Griffith v. Follett , 20 Barb. 620 ( 1855 )

By the Court, Greene, J.

The, causes of action disclosed by the first and second counts, if any, are not against the defendant in his official character. It is alleged that being canal commissioner it was his duty to repair the bank in question. This allegation of his official character is made for the purpose of charging him with the duty for a neglect of which the action is brought, and if any neglect of official duty which renders him liable to an action in any form, is alleged, the action is properly brought against him in his private character. I think the several causes of action are properly united, and that the demurrer, so far as it is founded on the alleged defect of parties and misjoinder of counts, was correctly overruled.

The important question in this case is, whether a cause of action is alleged in either of the first two counts. The case of Adsit v. Brady, (4 Mill, 630,) is a decisive authority against the objection to the first count that it contains no averment that the defendant had funds sufficient to repair the bank in question. With the exception of this unnecessary averment, which the second count contains, the two counts are identical in substance, and may be examined together.

The general powers and duties of canal commissioners are prescribed by article second of title nine of chapter nine, part first of the revised statutes. (2 R. S. 219.) The 9th section provides that “ the general care and superintendence of the canals shall continue to be vested in the board of canal commissioners ; so many of whom (not less than two nor more than three,) as may be designated by the board, shall be acting commissioners.” The 23d section provides that “whenever the navigation of any of the canals shall be interrupted or endangered, it shall be the duty of the commissioners, without delay, to repair the injury causing or threatening such interruption.” The 28th section provides that “ the board shall from time to time assign to each acting commissioner, in special charge; the line or portion of the line, of one or more of the canals.” The 29 th section provides that “ it shall be the duty of each acting commissioner, 1st, to examine frequently and carefully into the state of the canals and works committed to his charge; 2d, to direct and cause to be made such ordinary repairs as he shall perceive to be necessary.” These are the provisions touching the duties of canal commissioners in' relation to repairs, and upon which the plaintiff relies to sustain his action. The question as to the liability of a commissioner, for a neglect of duty, must depend in each case upon the character of the duty which the statute has imposed upon him. If it is imperative and specific, the delinquent commissioner is responsible to any person who has sustained an injury in consequence of his neglect of duty. (Adsit v. Brady, above cited.)

But if the duty is to be discharged according to the discretion and judgment of the commissioner, he cannot be held responsible to a party who’has sustained an injury either by the manner in which he discharges it, or by a neglect to do any particular act falling within the general scope of his duties. It is contended by the plaintiff that all of the duties imposed upon the commissioners by the sections above cited are imperative and absolute; that by the provisions of the 23d section their duty to repair the canals is the same when there is danger of an interruption to navigation, as when there is an existing interruption. This proposition is true in its general application to these two classes of repairs. When the necessity for repairs in either case, is shown to the commissioner, it is his duty “ without delay” to make them. But when the navigation is in no way interrupted or impeded, how is he to know that it is endangered, or that such interruption is threatened ? I think the answer is equally apparent from the nature of the duty and the language of the statute which prescribes it. He is to examine the works committed to his charge, and from such examination he. is to ascertain and determine, or in other words decide as to the necessity for any particular repair, and act accordingly. It is not his duty to make repairs when or as he may be requested or advised by others. As to the necessity of such repairs, their nature and extent and the time when they are to be made, he is to be guided by his own judgment, not by the advice or importunity of officious and interested individuals. His judgment in such matters is conclusive upon the question, and cannot be called in question collaterally in an action brought by a party who has sustained an injury by the commissioner’s neglect to act in any particular case. ,

There is another class of cases, in relation to which the duty of the commissioner is, in its nature, absolute and certain. When the navigation of the canal is interrupted or impeded by any obstruction of the channel, or by the destruction of any bank or structure, the necessity for immediate repairs is apparent, and the duty of the commissioner to make them is imperative. He has no discretion to exercise, in such a case, as to the necessity of repairing, but is bound to make the repair without delay. 33ut as to the extent of the repair and the manner in which it shall be made, he has the same discretion in such a case as in the cases first mentioned, subject, however, to the condition that the repair shall be sufficient to restore the canal to a navigable state. For a neglect to make such repairs after notice of the facts showing their necessity, the commissioner would be liable to any party injured by the neglect. This limitation of the commissioner’s liability necessarily results from- the nature of his duty. To this extent he would be liable on common law principles, by reason of the general duty imposed upon him by the statute to make all needful repairs. This rule is consistent with the character of his duty. It protects him in the independent exercise of his judgment, by absolving him from responsibility for errors, and holds him responsible only for a neglect of clear and imperative duty.

This view of the duties of the commissioners is in my opinion, sustained and clearly indicated by the provisions of the statute. Section 29 provides that the commissioner shall examine, frequently and carefully, into the state of the canals and works committed to his charge, and direct and cause to be made such ordinary repairs as he shall perceive to be necessary. This is equivalent to saying that he shall make such repairs as he shall deem or judge to be necessary. But this general language, like that of the 23d section, must receive a construction adapted to the subject matter to which it relates. We have seen that the necessity of certain repairs is, and must always be a mere matter of opinion, and that such necessity must be determined by the judgment of the commissioner, to which the statute has confided it. On the other hand, the necessity of certain other repairs is clear and palpable. In regard to them the commissioner’s duty is equally clear and imperative, and for its neglect he has no excuse.

