Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

ECKINGTON AND SOLDIERS' HOME RAILWAY CO. v. McDEVITT

ECKINGTON & SOLDIERS' HOME Ry. CO. v. McDEVITT, 191 U.S. 103 (1903)

Type: Opinion
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: Federal
Date: 1903-01-21
Topic: bankruptcy

Mr. Chief Justice Fuller, after making the foregoing statement, delivered the opinion of the court. . • Assuming that the railway company might have lawfully ■ bound itself to construct and operate this piece of road, the question is presented to what compensation in damages plaintiff below would be entitled if the company found that the traffic did not justify its further, maintenance and ceased to run its cars, or if the public interests required such changes of ■' the lines of the road as rendered the abandonment necessary.- Plaintiff had been reinstated in the possession of her'land, freed from the encumbrance of the right of way, and had been 1 discharged.from the liability to pay the five hundred dollars; - And as the record stands, it is doubtful if any direct specific *112 damage can properly be held to have been made out. At all events, and conceding that she was entitled to substantial damages for any injurious change of condition, any liability incurred, and any gains prevented, to secure which action had been taken, in reliance on the contract, the instruction as to the measure of damages embraced none of these matters, and was confined to profits only. The transaction was not a sale of the land where the difference between the price agreed and the market value would represent the measure of loss • or gain. Restitution having been made of what plaintiff had parted with, how far could she demand to be compensated for prevented gains or anticipated profits?

Citator

UpLaw has not yet analyzed ECKINGTON AND SOLDIERS' HOME RAILWAY CO. v. McDEVITT. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

Cited by: 30 opinions

ECKINGTON c. RY. CO.v. McDEVITT,191 U.S. 103(1903)

ECKINGTON AND SOLDIERS' HOME RAILWAY CO.v. McDEVITT.

ERROR TO THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

No. 9.

Argued January 21, 1903, resubmitted March 9, 1903.

Decided November 16, 1903.

Plaintiff (below) contracted with defendant street railway company to convey to it a right of way through her land and to pay five hundred dollars in five years, it to construct extension over such right of way and operate same, running cars at certain designated hours. The right of way was conveyed, the note given, the extension constructed and operated for several years, after which the railroad company ceased and refused to run its cars at the times designated, whereupon, her note being then overdue and unpaid, plaintiff demanded the removal of the tracks which was done. In an action to recover damages for breach of contract the trial court instructed the jury that the measure of damages was the excess, if any, in the market value of the land at the time the defendant entirely ceased to run its cars upon that part of the line which extended to and through the plaintiff's land with the cars running in accordance with the terms of the contract of the parties in evidence, and the expectation of their continuing so to run in the future, over the market value of the said land at the same time without any cars running on said part of said line and without any expectation that they would ever run thereon.Held, That the instruction was not sufficiently guarded and was erroneous. That what might have been made by selling the land at a value enhanced by the operation of the extension in perpetuity was too dependent on uncertain contingencies to justify peremptorily instructing the jury that such anticipated gains were probable and contemplated consequences of the breach.

THIS was an action brought in the Supreme Court of the

District of Columbia, August 8, 1894, to recover damages for

alleged breach of contract. Plaintiff on April 4, 1889, being the

owner of a tract of land in the District of Columbia, containing

about twenty-two acres, (with her husband, since deceased,)

entered into an agreement with the Eckington and Soldiers' Home

Railway Company, which recited: "Whereas the said parties of the

first part, being desirous of securing an extension of the

Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railway from the corner of Third and

T streets northeast extended, to the east line of Lincoln avenue

in the District of Columbia, through and along

Page 104

the following streets, to wit: West on T street to Second street

east extended, thence north on the line of said Second street

extended to V street extended east in a right line, and thence

west on the line of said V street so extended to the east line of

Lincoln avenue; and whereas, the said party of the second part

has agreed to extend said railway to said Lincoln avenue by the

route aforesaid, upon certain conditions hereinafter mentioned;"

therefore the McDevitts agreed in consideration of the premises

"and of the covenants hereafter mentioned, to be kept and

performed" by the railway company, to sell, grant and convey to

it, its successors and assigns, "a right of way, sixty feet in

width, for the use of the said party of the second part, its

successors and assigns forever, through and along the following

land belonging to the said Florence McDevitt," described as

"beginning at the southeast corner of the lands of said Florence

McDevitt, adjoining the property of George Truesdell known as

Eckington, and in the line of Second street east extended

northwardly in a right line, and extending thence with uniform

width thirty feet on each side of the center of said Second

street extended, to a line fifteen feet south of the north line

of said V street extended, and thence westerly with the same

width on each side of the center of said V street extended, to

the east line of Lincoln avenue;" also to pay to the railway

company five hundred dollars five years from the date of the

agreement, with interest, to be evidenced by a promissory note.

