57 Wis. 600 | Wis. | 1883
Lead Opinion
The south half of the block extended to the dock-line of the river on the east, to Fowler street on the south, to West Water street on the west, and to an alley on the north, which alley extended from West Water street to the dock-line of the river. In this south half of the block the defendants occupied a large brick building on a lot fronting on West Water street and extending back to the dock-line of the river, and from the rear end of which brick building a platform projected over a roadway to such dock-line, at such an elevation that a team of horses and a wagon of ordinary height could be driven under it, along and upon said roadway, without hinderance, but not sufficiently elevated to admit of the passage of a teamster sitting upon such wagon. The several proprietors and occupants of lots and parts of lots in this half-block had for many years in common maintained a roadway extending across the ends of the several lots along the dock-line from the east end of Fowler street to the east end of the alley, which roadway passed under and was spanned by the platform above mentioned. Thus this roadway, Fowler street, and the alley at all times afforded to all such occupants and proprietors, and their agents and servants, and to the public in general, access for teams and wagons to and from the rear ends of all the
At the time of the injury the deceased was engaged in the employment of Plankinton & Armour, hauling pork from the rear end of their store, and while so engaged driving a team of horses drawing a common freight wagon loaded with pork in barrels and other goods from the rear end of their store along the roadway to and under the overhanging platform, his head and breast were forced against the south edge of the platform, whereby he was thrown backward upon the barrels in the wagon with such violence that he was greatly injured and soon died. Since the allegation is, not that he was thrown backwards against the barrels, but upon the barrels, it is quite evident that he must have been upon the barrels at the time, and not down on the floor of the wagon. It appears from the complaint that the several streets .named were public highways, and that the alley was a public alley, and also a public highway. There is no allegation, however, that the roadway was a public roadway, highway, street, alley, or public way of'any kind. There is no allegation that there had been any recent change in the condition or use of the roadway, but, on the contrary, it is alleged that it had been used in the same condition for many years. There is no allegation that there had been any recent change in- the platform, but, on the contrary, it is alleged that it had been kept and maintained as it then was for a long time prior thereto. True, it is alleged that at the time of the accident the defendants had omitted and neglected to keep or have at or about the platform any light or other signal to indicate its existence, and that the death was caused wholly by the fault and neglect of the defendants in keeping and maintaining the platform over the roadway in the
The alleged liability is, therefore, based upon a state of facts which had existed for a long time prior to the injury; and since it is alleged that the roadway had been so maintained for many years, we may fairly infer that the platform had also been kept and maintained for the same period by some one, if not by the defendants. No negligence is, therefore, involved in the case, unless it be such as had existed for many years. No duty is involved, unless it be such as had never been performed. The breach of duty, if any, consisted first in the construction. But liability is not predicated upon any wrongful construction, from which we infer that such construction occurred prior to the time when the defendants became occupants. It is the continuance or maintenance of a structure which had existed for many years that is the ground of complaint. To support it, counsel seems to rely mainly upon Thayer v. Jarvis, 44 Wis., 388; Corby v. Hill, 93 Eng. C. L., 556; Bennett v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 102 U. S., 577; and Low v. Grand Trunk Railway Co., 72 Me., 313. This'case seems to be clearly distinguishable from Thayer v. Jarvis, supra, for there the defendants had recently placed and left certain caustic substances in the passage-way through which the plaintiff’s team was driven and thereby injured.
The same distinguishing element seems to have been present in Corby v. Hill, supra, for there the defendant had just recently placed slate and other material in a road leading from the turnpike to a lunatic asjdum, in such a way as to be dangerous to travelers thereon, without giving notice or warning or other signal, and the only defense was that the same had been so placed by leave and license of the owner of the soil. In that case it was contended upon the part of
Low v. Grand Trunk Railway Co., supra, was quite similar in principle. The plaintiff, a night inspector of customs in Portland, while on the defendant’s wharf at night, fell into a gangway cutting the' direct passage along the wharf transversely,- and which had been left open and unguarded, and was injured. It was there contended that the nature of defendant’s business at the wharf was not an invitation for the plaintiff to be there at night, but that he was a mere licensee. The court, however, thought otherwise, and held, in effect, that the business of receiving cargoes from foreign-going vessels, as the defendant did at its wharf, called for the presence there at night of the inspector of customs, to whom the defendant, by the prosecution of its business,
The facts in the 'case before us are somewhat peculiar. They present some features not present in any of the above cases. Each of those cases presents some features not present here. There is no claim of any sudden obstruction of the roadway. There is no claim that the deceased was a trespasser at the time of the injury. Whether the roadway was used in pursuance of some grant, reservation, covenant, agreement, prescription, dedication, or under a mere license, does not appear, except in so far as may be inferred from the facts stated. There is nothing to indicate that it was ever laid out as a public highway. There is nothing to indicate it was such by prescription. There is nothing to indicate that the public authorities ever assumed any control over it. There is no claim that the city would be liable for any defect in it. The mere Tact that the roadway afforded access to the rear ends of such buildings to the public in general, as well as to such occupants and proprietors, their agents and servants, did not convert such roadway into a public highway. True, one end opened into a public street and the other into a public alley, and it may and probably would be inferred that such openings constituted a license to the public to use it for all purposes to which it was adapted. Danforth v. Durell, 8 Allen, 244. Rut such license, or even had there been a dedication, would have been limited to the use of the roadway with the overhanging platform, as it was and had for years been maintained.
