Zagaroli v. Pollock

379 S.E.2d 653 (1989)

David P. ZAGAROLI v. James S. POLLOCK; Sarah H. Pollock; and Hickory Marina, Inc.

No. 8825SC910.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

June 6, 1989.

*654 Cagle and Houck by Joe N. Cagle and William J. Houck, Hickory, for plaintiff-appellee.

Rudisill and Brackett by J. Steven Brackett and Sigmon, Clark and Mackie by E. Fielding Clark, II, Hickory, for defendants-appellants.

EAGLES, Judge.

Defendants have presented seven arguments to this court for review. First, defendants argue that the trial court erred in failing to grant defendants' motions to dismiss for plaintiff's failure to prove title. Alternatively, defendants argue the trial court erred in failing to submit the issue of whether the land upon which the marina docks, boathouses, etc. were placed was the *655 land described in plaintiff's deed. Second, defendants argue the trial court committed reversible error in admitting into evidence a survey map. Defendants' third argument is that the trial court erred when it failed to rule as a matter of law that defendants had the right to locate boat docks on or over property claimed by plaintiff based upon defendants' permit from Duke Power Company. Fourth, defendants assert the trial court erred when it failed to allow defendants' request for an instruction on trespass. Defendants also argue that the trial court erred when it failed to dismiss the case against the individual defendants and when it failed to rule on defendants' motion to set aside the jury's verdict as to the individual defendants. Defendants' sixth argument is based on the trial court's allowing into evidence opinion testimony from the plaintiff regarding the fair rental value of the property. Finally, defendants argue that the trial court erred as a matter of law when it failed to rule that the Federal Power Act granted Duke Power Company and its permittees the exclusive right to determine the use of the surface waters of Lake Hickory. After careful consideration of the record and arguments of the parties, we reverse in part and affirm in part.

Defendants' first argument is that the trial court erred in failing to grant defendants' motion to dismiss or, alternatively, the court erred in failing to submit to the jury the issue of whether the plaintiff was the owner of the land in question. Defendants assert that both the title and location of the property purportedly belonging to plaintiff were in issue in this case and plaintiff failed to meet his burden of proving the location of his property. Defendants' argument is without merit.

Plaintiff presented evidence consisting of deeds in his chain of title, testimony of the attorney who performed the title search prior to plaintiff's purchase of the property, testimony of a surveyor who surveyed the land, testimony of a diver who observed the boat docks and slips, and testimony of plaintiff's predecessor in title. All of the evidence presented by plaintiff tended to show that the boat docks and slips were attached to either plaintiff's dry land or plaintiff's land that was underwater. Plaintiff had the burden of proving title to the property in question. Although the trial court stated that a directed verdict was granted in favor of the plaintiff on the issue of trespass, the court gave a peremptory instruction to the jury on that issue. This is proper when there is no conflict in the evidence and but one inference can be drawn from the evidence. See Cutts v. Casey, 278 N.C. 390, 418-19, 180 S.E.2d 297, 312 (1971). None of defendants' evidence contradicted the evidence of plaintiff in regard to the physical location of plaintiff's real property. Defendants merely questioned the surveyor's practices in determining the corners and lines called for in the plaintiff's deed. If the jury found the evidence presented to be true, only one inference could be drawn. The one permissible inference would be that plaintiff owned the land in question and defendant's property was situated thereon. The peremptory instruction was appropriate.

Defendants' second argument is that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence a survey map, exhibit # 10. Defendants assert the map was not the result of a survey of the property described in plaintiff's deed but was "a map of a partial survey ... nothing more than a written declaration by [the surveyor] of a tract which he thought belonged to [the plaintiff.]" Further, defendants argue the map could not properly be admitted as substantive evidence, but only as illustrative evidence. Defendants' arguments are without merit.

To be admissible, maps, surveys and the like must be authenticated and verified as accurate and true by a qualified witness. In North Carolina, such exhibits are admissible for illustrative, not substantive purposes. Searcy v. Logan, 226 N.C. 562, 566, 39 S.E.2d 593, 595 (1946). However, there is no reversible error where maps and surveys are admitted for substantive purposes *656 absent a timely request for limiting instructions made by the objecting party. Scovill Mfg. Co. v. Town of Wake Forest, 58 N.C.App. 15, 24, 293 S.E.2d 240, 247, rev. denied, 306 N.C. 559, 294 S.E.2d 371 (1982). The fact that defendants in this case failed to request such a limiting instruction or to object specifically to the admission of the map for substantive purposes prevents our finding reversible error. We also note that, even though introduced for substantive purposes, the map was used primarily to illustrate witnesses' testimony.

Defendants' argument that the map was "not the result of a survey" is not supported by the record. The surveyor who drew the map and went out to the property testified how he found some of the corners of plaintiff's property and used the deed to the plaintiff to draw the map. The surveyor also testified that he used old surveys and adjoining landowners' boundary lines to help him draw the map. The testimony of the surveyor was sufficient to allow the admission of the map.

Defendants' third argument is that the trial court committed reversible error in failing to rule as a matter of law that the Marina's permit from Duke Power gave defendants the right to locate the boat docks and other structures where they were found. Defendants list two exceptions under their assignment of error: first, the denial of defendants' directed verdict motion made at the close of plaintiff's evidence; and, second, the granting of plaintiff's directed verdict motion made at the close of all the evidence. We are not persuaded.

It appears from the record that defendants failed to renew their motion for directed verdict after they presented evidence. By introducing evidence, defendants waived their motion for directed verdict made at the end of plaintiff's evidence. Rice v. Wood, 82 N.C.App. 318, 346 S.E.2d 205, cert. denied, 318 N.C. 417, 349 S.E.2d 599 (1986). Defendants' therefore, cannot base this assignment of error on the court's denial of their motion for directed verdict made at the close of plaintiff's evidence.

