ANDREW BROADBENT, and REBECCA BROADBENT, Plaintiffs, v. KENNETH
T. ALLISON, WILLIE T. ALLISON, and wife, PATRICIA M. ALLISON,
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY AIRPORT, L.L.C., Defendants
NO. COA05-194
Filed: 07 March 2006
1. Nuisance--airport--special instruction
The trial court's special airport nuisance instruction was not erroneous because, when
read as a whole, it accurately instructed the jury on the relevant law.
2. Nuisance_airport--failure to instruct on mitigation of damages--no evidence of
resulting benefit
The trial court did not err in an airport nuisance case by refusing to instruct the jury on
mitigation of damages because there was no evidence that plaintiffs'property was enhanced in
value due to its proximity to defendants' airport.
3. Nuisance_-failure to charge jury and structure issue sheet to consider liability of
each defendant individually
The trial court did not err in a nuisance case by failing to charge the jury and structure the
issue sheet in such a way that the jury could consider the liability of each defendant individually.
4. Civil Procedure--motion for new trial--newly discovered evidence
The trial court did not err in a nuisance case by denying defendants' motions for a new
trial based upon newly discovered evidence that plaintiffs purchased additional property
adjoining their property and the airport that allegedly constituted the nuisance following the jury
trial and before the permanent injunction hearing in this case, and that plaintiffs had intended to
purchase this property before trial, because: (1) the fact that plaintiffs purchased additional
property cannot be the basis for a new trial under N.C.G.S. § 1A-1, Rules 59 and 60 since this
did not occur until after the trial was completed; and (2) even if the Court of Appeals held that
plaintiffs' purported intent constituted newly discovered evidence, it cannot be said that the trial
court abused its discretion in denying defendants' motions in light of the fact that plaintiffs
testified at trial that they had no intention of moving.
5. Evidence--videotapes--edited
The trial court did not err in an airport nuisance case by admitting evidence of an edited
videotape of planes flying over plaintiffs' property, because: (1) although defendants contend the
chain of custody was broken, they did not object to the admission of the video at trial on this
basis, and do not include an assignment of error in the record preserving this argument; (2)
although defendants contend two of plaintiffs' video exhibits do not accurately depict the events
they purport to show, the jury was told the videos were edited from many hours of tape recorded
over a period of several months, the video was time-stamped so the jury could see exactly when
each segment was recorded, the jury was made aware that some of the footage was filmed in
zoom mode, and additional testimony indicated the approximate altitudes of planes as they took
off or landed over plaintiffs' property; (3) on the instant facts it was not necessary that the sound
on the video exactly match that of the actual airplanes, and defendants cannot show prejudice
when the sound on the video was not as loud as the actual sound; and (4) although defendants
contend two of the videos contain hearsay statements, they do not include any of the purported
hearsay statements in their brief, do not make any legal arguments to support any finding that thestatements were improperly admitted or that they were prejudicial in any manner, and they have
not preserved this argument by any assignment of error in the record.
6. Evidence--exhibits--still photograph
The trial court did not err in a nuisance case by admitting plaintiffs' exhibit of a still
photograph of an airplane flying over plaintiffs' property, even though defendants contend it does
not fairly and accurately depict what it purports to show, because: (1) the Court of Appeals is not
prepared to hold that photographs are inadmissible as evidence due to their inherent dimensional
limitations; (2) after reviewing this exhibit, the Court of Appeals concluded that there was no
possibility the jurors believed the photo depicted an airplane flying directly over plaintiffs' house
unless they believed it was a model airplane; and (3) a jury is able to comprehend that when one
object in a photograph is small relative to another object, the relatively smaller object is farther
away.