In Le Neve v. The Vestry of Mile End Old Town, 8 El. & Bl., 1063, it was observed by the court: “But over the place in question the public have not an unlimited right of passage, but only a qualified right of little or no practical utility, and subject to such use as the occupants of the adjoining
Undoubtedly, as remarked by the supreme court of Mew Hampshire, “ a highway may be proved by long usage; but a way, to become public, must be used in such a manner as to show that the public accommodation requires it to be a highway, and that it is the intention of the owner of the land to dedicate the way to the public.” Barker v. Clark, 4 N. H., 383; State v. Nudd, 23 N. H., 337. To the same effect, Hall v. McLeod, supra. The allegation here is that the roadway, street, and alley afforded to the public in general access for teams and wagons to the rear ends of all the various buildings situated on the half block. Besides, it is alleged that it had been maintained by the proprietors and occupants of the several lots and parts of lots in the half-block for many years. The allegations, therefore, restrict the use to particular classes of persons, and hence preclude a dedication to the public. But, in the language ©f. the
In Bagley v. People, 43 Mich., 355, it was held that an alley is not a public highway and cannot be governed by the same rules. It is for the accommodation of abutting owners, and the public have no general right of way through it. The roadway in question, therefore, must be regarded as a private way. Being a private way, passage over it was, manifestly, either under a license, by prescription, or else a right secured by virtue of some grant, reservation, covenant, or agreement. If by virtue of such grant, reservation, covenant, or agreement, then the same was either in gross,— that is, attached to the person using it,— or appurtenant to the several lots. Sanxay v. Hunger, 42 Ind., 44; Watson v. Bioren, 1 Serg. & E., 221. If any such right was here secured, there certainly is nothing to indicate that the same was in gross, hence it would be construed to be appurtenant to the several lots. Sanxay v. Hunger, supra, and Spensley v. Valentine, 34 Wis., 154. So, if any such right was here secured, it was not that “ of a suitable and convenient passage,” as in Atkins v. Bordman, 2 Met., 457; Wimbledon v. Dixon, L. E, 1 Ch. Div., 362; and Walker v. Pierce, 38 Vt., 94; but a roadway definitely fixed, and actually used and maintained as fixed, for many years. Had there been any such grant, reservation, covenant, or agreement, an inspection of the same might have revealed the precise limits of the roadway in height as well as width, and whether such roadway
In Barnes v. Haynes, 13 Gray, 188, a passage-way which extended from a street along and upon both sides of the dividing line between two lots, and was the only means of access to the back part of either, was used by the owners of both lots for twenty years without limitation, restriction, interruption, or objection, or any claim of right, except what might be implied from such use, and. it was held that from such use a grant must be presumed to the owner of each lot of an easement in that part of the passage-way which was upon the other lot. But here no right of passage by prescription for twenty years, or any definite number of years, is alleged, unless it is to be inferred from the allegation that the way had been maintained for many years.
In Richardson v. Pond, 15 Gray, 390, it was held, however, that “ where a right of way is proved to exist by adverse use and enjoyment only, the common and ordinary use which establishes the right, also limits and qualifies it.” Applying that principle to the case before us, and it is apparent that if the right of passage were established by use and enjoyment of the roadway with the platform projecting as stated, then such right of passage was also limited and qualified by the right to continue the platform so spanning the roadway.
In Salisbury v. Andrews, 19 Pick., 250, the way had already been fixed by buildings, permanent inclosures, and use, and
It was held in Walker v. Pierce, supra, that “ when a party grants a private way, he is not bound by implication to construct or keep in repair the way granted. That duty rests on the grantee, if he wishes to enjoy the-way, and he takes by grant the right to do so.” The same, in effect, was held in Georgia, where the right of passage was acquired by prescription. Puryear v. Clements, 53 Ga., 232.
In Gautret v. Egerton, L. R., 2 C. P., 375, the demurrer to the declaration was sustained because it appeared therein that the “ land was in the same state at the time of the accident that it was in at the time the permission to use it was originally given.” It has often been held that a grant of a right of way will be construed with reference to the state and condition of the premises at the time the grant was made. Stevenson v. Stewart, 7 Phila., 295; Messer v. Oestreich, 52 Wis., 689.