But that the grant was subject to certain "conditions" to wit,

that work on the extension should be commenced on or before May

1, 1889, and completed on or before October 1, 1889; that the

grades should be as described; that the material removed in

grading should be delivered on the lands of the McDevitts as

directed by them; that the excavation should not exceed twenty

feet in width at bottom and sixty feet at top; and that "after

said extension is completed and opened for traffic, a car shall

be run thereon to Lincoln avenue at least once in thirty minutes

between 7.30 A.M. and 6 P.M. and at least once a hour to 9 P.M.,

and one car at 11 P.M."

Page 105

The extension was completed in the manner and within the time

prescribed and opened to traffic, and the five hundred dollar

note was given. On December 27, 1889, a deed was executed and

delivered to the company by Mr. and Mrs. McDevitt, in form an

indenture, but signed and sealed by the McDevitts alone. This

conveyed the right of way to the company, "its successors and

assigns forever," with covenants of warranty and further

assurance, and it also recited a covenant on the company's part

that the cars should be run as described in the contract.

The extension was operated from 1889 to May or June, 1893,

when the night cars were taken off. Thereupon, and on June 26,

1893, Mrs. McDevitt filed her bill for specific performance, to

which the company set up in its answer, among other things, that

the extension had always been a source of great loss, especially

in operating at night, and that "the present management of the

road, having been advised that their right to operate said

extension over the line of proposed streets without authority

from Congress was very doubtful, deemed it wise to suspend such

operation until the question could be definitely settled."

July 9, 1894, the bill was dismissed but "without prejudice to

the right of complainant to resort to such remedy at law as she

may be advised." About that time and prior to July 25, 1894, the

railway company ceased to operate the extension altogether, and

it was testified that the attorney of the company, on its behalf,

"refused to do anything in the way of carrying out the contract."

On the last named day Mrs. McDevitt notified the company, in

writing, to forthwith remove its tracks from the premises, and

that she should bring an action for breach of contract. The

tracks were accordingly removed. In the meantime the five hundred

dollar note had matured and was not paid.

The evidence tended to show that Mrs. McDevitt had caused a

map of a proposed subdivision of the land to be made, but that

this had not been recorded, and that nothing had been

Page 106

done in the way of preparing the tract for subdivision and sale

by grading; that no streets had been opened through it except as

effected by the action of the railway company; that the

excavations for the railway tracks were what would be Second and

V streets, to which extent plaintiff would be relieved from

grading. Evidence was introduced of sales by Mrs. McDevitt of

four parcels of the land prior to the removal of the tracks, and

tending to show the value of the land with and without the

railroad in operation through it. Also that the business

depression of 1893 caused declines in value and rendered real

estate in the vicinity of this property unsalable until after

1894.

Among other instructions the court gave the following:

"The jury are instructed that the measure of damages in this

case is the excess (if the jury find from the evidence that there

was such excess) in the market value of the land at the time that

the defendant ceased entirely to run its cars upon that part of

its line which extended to and through the plaintiff's land, with

the cars running in accordance with the terms of the contract of

the parties in evidence, and the expectation of their continuing

to so run in the future, over the market value of the same land

at the same time without any cars running on said part of said

line and without any expectation that they would ever run

thereon."

To the giving of which defendant objected and duly preserved

an exception.

The jury found a verdict in favor of plaintiff for $15,000,

and, motions in arrest and for new trial having been made and

overruled, judgment was entered thereon, which was affirmed by

the Court of Appeals of the District,18 App.D.C. 497, and this

writ of error thereupon sued out.

