Goeres v. Ortquist

James Stewart, Buford Goeres, Harold Ortquist, John Fullerton, and their wives owned land near Chewelah. Horseshoe Lake was located on the property. There was a dam and spillway at one end of the lake. On May 18, 1974, the dam gave way, flooding downstream property. The downstream property owners brought an action against the owners of the lake for damages. While the action was pending, the downstream property owners settled with Fullerton and Ortquist for $5,000 each and covenanted not to execute against them. The court granted a motion for summary judgment against the owners of the lake on…