In Beecher v. People, 38 Mich., 289, it was held that a roof twelve or fifteen feet above an alley was not necessarily an obstruction. In Bagley v. People, supra, it was held that a platform built in an alley, at the rear of a store, for convenience in transferring goods, cannot be assumed as matter of law to be an obstruction or a nuisance. “ A way,” says a very recent writer, “ may be either a foot-way, or a bridleway, or a drift-way for cattle, or a right of way with carts and carriages for agricultural purposes, or for mining purposes, or for all purposes whatever; indeed, it is difficult to
Erom the authorities cited, and the allegations in the complaint, it is very evident that if any grant, reservation, prescription, covenant, or agreement is here to be presumed in favor of the several proprietors and occupants, it must be of the roadway with the platform projecting over it, as it had existed and been used for many years. If each of such proprietors and occupants had such right of passage by virtue of some grant, reservation, prescription, covenant, or agreement, then of course such right extended, not only to their respective agents and servants, but to the customers of ea'ch having occasion to visit the rear of any of such lots on business with the occupants. In so far as the business of each proprietor or occupant invited' customers over the roadway and under the platform to the rear of his place of business, his liability would probably be governed by the principle involved in Corby v. Hill, Bennett v. L. & N. R. R. Co., Low v. Grand Trunk Railway Co., supra, and cases of that nature.
But can we say by implication that one such occupant or proprietor holds out any invitation to any one to become a customer or dealer with some other occupant or proprietor? Each may be said to hold out an invitation to his own customers and dealers, but can he, in any sense, be said to invite people to become a customer or dealer of other occupants or proprietors whose places of business run back to the roadway ? Invitations to become customers of others are sometimes in the negative instead of the affirmative form.' Oertainly there is nothing to indicate that the defendants ever in any way extended to the deceased any invitation to become a customer or dealer of theirs, or to have any contract or business relations with them whatever. It is a sufii-
It is true that fault and negligence in keeping and maintaining the platform is alleged; but, in the language of Willes, J., in Gautret v. Egerton, supra, “ to bring the case
In Sullivan v. Waters, supra, the court observed that the words “ negligently and improperly ” and “ contrary to their duty,” will not dispense with the necessity of 'setting forth the facts which show the duty.
In Gallagher v. Humphery, supra, there was an element of active negligence, but it was conceded by the late lord chief justice “ that if the owner of the soil gives permission to any person to pass and repass over a particular way, he is not bound to do more than allow the enjoyment of such permissive right according to the circumstances in which such way exists; that he is not bound, for instance, if the way passes along the side of a dangerous ditch, or along the edge of a precipice, to fence off the road from the ditch or precipice. The only right acquired by such permission is to enjoy the permission granted of using the premises as they exist.” The case thus supposed actually existed, and the rule thus stated was actually sanctioned in Binks v. South Yorkshire
In Wilkinson v. Fairrie, supra, the plaintiff was sent by his employer to fetch goods. The defendant’s servant directed him along a dark passage-way to find the warehouseman, and in going he fell down an unguarded stair-case and was injured, and it was held that there was no obligation to the plaintiff to light the passage-way or guard the stair-case, and hence there was no liability.
In Vanderbeck v. Hendry, supra, the plaintiff, a boy of about ten years of age, while passing along a gang or passage-way in a lumber yard, and which was frequently used for passage by the public, near a public street in Jersey City, was injured by the falling of a pile of lumber, and it was held that “ a mere permission to pass over dangerous lands, or an acquiescence in such passage for the benefit or convenience of the licensee, creates no duty on the party giving such permission, except to refrain from acts wilfully injurious. One who enjoys such permission is only relieved from being a trespasser, and must assume all the ordinary risks attached to the nature of the place or the business carried on.”
The above discussion, except as to licensees, has been predicated upon the theory of an absolute right of passage along the roadway and under the platform in each of the several proprietors and occupants, and their agents and servants. But it is very doubtful whether any such right here existed. There is no allegation in the complaint indicating that there ever was any right by virtue of any prescription, grant, reservation, covenant, or agreement, except such, if any, as may be inferred from mere use and maintenance.
In Thayer v. Jarvis, supra, the use of the drive-way was quite similar, and it was held in effect that the facts supported a finding that teamsters had license from each of the several occupants whose buildings abutted thereon, to use
As a mere licensee, it is very evident, under the above authorities, that the defendants were under no duty or obli- ■ gation to him to remove the platform, nor to warn him of its existence by lights or barriers. There is no allegation to indicate that the defendants had ever done or omitted to do anything to make the roadway more dangerbus than it had been for many years.