The railway company was a corporation created by an act of

Congress approved June 19, 1888,25 Stat. 190, c. 419, "with

authority to construct and lay down a single or double-track

railway, with the necessary switches, turnouts, and other

mechanical devices and sewer connections necessary to operate the

same by horse, cable or electric power, in the District of

Page 107

Columbia through and along the following avenues, streets and

highways," (describing them,) and also a branch as described. The

railway was to be laid in the center of the avenues and streets

as near as might be, and in the event of a change of grade of any

of the streets, avenues or roads occupied it was made the duty of

the company, at its own expense, to change its railroad so as to

conform to such new grade. The company was to run cars as often

as the public convenience might require, in accordance with a

time table or schedule which was to be approved by the

Commissioners of the District; and was to construct such ticket

offices, passenger rooms, etc., at such points on its line as the

Commissioners might approve. The government and direction of the

affairs of the company were vested in a board of nine directors,

who were to choose officers as designated. Congress reserved the

right to alter, amend or repeal the act at any time.

By an act approved April 30, 1890,26 Stat. 77, c. 172,

amending the charter, the company was authorized to extend its

tracks through and along certain streets named, which provided

"and also beginning at the present terminus of its Cemetery

Branch on the east side of Lincoln avenue, and thence northerly

along Lincoln avenue to a point opposite the entrance to Glenwood

Cemetery."

By an act approved July 5, 1892,27 Stat. 65, c. 143, the

charter was further amended by authorizing the extension of

tracks, and providing "that the tracks of said company on Lincoln

avenue shall be taken up within thirty days from the passage of

this act, and the roadway shall be restored to public uses in

such manner as the Commissioners of the District of Columbia

shall direct."

Mr. Walter L. McDermottandMr. John Ridoutfor plaintiff in error:

"Damages recoverable on a breach of contract are measured by the actual loss sustained, provided such loss is what wouldPage 108naturally result as the ordinary consequence of the breach or as a consequence which may, under the circumstances, be presumed to have been in the contemplation of both parties as the probable result of a breach."Hadleyv.Baxendale, 9 Exch. 341, andHornev.Midland Ry. Co., L.R. 8 C.P. 131; same cases also in 5 Eng. Ruling Cas. 502; 6 id. 617;Howardv.StillwellBierce Co.,139 U.S. 199,207;Gurleyv.McLennan, 28 Wn. Law Rep. 830;M.K. T. Ry. v.Scott,15 Kan. 370;Harveyv.Conn. R.R. Co.,124 Mass. 421;Wardv.Central R.R. Co.,47 N.Y. 29;Ward's, etc., Co. v.Elkins,34 Mich. 439;Matherv.American Express Co.,138 Mass. 55. There was no actual loss sustained by the defendant in error; she still owns the property.W.U. Tel. Co. v.Hall,124 U.S. 444;Hetzelv.R.R. Co., 6 Mackey, 1. Speculative profits cannot be considered in awarding damages.Rockford c. Ry. v.Beckemeier,72 Ill. 267;Robertsv.N.Y. Elevated R.R. Co.,128 N.Y. 499. The effect of the business depression should have been considered in regard to the abandonment of the road.Mastertonv.Mayor, 7 Hill, 61. It was error to admit the testimony respecting the prices of other and similar property to that in question for the purpose of proving its value.East Pa. R.R. Co. v.Hiester,40 Pa. 53;P. N.Y.R.R. Co. v.Bunnell,81 Pa. 414;Pa. S.V.R.R. Co. v.Ziemer,124 Pa. 560;Montclair R.R. Co. v.Benson,36 N.J.L. 557;C.P.R.R. Co. v.Pearson,35 Cal. 247,262;Selma R. D.R.R. Co. v.Keith,53 Ga. 178;In re Thompson,127 N.Y. 463. The agreement and the record in the equity suit should not have been admitted in evidence. The president of a railroad company has no authority to bind the company by any agreement except in the ordinary discharge of the company's business.Titusv.Cairo R.R.,37 N.J.L. 98;Templinv.Chicago Ry.,73 Iowa 548. The reentry made by the defendant in error was an election and excluded her from a claim for damages.Bradleyv.Brigham,144 Mass. 141;Thomasv.Walt,104 Mich. 201.Page 109Mr. A.S. Worthington, Mr. John C. HealdandMr. Charles L.Fraileyfor defendant in error.