7. Nuisance--motion for new trial--sufficiency of evidence--private nuisance
The trial court did not err in a nuisance case by denying defendants' motion for a new
trial under N.C.G.S. § 1A-1, Rule 59(a)(7) based on alleged insufficient evidence of private
nuisance, because: (1) defendants' Rule 59(a)(7) motion, filed 18 February 2004, followed the
entry of judgment on 9 February 2004, and thus, none of the findings and conclusions in that
judgment are directed to defendants' motion nor can they be relied upon to attack the verdict; (2)
defendants may have acted in a completely reasonable fashion, but plaintiffs still prevail if
defendants' conduct created a substantial and unreasonable negative impact on plaintiffs'
enjoyment of their property; (3) as this is a question of sufficiency of evidence, this issue is not to
be decided as a matter of law; (4) the trial court's ruling did not amount to a substantial
miscarriage of justice; and (5) defendants did not argue that the trial court committed an abuse of
discretion in denying their Rule 59 motion, and the Court of Appeals found none.
8. Injunction--temporary or permanent--avigation easement
The trial court erred in a nuisance case by denying plaintiffs' motion for a permanent
injunction and by granting defendants' request for an avigation easement, and the case is
remanded for a new trial on damages and a new injunction hearing, because the Court of Appeals
is unable to ascertain from the record whether the jury's award constituted temporary or
permanent damages, or both.
[1] In defendants' first argument, they contend that the trial
court erred in failing to properly instruct the jury. We disagree.
It is the duty of the trial judge without any special
requests to instruct the jury on the law as it applies to the
substantive features of the case arising on the evidence. When a
party appropriately tenders a written request for a special
instruction which is correct in itself and supported by the
evidence, the failure of the trial judge to give the instruction,
at least in substance, constitutes reversible error.
Millis
Constr. Co. v. Fairfield Sapphire Valley, Inc., 86 N.C. App. 506,
509-10, 358 S.E.2d 566, 568 (1987). Defendants first contend that
the jury was misled by the special airport nuisance instruction
given by the trial court.
In order to establish a claim for nuisance, a
plaintiff must show the existence of a
substantial and unreasonable interference with
the use and enjoyment of its property. In
this context, our Supreme Court has
interpreted substantial interference to mean a
'substantial annoyance, some material physical
discomfort . . . or injury to [the
plaintiff's] health or property.'
Shadow Group v. Heather Hills Home Owners Ass'n, 156 N.C. App. 197,
200, 579 S.E.2d 285, 287 (2003) (citations omitted). Defendants
cite to a small portion of the trial court's instruction, and argue
that the trial court omitted the requirement that the jury find
substantial interference as defined above. When the trial court's
instruction is read as a whole, we hold that it fully and
accurately instructed the jury on the relevant law.
[2] Defendants next argue that the trial court erred in
refusing to instruct the jury on mitigation of damages, arguing
that the airport enhanced the value of plaintiffs' property. When
permanent damages are at issue in a nuisance trial, and that
nuisance 'operates as a partial taking of the plaintiff's
property, any resulting benefit peculiar to him may be considered
in mitigation of damages.'
Brown v. Virginia-Carolina Chemical
Co., 162 N.C. 83, 87, 77 S.E. 1102, 1104 (1913) (citation omitted).
In the instant case, defendants presented no evidence at trial in
support of their contention that plaintiffs' property was enhanced
in value due to its proximity to the airport. Because there was no
evidence of any resulting benefit to plaintiffs, the trial court
did not err in refusing to give a mitigation of damages
instruction.
[3] Defendants next argue that the trial court erred in
failing to charge the jury and structure the issue sheet in such a
way that the jury could consider the liability of each defendant
individually. Defendants' argument fails to state why the trial
court should have granted their request, and it does not indicatehow the denial of their request prejudiced them in any manner.
Defendant's first argument is without merit.
[4] In defendants' second argument, they contend that the
trial court erred in denying their motions for a new trial based
upon newly discovered evidence. We disagree.
On 18 February 2004 defendants moved for judgment
notwithstanding the verdict and a new trial based on evidence that
plaintiffs bought additional property adjoining their property and
the airport following the jury trial and before the permanent
injunction hearing in this case, and that they had intended to
purchase this property before trial. Defendants further moved on
15 October 2004
for relief from the 9 February 2004 judgment and 29
July 2004 order after obtaining statements from four jurors
indicating that knowledge of plaintiffs' intent to purchase this
property would have influenced their verdict. Defendants argue
that the evidence that plaintiffs purchased additional property
undercuts their testimony at trial that they were in constant fear
for their lives living next to the airport.