There is nothing to indicate the existence of any sudden or concealed danger. There was no contract relation between the defendants and the deceased. His contract relation was with Plankinton & Armour. As to whether they were under any duty or obligation to inform him of the existence of the overhanging platform before he was, by virtue of their business and his employment, required to drive under it, is a question upon which we are not here called upon to express any opinion. It is obvious, however, that if there was any duty or obligation resting upon any one to so inform him of the nature and elevation of the structure before entering upon his employment, it was with those who so employed, rather than with those who had nothing to do with the employment, and probably knew nothing of it. There being no contract or other relation between the deceased and the defendants, there would seem to be no duty or obligation resting upon them to give such information merely because Plankinton & Armour had engaged his services in hauling pork along the roadway over the premises occupied by the defendants, as they and their
Dissenting Opinion
I most respectfully dissent from the majority opinion in this case. The owner of the several buildings and warehouses owned the ground in the rear of the same, next to the river, in severalty, and by an agreement between themselves have for many years maintained and used a roadway along and across the same in connection with a public alley and public streets leading to and away from the same, for the access to and egress from the same of teams and wagons, in the appropriate business of each. This unquestionably made this open ground the private way of each one of the proprietors for such purpose, and created in each a private easement in the same. In such a case the law is perfectly well settled that these several proprietors took their right and use of this roadway subject to any obstruction, either natural or artificial, existing therein at the time of such dedication, on the premises of either one of them, and there was no obligation or duty resting upon any one of them to remove such obstruction, however dangerous or inconvenient to the others. They all had, or are presumed to have had, notice of such obstruction, and if • its removal was desired it could have been provided for at the time. They must, therefore regulate and enjoy such joint use in view of the same. In'this there is no hardship or possible wrong, and all of the authorities which are cited to sustain this demurrer have application onl/y to such a case.
But the complaint makes a case very different from this. The language in respect to the dedication of this roadway
This roadway was for the use of “ the public in general,” as well as of the proprietors, in connection with a public alley and public streets for such purposes. It was necessary that the public should have access to such buildings for the appropriate business of each. The plaintiff was one of that public. He had a right there by virtue of this dedication, and his attempted use of the roadway was proper. What does the law call this right of the public, and the roadway in connection with such public use? Is there any name for it? Does it involve any public right which the law can recognize? It is said it is not a highway like one of the streets of a city, or roád in a town, which is required to be kept in repair by the public authorities. Probably not. It
The defendants maintained a dangerous nuisance in this way of which the public was not apprised, and which they had no reason to suppose existed. They maintained a trap in the way. They virtually, by the dedication to such use, said to the public, notified the public, that there was no such shed or roof existing at their building just high enough to take the heads of the unsuspecting and unnotified public using the way in the night-time off from their shoulders. Can it be possible that by such dedication the defendants owed no duty, were under no obligation, to the public to remove such a dangerous obstruction from the way, or raise it above the heads of those for whose use it was intended? The very principle which underlies the relation of cities and towns to the highways and the public, of liability to the public, or of obligation or duty to the public, is boldly present in this relation between the defendants, this roadway, and the public, so far as to require them to remove such a
The following language of Chief Justice CooKBnRN'in Corby v. Hill, 93 Eng. C. L., 556, is perfectly applicable to this case, and no criticism or refinement can make it otherwise: “ The proprietors of the soil held out an allurement whereby the plaintiff was induced to come upon the place in question. They held out this road to all persons having occasion to proceed to the asylum as the means of access thereto. Could they have justified the placing an obstruction across the way, whereby an injury was occasioned to one using the way by their invitation? Clearly they could not.” No distinction was ever made, where the rights of the unnotified public were concerned, as to liability, whether the obstruction was
The case of Low v. Grand Trunk Railway Co., 72 Me., 313, is precisely in point as to facts and .principle. The court said, in that case: “ In fitting up a place for business purposes one is at liberty to consult his own convenience and profit, but not without a reasonable regard for the safety of those whom his operations bring upon his premises upon lawful business errands. In particular, anything which may .operate as a trap _ or a pitfall for those not familiar with the place or moving in a dim light is to be avoided, if reasonable care will accomplish security to life and limb in that respect.”
There are 'many other cases in point in the brief of respondents’ counsel, and many not cited. Indeed, it may be safely challenged that no respectable case can be found involving substantially the same facts, wherein the duty and liability of the proprietor to one of the public in such a case are even questioned. It is of no use to cite cases having no bearing upon the-real question here, however numerous they may be, or suppose a great multitude of cases of no possible analogous relevancy to this, and discuss the law applicable to them.
I feel the more interest in this case because I cannot but think that the principle upon which it is based is very important and well established both by reason and authority, and that legal justice may be impaired by its repudiation, and the manifestation of undue zeal in its discussion may be excused on the ground of strong conviction.
I think the complaint states a cause of action.
By the Court.— The order of the circuit court is affirmed.