The instruction as to the measure of damages was correct.Hadleyv.BaxendaleandHornev.Midland Ry. Co., Hertzelv.B. O.R.R. Co., Howardv.Stillwell Bierce Mfg. Co.Benjaminv.Hilliard, 23 How. 149, 167;Primrosev.West.Un. Tel. Co.,154 U.S. 1, distinguished as not applicable in this case; but for rule see 2 Sedgwick, sec. 615;Kiddv.McCormick,83 N.Y. 391,397. When a railroad company has contracted with a landowner, in consideration of his allowing the company to construct its line through his land, to build and maintain a station on or near his property and has failed to carry out its contract, the measure of damages in an action on the contract is the difference between the value of the plaintiff's land with the station and without it.Mobile c. R.Co. v.Gilmer,85 Ala. 422,436;Louisville c. R. Co. v.Sumner,106 Ind. 55,61;Houston c. R. Co. v.Molloy,64 Tex. 607[64 Tex. 607], 613;Wilsonv.Northampton c. R.Co., L.R. 9 Ch. Ap. 279-285. So, when ornamental or fruit-bearing trees or trees used as a shade for cattle are destroyed, the measure of damages is not the value of the trees, but the difference between the value of the premises with and without the trees. 3 Sedgwick, § 933;Chipmanv.Hibberd,6 Cal. 162;Wallacev.Goodall,18 N.H. 439;Argotsingerv.Vines,82 N.Y. 308;Van Deusenv.Young, 29 Barb. 9, and see cases cited in 6 English Ruling Cases, 617, note onHadleyv.Baxendale; Cadlev.Muscatine c. R.R.Co.,44 Iowa 11;U.S. Tel. Co. v.Gildersleeve, 29 Maryland,154 U.S. 31. Although the actual damage sustained is to some extent uncertain and cannot be calculated mathematically to a cent or a dollar it does not follow that offending party cannot be called to account at all. Where it is uncertain whether any damages would result from a breach of contract the plaintiff gets only nominal damages; but where the damage is clear and the amount of it only uncertain, the rule invoked does not apply.Simpsonv.L. N.W.R. Co., L.R. 1 Q.B.D. 274;Wakemanv.Wheeler and WilsonPage 110Manufacturing Co.,101 N.Y. 205;Lanahanv.Heaver,79 Md. 413;Blagenv.Thompson,23 Or. 239,254; 18 L.R.A. 315. The evidence as to value and effect of a railway thereon was properly admitted; witness was competent.MontanaRy. Co. v.Warren,137 U.S. 348,353;Hunterv.BurlingtonR. Co.,84 Iowa 605;Diedrichv.Northwestern R.R. Co.,47 Wis. 622,667;Curtinv.R.R. Co.,135 Pa. 20; effect of change of grade on value.Dawsonv.Pittsburgh,159 Pa. 317; of putting pipe line across.Mewesv.CrescentPipe Line,170 Pa. 364; depreciation by water taking.Leev.Springfield Water Co.,176 Pa. 223; laying out of highway and street opening.Dwightv.County Commissioners, 11 Cush. 201;Shawv.Charlestown, 2 Gray, 107; evidence competent as to effect of structure to be put on part taken on the value of part not taken;Tuckerv.Mass. Cen. R.R. Co.,118 Mass. 546;Chandlerv.Jamaica Pond Aqueduct,125 Mass. 544;Baltimorev.Brick Co.,80 Md. 458,472;Fergusonv.Stafford,33 Ind. 162;FrankfordR.R. Co. v.Windsor,51 Ind. 238;Ohio Valley R. Co. v.Kersh,130 Ind. 314; evidence as to difference of value before and after railroad or improvement built held admissible.Everhartv.R.R. Co.,70 Ill. 347;R.R. Co. v.Henry,79 Ill. 294;R.R. Co. v.Mix,137 Ill. 141;Hayesv.R.R. Co.,54 Ill. 373; and parties acquainted with property may give opinions.R.R. Co. v.StockYards,120 Mo. 541;Smalleyv.Iowa R.R. Co.,36 Iowa 574; and the plaintiff is not confined to mere expert testimony.Pingeryv.R.R. Co.,78 Iowa 438;Blairv.Charleston,43 W. Va. 73;R.R. Co. v.Knapp,51 Tex. 592[51 Tex. 592], 600;R.R.Co. v.Woods, 31 S.W. 237;Topekav.Martineau,42 Kan. 388.

