant’s folly.” Such denials as these, are not characterized with that degree of directness and positiveness, necessary to overcome the allegations of fact in a sworn bill containing equity, and to work a dissolution of the temporary injunction.

Affirmative matter or matter in confession and avoidance set up in the answer cannot be considered upon a motion to dissolve the injunction. The contract which is made a part of the defendant’s answer, as an exhibit, and upon which the defendant excuses the wrongs charged against it in complainant’s bill, is affirmative matter, not responsive to the bill, and cannot be looked to in determining the motion to dissolve. “It is a well settled rule that upon a motion to dissolve an injunction, the answer can be regarded only so far as it is responsive to tbe allegations of tlie bill.”—Rembert & Hale v. Brown, 17 Ala. 670; Farris & McCurdy v. Houston, 78 Ala. 250. In the case of the C. & W. R. R. Co. v. Withrow, 82 Ala. 194, this court uses the following language : “The answer can be considered, on a motion to dissolve the injunction, only so far as it is responsive to the allegations of the bill; and new or affirmative matter, not so responsive, but defensive in its nature, will not be considered for any purpose. Nor will the mere denial of legal conclusions properly deducible from the facts stated in the bill, avail anything. The denial must be of material facts alleged in the bill, and must be full, clear and complete — without ambiguity or equivocation.” An answer, though in form a denial, which states facts in the nature of a confession and avoidance, will not avail to dissolve an injunction.—Jackson v. Jackson, 91 Ala. 292.

In cases of this character, the question of the solvency or insolvency of the defendant, is immaterial. “In trespasses to mining property greater latitude is allowed courts of equity than in restraining ordinary trespasses to realty, since the injury goes to the immediate destruction of the minerals which constitute the chief value of this species of property. Where, therefore, the trespass consists in the removal of ore from the complainant’s mines, the legal title being clearly established in complainants, they are entitled to an injunction, even though an action at law would lie.” — High on Injunctions, § 730; Chambers et al. v. Ala. Iron Co., 67 Ala. 353.

The proposition of law, however, is well settled, that upon a motion to dissolve the temporary injunction, great latitude of discretion is left with the chancellor. It is proper for him to consider and weigh the relative degree of injury or benefit, to the complainant and respondent, which may follow from the continuance of the injunction on the one hand, or its dissolution on the other, and if less damage and injustice would probably result from a continuance of the injunction, than from its dissolution, a wise exercise of the discretion would be to continue the injunction to await the final hearing. Turner v. Stevens, 106 Ala. 546; Jackson v. Jackson, 91 Ala. 292; Harrison v. Yerby, 87 Ala. 185; P. & M. Bank v. Laucheimer, 102 Ala. 454.

Testing the answer in tliis case by tbe foregoing principles, we think the chancellor was right in denying the motion to dissolve the temporary injunction.

The appellant complains that the chancellor committed error in refusing appellant’s, (respondent in court beloAv) motion to require complainant to give a larger bond. The appeal in this case is taken under the statute, from an interlocutory decree, on the motion to dissolve the injunction, and this is the only question properly before us for consideration and decision. It will, however, not be improper for us to say, that Ave think the bond in this case Avas fixed in too small a penalty. The object and purpose of the bond being to protect the defendant from any Avrongful interference with his rights, and to reimburse him for all damages and costs incurred by reason of an injunction impropei’ly issued, the probable damage to defendant by reason of the injunction, in the event of its dissolution, should always be an important element of consideration in determining the penalty of the injunction bond. No fixed rule can be laid doAvn, but as the writ of injunction is always to be sparingly • used, because it is an extraordinary remedy, the bond required in each case should be not only such as to prevent an abuse of the remedy, but also reasonably commensurate Avith the probable costs and damage to the defendant in the event of its dissolution.

We find no error in the record and the decree of the chancellor is affirmed.