N.C. Gen. Stat. 1A-1, Rule 59(a)(4) provides for a new trial
based on [n]ewly discovered evidence material for the party making
the motion which he could not, with reasonable diligence, have
discovered and produced at the trial; provided motion is made
within ten days of entry of judgment. N.C. Gen. Stat. Sec. 1A-1,
Rule
60(b)(2) provides for a new trial based on [n]ewly discovered
evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in
time to move for a new trial under Rule 59(b)[.] The motion
shall be made within a reasonable time, and . . . not more than oneyear after the judgment, order, or proceeding was entered or
taken.
Id. In order for evidence to be newly discovered
evidence under these rules, it must have been in existence at the
time of the trial, and not discoverable through due diligence.
Parks v. Green, 153 N.C. App. 405, 412, 571 S.E.2d 14, 19 (2002).
The trial court's rulings on these motions will not be overturned
absent an abuse of discretion.
Cole v. Cole, 90 N.C. App. 724, 727,
370 S.E.2d 272, 273
(1988);
Bryant v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins.
Co., 313 N.C. 362, 380, 329 S.E.2d 333, 343 (1985).
The fact that plaintiffs purchased additional property cannot
be the basis for a new trial under Rules 59 and 60, because this
did not occur until after the trial was completed.
Green, 153 N.C.
App. at 412, 571 S.E.2d at 19
. Defendants argue that plaintiffs
had the
intent to purchase additional property before trial, and
that this intent constitutes evidence sufficient to warrant a new
trial. Assuming
arguendo that this intent did in fact exist before
trial, and that intent can be considered evidence for Rule 59 and
60 purposes, defendants' argument still fails.
Plaintiffs testified at trial that they intended to continue
living on that property, despite the disruption and fear that
diminished their enjoyment of the property. They did not intend to
move. Further, even were we to hold that this purported intent did
constitute newly discovered evidence, in light of the fact that
plaintiffs testified at trial that they had no intention of moving,
we cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion in denying
defendants' motions. Since plaintiffs made the decision to live on
the property in spite of the adjoining airport, it is notsurprising that they would purchase additional land if such
purchase would make their property more useful and enjoyable. This
argument is without merit.
In their third argument, defendants contend that the trial
court erred in admitting certain evidence. We disagree.
[5] Defendants first argue that an edited videotape of planes
flying over their property was improperly admitted. They contend
that when viewing the videotape, one cannot determine the location
from which some of the footage was filmed; it is unclear whether a
zoom lens was used, making the actual altitude of the planes
uncertain; the sound of the planes on the tapes did not accurately
reflect the actual sound the planes made; and the videos included
improper hearsay statements. Defendants also argue that admission
of the video was in violation of Rule 401 of the North carolina
Rules of Evidence.
Video evidence is admissible in North Carolina upon laying a
proper foundation and meeting other applicable evidentiary
requirements. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8-97;
Albrecht v. Dorsett, 131
N.C. App. 502, 507, 508 S.E.2d 319, 323 (1998). In order to admit
video evidence, three questions must be affirmatively answered:
(1) whether the camera and taping system in
question were properly maintained and were
properly operating when the tape was made, (2)
whether the videotape accurately presents the
events depicted, and (3) whether there is an
unbroken chain of custody.
State v. Mason, 144 N.C. App. 20, 26, 550 S.E.2d 10, 15 (2001)
.
Defendants do not argue that the video taping system was not
properly maintained or properly functioning. Defendants do arguethat the chain of custody was broken, however they did not object
to the admission of the video at trial on this basis, and do not
include an assignment of error in the record preserving this
argument. This argument is therefore deemed abandoned. N.C.R. App.
P. Rules 10(a)
and 10(b)(1);
Creasman v. Creasman, 152 N.C. App.
119, 123, 566 S.E.2d 725, 728 (2002);
Koufman v. Koufman, 330 N.C.
93, 98, 408 S.E.2d 729, 731 (1991)
.