The second basis for defendants' assignment of error on this issue is the granting of plaintiff's directed verdict motion. As discussed in section I above, the court's action in regard to the motion was not error. The trial court correctly gave a peremptory instruction on the issue of trespass.

Defendants next argue that the trial court erred when it failed to instruct the jury on the elements of trespass as requested. Based on our discussion in section I, above, we conclude that defendants' argument is without merit. The trial court correctly gave a peremptory instruction on the issue of trespass.

Defendant next argues that the trial court erred in failing to dismiss the case against the individual defendants, and, alternatively, erred in failing to rule on the motion to set aside the verdict as to the individual defendants. Defendants assert that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to either dismiss the case against the individual defendants or set aside the verdict against them.

The record does not disclose a motion to dismiss made by the individual defendants based on lack of evidence relating to them. However, the transcript does reveal that the individual defendants made a motion to set aside the verdict. The transcript also reveals that the trial court did not rule on the motion at the time it was made. The trial court advised the defendants' counsel to have the motion calendared for subsequent hearing in the event plaintiff would not agree to a judgment against the corporate defendant only. There is nothing in the record to show defendants calendared their motion for hearing. Accordingly, we treat the signing of the judgment against all named defendants as an implicit denial of defendants' motion.

*657 Our review of a trial court's discretionary ruling denying a motion to set aside a verdict is strictly limited to the determination of whether the record affirmatively demonstrates a manifest abuse of discretion. Worthington v. Bynum, 305 N.C. 478, 482, 290 S.E.2d 599, 602 (1982). On this record, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in failing to set aside the verdict against the individual defendant Mrs. Pollock. The evidence in this case regarding the operation of the marina shows that both the corporate defendant, Hickory Marina, Inc., and the individual defendant, Mrs. Pollock, were responsible for the marina's operation. Defendants' own exhibits show that Mrs. Pollock was the owner of the boathouses, slips and walkways. Hickory Marina, Inc. was the holder of the permit from Duke Power. However, there is no evidence tending to show any legal responsibility for the marina's operation on the part of Mr. Pollock, other than as president of Hickory Marina, Inc. Therefore, we hold that the failure to set aside the judgment as to Mr. Pollock individually was an abuse of discretion; the judgment as it relates to Mr. Pollock is reversed.

Defendants' sixth argument is that there was no competent evidence upon which the jury could base an award of damages. Defendants assert that opinion testimony of the plaintiff regarding the fair rental value of the property was erroneously introduced. Defendants base their argument on G.S. 8C-1, Rule 701 and G.S. 8C-1, Rule 704. Defendants' argument is without merit.

Rule 701 of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence allows opinion testimony from lay witnesses only when "rationally based on the perception of the witness." Defendants argue there was no basis for plaintiff's opinion. The record shows otherwise. Plaintiff testified that he was a real estate developer and that he had owned and developed other lake front property. Plaintiff testified as to the amount he paid for the property he owned. He also testified as to the amount of revenue generated for defendants from rentals over the disputed property. Plaintiff demonstrated sufficient personal knowledge to enable him to testify regarding his opinion.

Rule 704 of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence deals with admission of opinion evidence on ultimate issues. Defendants argue that since the fair rental value of the property in a trespass case is an ultimate issue for the jury, plaintiff's lay opinion was inadmissible. Defendants' argument is without merit. Rule 704 states that "[t]estimony in the form of opinion ... is not objectionable because it embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of fact." G.S. 8C-1, Rule 704. The rule does allow admission of lay opinion on the ultimate issue if the opinion is "helpful to the jury" and not merely "choosing up sides." Mobley v. Hill, 80 N.C.App. 79, 86, 341 S.E.2d 46, 50 (1986). In this case, opinion testimony regarding the fair market value of the property trespassed upon was certainly helpful to the jury and was not merely choosing sides. The court correctly overruled defendants' objection to the testimony.

Defendants' final argument is that the trial court erred when it failed to rule as a matter of law that the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. section 791a, et seq., granted Duke Power, and its licensee Hickory Marina, Inc., the exclusive right to determine the use of the lake's surface waters. We disagree with defendants' argument and overrule this assignment of error.

Defendants are correct in asserting that the Federal Power Act vests substantial authority in the power companies who obtain licenses from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to operate hydroelectric dams. Duke Power is such a licensee. However, the Federal Power Act did not abolish private proprietary rights. Federal Power Comm. v. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., 347 U.S. 239, 250-51, 74 S. Ct. 487, 494, 98 L. Ed. 666, 676 (1954). Although a FERC licensee may *658 exercise the power of eminent domain over lands which will make up the bed of a lake associated with a hydroelectric dam, 16 U.S.C. section 814, neither Duke Power nor its predecessor in title took the land in question by eminent domain. Without the exercise of the power of eminent domain, on this record Duke Power and its predecessor in title obtained nothing more than a flooding easement over land owned by plaintiff. Under the Federal Power Act Duke Power may place limitations on the landowner's use of his property in accordance with federal law. However, the Federal Power Act does not give Duke Power the authority to grant defendants the right to use plaintiff's property without the assent of the plaintiff. To hold otherwise would in effect authorize the taking of property without just compensation.

For the reasons stated, the judgment as to the individual defendant Mr. Pollock is reversed; in all other respects the judgment is affirmed.

Reversed in part; affirmed in part.

COZORT and GREENE, JJ., concur.