The testimony of witnesses as to value of other land in neighborhood was competent. Cases on brief of plaintiff in error distinguished, — inapplicable in this case.In re Thompson,127 N.Y. 463, overruled inLangdonv.Mayor,133 N.Y. 628, and seeIsraelv.Manhattan R.R. Co.,158 N.Y. 624;Robertsv.N.Y. El. R.R. Co.,128 N.Y. 455,473;Doylev.ManhattanPage 111R.R. Co.,128 N.Y. 488. In District of Columbia courts have recognized custom of giving such evidence as to value of neighboring parcels.Shoemakerv.United States,147 U.S. 282;Kerrv.South Park Commissioners,117 U.S. 379,386. And see alsoPattersonv.Boom Co., 3 Dillon, 465;Boom Co. v.Patterson,98 U.S. 403; 10 Eng. Am. Ency.2d ed. 1155; Pierce on Railroads, 224; Lewis on Eminent Domain, § 443; Randolph on Eminent Domain, § 236; 1 Greenleaf on Evidence, § 14, note 43, p. 91, 16th ed. Evidence as to mere offers for neighboring lands held inadmissible, but admitted as to sales actually made.Davisv.Charles River R.R. Co., 11 Cush. 509;Painev.Boston, 4 Allen, 168;Sawyerv.Boston,144 Mass. 470;Robertsv.Boston,149 Mass. 354;Seattle R.R.Co. v.Gilchrist,4 Wn. 509;Mayorv.Brick Co.,80 Md. 458,472;Laflinv.Chicago c. R.R. Co., 33 F. 415, 423;Concord c. R.R. Co. v.Greely,23 N.H. 242;Washburnv.Milwaukee c. R.R. Co.,59 Wis. 364,377;Culbertson c. Packing Co. v.Chicago,111 Ill. 651;Town of Cherokeev.Land Co.,52 Iowa 279;Wyman'sCase, 13 Metc. (Mass.) 316, 326;Gardnerv.Brookline,127 Mass. 52;St. L. c. R. Co. v.Clark,121 Mo. 169.

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE FULLER, after making the foregoing statement, delivered the opinion of the court.

Assuming that the railway company might have lawfully bound itself to construct and operate this piece of road, the question is presented to what compensation in damages plaintiff below would be entitled if the company found that the traffic did not justify its further maintenance and ceased to run its cars, or if the public interests required such changes of the lines of the road as rendered the abandonment necessary.

Plaintiff had been reinstated in the possession of her land, freed from the encumbrance of the right of way, and had been discharged from the liability to pay the five hundred dollars. And as the record stands, it is doubtful if any direct specificPage 112damage can properly be held to have been made out. At all events, and conceding that she was entitled to substantial damages for any injurious change of condition, any liability incurred, and any gains prevented, to secure which action had been taken, in reliance on the contract, the instruction as to the measure of damages embraced none of these matters, and was confined to profits only.

The transaction was not a sale of the land where the difference between the price agreed and the market value would represent the measure of loss or gain. Restitution having been made of what plaintiff had parted with, how far could she demand to be compensated for prevented gains or anticipated profits?

The contract did not purport to bind the company to operate its cars over the extension for any designated period, but, considering its terms in relation to the right of way, the trial court held that it was bound in perpetuity, and thereupon that if it ceased to do this in whole or in part at any time, she could order the tracks off her premises, and recover the difference between the value of her land with the cars running and with the expectation that they would continue always to run, and the value without the operation of the cars and with no expectation that they would run in the future.

The instruction was addressed to differences in market value as affected by the running of the cars, with the element added of expectation of continuance or cessation for all time. As thus put the supposed difference in market values amounted to anticipated profits, and these were not recoverable if dependent on uncertain and changing contingencies and not in contemplation of both parties as a probable consequence of breach.Howardv.Stillwell and Bierce Manufacturing Co.,139 U.S. 199;GlobeRefining Co. v.Landa Cotton Co.,190 U.S. 540. Whether prevented gains or prospective profits are or are not too uncertain and contingent to be regarded as probable and contemplated consequences is always a question of difficulty, and as in such cases juries are permitted to exercise a widePage 113discretion in the allowance of damages, great care is required in advising them as to the elements proper to be considered in making up their verdicts.