Defendants argue that two of plaintiffs' video exhibits
(plaintiffs' exhibits 64 and 66) do not accurately depict the
events they purport to show. Defendants argue that the editing,
which condenses a series of airplane fly-overs into six minutes
which actually occurred over several months, makes it appear that
the intrusion was much more frequent than it actually was.
However, the jury was told that the videos were edited from many
hours of tape recorded over a period of several months, and the
video was time-stamped, so the jury could see exactly when each
segment was recorded. Our Rules of Evidence allow for voluminous
recordings to be presented in summary form. North Carolina Rules of
Evidence, Rule 1006. The jury was also made aware that some of the
footage was filmed in a zoom mode. There was also additional
testimony indicating the approximate altitudes of planes as they
took off or landed over plaintiffs' property. We hold that the
trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this evidence
at trial.
Tomika Invs., Inc. v. Macedonia True Vine Pentecostal
Holiness Church of God, Inc., 136 N.C. App. 493, 498, 524 S.E.2d
591, 595 (2000). Defendants further argue that
Statesville v. Cloaninger, 106
N.C. App. 10, 15, 415 S.E.2d 111, 114 (1992), holds that for a
video of an airplane entering or leaving an airport to be
admissible, there must be evidence that the video accurately
represents the sound of the airplane. We first note that the
manner in which defendants present this argument in their brief is
misleading, as
Cloaninger
makes no such holding. The
Cloaninger
opinion discussed the foundation laid by the party offering the
video, and then held that the foundation was sufficient. In the
instant case, plaintiffs' evidence was that the video did not
accurately represent the actual sound of the airplanes because the
actual sound was louder than the recorded sound. We hold that on
the instant facts it was not necessary that the sound on the video
exactly match that of the actual airplanes. Further, as
plaintiffs' evidence was that the sound on the video was not as
loud as the actual sound, even if the video was improperly
admitted, defendants can show no
prejudice.
Though defendants argue that two of the videos (plaintiffs'
exhibits 63 and 64) contain hearsay statements, they do not include
any
of the purported hearsay statements in their brief, and do not
make any legal arguments to support any finding that the statements
were improperly admitted, or that they were prejudicial in any
manner. Further, defendants have not preserved this argument by
any assignment of error in the record. Defendants have abandoned
this argument. N.C. R. App. P. Rules 28(b)(6) and 10(c)(1).
[6] Finally, defendants argue that the trial court erred in
admitting plaintiffs' exhibit 4a, a still photograph of an airplaneflying over plaintiffs' property, because it does not fairly and
accurately depict what it purports to show. Defendants argue that
the photograph incorrectly makes it appear as if the plane is
directly over the plaintiffs' house because a photograph depicts a
three dimensional scene in two dimensions. We are not prepared to
hold that photographs are inadmissible as evidence due to their
inherent dimensional limitations. Further, after reviewing
plaintiffs' exhibit 4a, it is clear to this Court that there is no
possibility the jurors believed the photo depicted an airplane
flying directly over plaintiffs' house unless they believed it was
a model airplane. We are confident of a jury's ability to
comprehend that when one object in a photograph is small relative
to another object, the relatively smaller object is farther away.
This argument is without merit.
[7] In defendants' fourth argument, they contend that the
trial court erred in denying their motion for a new trial pursuant
to N.C.R. Civ. P. Rule 59(a)(7) because there was insufficient
evidence to prove private nuisance. We disagree.
Rule 59(a)(7) states:
Grounds. -- A new trial may be granted to all
or any of the parties and on all or part of
the issues for any of the following causes or
grounds:
. . . . .
(7) Insufficiency of the evidence to justify
the verdict or that the verdict is contrary to
law[.]
When a Rule 59(a)(7) motion is based upon an insufficiency of the
evidence, our standard of review is abuse of discretion; when themotion is based upon a claim that the verdict is contrary to law,
we perform a de novo review. In re Will of Buck, 350 N.C. 621, 516
S.E.2d 858 (1999); Britt v. Allen, 291 N.C. 630, 634-35, 231 S.E.2d
607, 611-12 (1977). In order to establish a claim for nuisance,
a plaintiff must show the existence of a substantial and
unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of its
property. Shadow Group v. Heather Hills Home Owners Ass'n, 156
N.C. App. 197, 200, 579 S.E.2d 285, 287 (2003).