These propositions are sustained and illustrated by the following cases. Adsit v. Brady, was an action brought against a superintendent of repairs for neglecting to remove a canal boat which had been sunk in the canal, against which the plaintiff’s boat ran and was sunk. The declaration alleged that the sunken boat obstructed and rendered the navigation of the canal dangerous, and that the defendant knew it and neglected to remove the obstruction. In that case it was said that the defendant had a discretion as to what repairs were needed. But the court held that he had no discretion in the matter; that the boat being an obstruction, and the necessity of its removal apparent beyond all dispute, he was bound to remove it without delay. The case of The Mayor &c. of New York v. Furze, (3 Hill, 612,) was an action brought against the city of New York for neglecting to keep certain culverts and sewers in repair, by reason.of which the plaintiff’s premises were overflowed. By the charter of the defendants it was provided that it should be. lawful for the corporation to cause common sewers, drains and vaults to be made in any part of the city. The court held the defendants liable. Nelson, C. J., in delivering the opinion, laid down the proposition in general terms that, although the terms of the statute were permissive only, as it was one of public concern, it was imperative and peremptory upon the corporation; and that when the public interest called for the execution of the power thus conferred; the defendants were not at liberty arbitrarily to withhold it. But independent of this principle, the learned chief justice held that after the corporation had exercised the power, and constructed sewers, they were bound to keep them in repair, and that for a neglect to repair any known defects in them, the corporation was liable to any party injured thereby. The case of Wilson v. The Mayor &c. of New York, (1 Denio, 595,) was an action brought against the defendants for carelessly raising and grading a street opposite the plaintiff’s lot, so as to obstruct the flow of water from her premises and to turn it on to them, and for omitting to make any sewer or drain to carry the water flowing from the street, from the plaintiff’s premises. The court held that as the corporation had power to grade and construct the street, and all the proceedings for that purpose were regular, the plaintiff could maintain no action for any injury sustained by her in consequence of the manner in which the street had been constructed. It was also held that the action would not lie for the defendants’ neglect to construct a sewer, although it was alleged to be necessary in that place. Beardsley, J., in delivering the opinion of the court, concurs with Nelson, chief justice, in the opinion expressed by him in The Mayor of New York v. Furze, that the provision of the statute authorizing the corporation to construct drains and sewers, was in its nature plainly imperative. The learned justice says: “ it is equivalent to an express enactment that it shall be the duty of the mayor, aldermen, &c., to make all needful sewers and drains in said, city. The statute imposes not only a moral but a legal duty to that extent, for a violation of which the guilty individuals may be indicted and punished. But so far as a civil remedy is concerned, it is otherwise. To that extent, the decision of those whose duty it is to pass upon the question is absolutely conclusive. They may err in holding that the work ought not to be made, or the decision may be the result of culpable neglect or corruption ; still the law has authorized them to determine the question, and it will not permit their decision to be overhauled in a civil action.”

I think the distinction between the cases cited, where the defendants have been held liable, and the case under consideration, is clear. In one of those cases, the navigation of the canal was impeded and endangered by an obstruction visible and apparent to all; in the other the sewers which the defendant was bound to keep in repair were obstructed and filled up so that they would not carry off the water from the street. In this case, also, the necessity for the repair was apparent and the duty was clear. • But .in the case at bar the facts are different. No obstruction or impediment to the navigation of the canal is averred. It is alleged that the bank was weak and dangerous; that there was great danger that a break would occur, and that in consequence of the weakness of the bank and danger of a break, the navigation was dangerous; and that the defendant had notice of these facts. The substance of this averment is that the defendant knew the condition of this bank; that it was in fact so weak that there was danger that it would break; and that the defendant neglected to repair it. All this may be true, and still the defendant may be guiltless of any neglect of duty in the matter. The sufficiency of this bank and of all the other parts of the canal under the defendant’s charge, the necessity of repairs in all cases of this kind, and the extent of the repairs required by the necessities of each particular case, were all matters which the law had committed to his discretion, and the question as to his duty in such cases, is one which, from its nature, must necessarily be determined by his judgment. For aught that appears, he had examined this bank and upon such examination concluded that no repairs were necessary. The fact that a breach subsequently occurred, shows that he was mistaken as to the sufficiency of the bank, but it convicts him of no neglect of duty. ■ The allegation that the defendant negligently and carelessly and in disregard of his duty, suffered the bank to become and remain weak and dangerous, does not help the case.. It does not change the fact that the duty to repair this bank depended upon the result of the exercise of the defendant’s judgment. He may have judged unwisely, even carelessly, but for the purposes of a civil action, his judgment is hone the less conclusive.' When the law confides a discretion to its officers it will never allow their acts, done in good faith, within the limits of that discretion, to be questioned. They may be impeached and indicted for corruption, and punished criminally, but it is denied by Justice Beardsley, that they are liable to a civil action in such eases. But the facts of this case call for no opinion on that question. I think the order of the special term should be affirmed.

[Niagara General Term, September 3, 1855.

Order affirmed.

Bowen, Mullett and Greene, Justices.]