In a case like this, gain prevented is a more accurate term than loss of profits. And it is said in Sedgwick on Damages (8th ed.), vol. 1, p. 250, § 173: "Where an injured party claims compensation for gain prevented, the amount of loss is always to some extent conjectural; for there is no way of proving that what might have been, would have been. Thus, when the claim is made for compensation for a deprivation of property, it may be that if the property had remained in the owner's control it would have brought no gain."

Here the evidence tended to show that a financial depression prevailed at the time of the breach, and that all real estate in the particular locality was unsalable. Gains, then, were practically impossible, while on the other hand there was evidence that some years after the breach the depression passed away and real estate rose in value.

The books contain many illustrations of the uncertainties which will or may defeat recovery of anticipated profits.

InRockford, R.I. c. R.R. Co. v.Beckemeier,72 Ill. 267, it was held, in a suit against a railroad company for the failure to erect a depot building upon plaintiff's farm, as agreed, that any supposed damage to the farm on that account, growing out of anticipated increased value, was too remote.

InEvansv.Cincinnati, S. M.R.R. Co.,78 Ala. 341, a railroad company agreed to locate houses for its hands near plaintiff's land, and it was held that possible loss of profits at his store and mill was too speculative.

So inMissouri, Kansas Texas Railway Co. v.Fort Scott,15 Kan. 435, where a railroad company failed to perform its agreement to make the city of Fort Scott the terminus of one division of its line and erect machine shops there, it was held that an inquiry into the value of real estate and amount of business, in order to show what profits would have beenPage 114made, was improper; but the city might recover for the value of the buildings to it as taxable property.Scholtenv.St. Louis S.F.R.R. Co., 73 S.W. 915, is so far in point that it may well be cited, though not decided by a court of last resort. There the St. Louis Court of Appeals held that where a railroad's agreement to build and maintain a switch for a private property owner did not affect the performance of the railroad's duties to the public, the railroad was not entitled to allege in an action for illegally destroying the switch, that the contract was void as against public policy; and that as the plaintiff had graded the right of way and furnished the ties, and the agreement did not specify any length of time for the maintenance of the switch, plaintiff was entitled on the destruction of the switch to recover the value of the ties and the cost of grading.

Treating the contract as a simple contract, and the refusal to run the cars as a breach which Mrs. McDevitt could accept as finally determining it, we think she could not recover for deprivation of the speculative gains of a remote future. What might have been made by selling the land at a value enhanced by the operation of the tracks in perpetuity was purely problematical and not naturally in contemplation. And the more so in view of the fact that railroad companies, while private corporations, arequasipublic agencies engaged in the performance of public duties, and that contracts which prevent them from the discharge of those duties cannot be sustained. It did not follow that the company, because it possessed the power to construct and operate this extension, could contract to operate it forever in so absolute a sense that damages could be awarded for the breach of such a contract predicated on the expectation of its perpetual operation.Texas Pacific RailwayCo. v.Marshall,136 U.S. 393. Again, in this aspect, the instruction treated the agreement as equivalent to a covenant running with the land, and we are inclined to think that the bearing Mrs. McDevitt's demand that the tracks be removed, and the accepted and complete surrender of the right of wayPage 115by their removal accordingly, might have had, under all the circumstances, on the question of prospective damages should not have been excluded from the jury.

We are of opinion that the instruction as given was erroneous, and as it was definite and peremptory in its terms, and as it cannot be said that the jury were not influenced, and perhaps controlled, by it, we hold the error fatal to the judgment. As there must be a new trial we refrain from discussing the suggestions in respect of the acceptance of the deed by the company, a subject much considered inWillardv.Wood,135 U.S. 309;S.C.,164 U.S. 502, and the discharge of the alleged covenant, made below, but not pressed in argument here.Reversed and remanded with directions to reverse the judgmentof the Supreme Court of the District and order a new trial.

MR. JUSTICE WHITE and MR. JUSTICE McKENNA dissented.