The trial court's second conclusion of law in its judgment
entered 9 February 2004, following the 1 July 2003 injunction
hearing, states: The conduct of the Defendants is not unreasonable
in that the Transylvania County Airport provides significant
benefit to the community as well as humanitarian, government and
emergency services and promotes business growth within the
community. Defendants argue that because the trial court
concluded defendants had not acted unreasonably, it also
necessarily concluded that plaintiffs failed their burden as stated
in Shadow Group to prove a private nuisance.
We first note that defendant's motion for a new trial based
upon insufficiency of the evidence is directed to the jury's
verdict rendered on 31 January 2003. The findings of fact and
conclusions of law in the trial court's 9 February 2004 judgment
pertained to the trial court's ruling on the plaintiff's motions
for a permanent injunction and defendants' motion for an avigation
easement, which were entered following a 1 July 2003 non-jury
hearing before Judge Guice. The findings of fact and conclusion's
of law contained in the 9 February 2004 judgment are relevant onlywith respect to those issues before Judge Guice in the 1 July 2003
hearing. Judge Guice had no authority to make determinations
concerning which evidence presented at trial the jury relied upon
in determining that plaintiffs' claim for private nuisance was
valid. The consideration of the evidence at trial for the purposes
of supporting the jury verdict was the sole province of the jury.
Because defendants' Rule 59(a)(7) motion, filed 18 February 2004,
followed the entry of judgment on 9 February 2004, none of the
findings and conclusions in that judgment are directed to
defendants' motion.
Further, defendants misunderstand the burden of proving
unreasonable interference as stated in Shadow Group. The question
under Shadow Group was whether defendants' conduct created an
unreasonable interference with plaintiffs' enjoyment of their
property, not whether defendants' conduct itself was unreasonable.
Defendants may have acted in a completely reasonable fashion, but
plaintiffs still prevail if defendants' conduct created a
substantial and unreasonable negative impact on plaintiffs'
enjoyment of their property. It is clear that the trial court in
the instant case was making just such a determination; defendants
operation of the airport was not an unreasonable endeavor, i.e.
defendants themselves were not acting unreasonably, but the
operation of the airport had a substantial and unreasonable impact
on plaintiffs' enjoyment of their property.
Defendants further argue that because the trial court found
that noise from takeoffs and landings interfered with only about
two to four and a half minutes of plaintiffs' day, this fails as amatter of law to constitute substantial injury or interference.
Again, the trial court's findings of fact were not directed towards
the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury's verdict,
therefore, defendants cannot rely upon these findings of fact to
attack that verdict. Further, as this is a question of sufficiency
of the evidence, this issue is not to be decided as a matter of
law. In re Will of Buck, 350 N.C. 621, 516 S.E.2d 858 (1999).
Defendants next argue that the trial court erred in denying
their Rule 59 motion because the evidence at trial was insufficient
to support the jury verdict. Our standard of review for this issue
is abuse of discretion. Id. 'An appellate court should not
disturb a discretionary Rule 59 order unless it is reasonably
convinced by the cold record that the trial judge's ruling probably
amounted to a substantial miscarriage of justice.' Anderson v.
Hollifield, 345 N.C. 480, 483, 480 S.E.2d 661, 663 (1997) (quoting
Campbell v. Pitt County Mem'l Hosp., Inc., 321 N.C. 260, 265, 362
S.E.2d 273, 275 (1987)).
Upon our review of the record, we are not reasonably convinced
that the trial court's ruling probably amounted to a substantial
miscarriage of justice. Nowhere in defendants' argument do they
contend that the trial court committed an abuse of discretion in
denying their Rule 59 motion, and we hold that there was none.
This argument is without merit.
Because defendants have not argued their other assignments of
error in their brief, they are deemed abandoned. N.C. R. App. P.
