54-401 Estrays, trespassing animals; damages; liability. - Nebraska Statutes

54-401. Estrays,trespassing animals; damages; liability.The owners of cattle,horses, mules, swine, sheep, and goats in this state are liable for all damagesdone by such stock upon the lands of another in this state as provided bysection 54-402 if the damages to the lands are not the result of negligentor willful damage to the division fence by the person claiming damages tothe land. SourceLaws 1871, § 1, p. 120; R.S.1913, § 109; C.S.1922, § 117; C.S.1929, § 54-401; R.S.1943, § 54-401; Laws 1983, LB 149, § 1; Laws 1996, LB 1174, § 5; Laws 2008, LB925, § 1.Annotations1. Personsliable2. Lien3.Remedies4. Miscellaneous1.Persons liableJoint owners of herd are liable jointly.Wilson v. White, 77 Neb. 351, 109 N.W. 367 (1906).Mortgagee,without possession, is not owner within meaning of statute. Goff v. ByersBros. & Co., 70 Neb. 1, 96 N.W. 1037 (1903).The term ownersis construed to include depasturer. Laflin v. Svoboda, 37 Neb. 368, 55 N.W.1049 (1893).2. LienOwner ofland damaged by trespassing stock has lien thereon for damages done and forcare and feed while impounded. Angus Cattle Co. v. McLeod, 98 Neb. 108, 152N.W. 322 (1915).3. RemediesNegligenceof plaintiff in maintenance of division fence immaterial in action for damagesby livestock upon cultivated lands. Fiene v. Robertson, 184 Neb. 668, 171N.W.2d 179 (1969).Action for damages by stock ranging at largeupon uncultivated land will not lie, but driving of animals thereon is actionablewrong. Meyers v. Menter, 63 Neb. 427, 88 N.W. 662 (1902).Remedyherein is not exclusive, and common-law liability is not abrogated. Lorancev. Hillyer, 57 Neb. 266, 77 N.W. 755 (1898).Injunction will lieto restrain threatened trespass of stock. State Bank of Nebraska of Sewardv. Rohren, 55 Neb. 223, 75 N.W. 543 (1898).Where owner driveshis stock upon unenclosed and uncultivated lands of another he is liable fortrespass. Delaney v. Errickson, 11 Neb. 533, 10 N.W. 451 (1881).4.MiscellaneousThe herd laws pertain to damage to propertyand do not alter the common law liability for personal injuries caused bytrespassing bulls. Foland v. Malander, 222 Neb. 1, 381 N.W.2d 914 (1986).Afenced pasture planted to wheat grass and not surrounded by a plowed stripconstitutes "cultivated lands" for purposes of this statute. Fuchser v. Jacobson,205 Neb. 786, 290 N.W.2d 449 (1980).Section is not applicableto uncultivated, unenclosed wild prairie lands of state. Delaney v. Errickson,10 Neb. 492, 6 N.W. 600 (1880).