Rule 28(b)(6) (2003).
[8] In plaintiffs' first argument, they contend that the trial
court erred in denying their motion for a permanent injunction, and
further erred in granting defendants' request for an avigation
easement. For the reasons stated below, we remand this case to the
Superior Court of Transylvania County for a new trial on damages,
and a new injunction hearing.
Plaintiffs' argue that they were entitled to a permanent
injunction as a matter of law because they prevailed on the private
nuisance claim. This is incorrect. Though a prevailing plaintiff
in a private nuisance action may in certain circumstances be
awarded damages, injunctive relief, or both, injunctive relief is
not mandated in every situation.
Phillips v. Chesson, 231 N.C. 566,
570, 58 S.E.2d 343, 347 (1950);
Berger v. Smith, 160 N.C. 205, 75
S.E. 1098 (1912);
Mayes v. Tabor, 77 N.C. App. 197, 200, 334 S.E.2d
489, 490-91 (1985). If plaintiffs have been awarded temporary
damages, they may institute additional actions in the future to
obtain additional damages as they occur.
Phillips, 231 N.C. at 570,
58 S.E.2d at 347. If plaintiffs have been awarded permanent
damages, they may not institute additional actions based on the
same nuisance, as the award constitutes recompense for all past and
future damages.
Id. When permanent damages have been awarded,
defendants have in effect been granted an easement to continue
operations on their property in the same manner as previously
conducted.
Id.
In the instant case, we are unable to ascertain from the
record whether the jury's award constituted temporary or permanentdamages, or both. The trial court instructed the jury in relevant
part as follows:
Members of the jury, an actual injury involves
more than a slight inconvenience or a petty
annoyance. It is an injury to the plaintiffs'
comfort and enjoyment of their property, or
damage to their real property.
Members of the jury, you should answer this
issue in such dollar amount that you find the
plaintiffs have proved by the greater weight
of the evidence that the value of their real
property has been damaged, and in addition any
damages you find that the plaintiffs have
suffered for the loss of use and enjoyment of
their property.
The issue sheet submitted to the jury states as issue 2: What
amount of damages are the plaintiffs entitled to recover from the
defendants? The jury answered this question by simply writing
$358,000 in the space provided on the verdict issue sheet. In
its judgment of 9 February 2004, the trial court concluded as a
matter of law that the jury's award constituted permanent damages
and that plaintiffs had been fully and adequately compensated in
law for the injuries they claim as a result of living next to the
airport and therefore a permanent injunction should not issue.
The record does not support this conclusion, as it is impossible
from the record to determine the basis upon which the jury rendered
its award. The jury was not instructed to make separate awards of
permanent and temporary damages, and the verdict sheet does not
indicate on what basis damages were awarded. In light of this, it
is necessary that we reverse and remand this case for a new trial
on damages. We further vacate the trial court's judgment denying
plaintiffs' motion for a permanent injunction and grantingdefendants an avigation easement, and remand for further
proceedings, since the trial court's judgment was based at least in
part on the assumption, unsubstantiated by the record, that the
jury awarded permanent damages. Upon remand, the trial court
should instruct the jury on both temporary and permanent damages,
and draft the issue sheet in such a way that it is clear whether
the jury is awarding permanent damages, temporary damages, or both.
Once all the relevant issues in the case have been determined by
the jury and the trial court, plaintiffs shall be allowed to elect
between available remedies to the extent necessary to prevent
double redress for a single wrong.
United Lab. v. Kuykendall, 335
N.C. 183, 191, 437 S.E.2d 374, 379 (1993);
see also Mapp v. Toyota
World, Inc., 81 N.C. App. 421, 426-27, 344 S.E.2d 297, 301 (1986).
Because we have remanded this case for a new trial on damages,
we do not address plaintiffs' other arguments.
DEFENDANTS' APPEAL: AFFIRMED.
PLAINTIFFS' APPEAL: REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR NEW TRIAL ON
DAMAGES AND NEW HEARING ON PERMANENT INJUNCTION.
Judges HUNTER and TYSON concur.
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