Fitzgerald v. City of Berlin

| Wis. | Oct 13, 1885

Cassoday, J.

The following facts are not disputed: Broadway ran east and west. Along the north side of it was a continuous sidewalk, at least six or seven feet wide, passing the locus in quo in both directions. The south line of the buildings fronting on this sidewalk was some four or five feet north of the north line of such continuous sidewalk. Between the front ends of these buildings, or most of them, and such continuous line of sidewalk, there were plank walks, the surface of which corresponded substantially with the surface of such continuous walk. Such, however, was not the case at street crossings, nor generally at vacancies between buildings. The stairway in question went down from the west towards the east from near the southwest corner of Galloway & Bassett’s store into the basement thereof. This stairway was properly guarded on the east and south by a railing, but not at the entrance to the stairs, except as stated in the verdict. Directly east of the store was a saloon kept by Joyce, and immediately west of the store was a saloon kept by Soper. In the space between the south line of these buildings and such continuous sidewalk (except the space occupied by the stairway and railing) there were intervening walks made of plank, the surface of which corresponded substantially with the surface of the continuous sidewalk. On the evening in question the plaintiff came out of Joyce’s saloon and walked westerly around the stair-railing, and went into Soper’s saloon. When he came out of that saloon, instead of going out onto the continuous walk and then going east, he fell down the stairway and was injured.

It is claimed on the part of the defendant that the undisputed evidence shows that the north line of the street, as originally surveyed and opened, was substantially on the north line of such continuous sidewalk and south of the stairway. On the part of the plaintiff it is claimed that there is evidence tending to show that such north line of the street is on the south line of such buildings. For the purposes of this appeal we shall assume that the plaintiff’s claim is well founded. The court charged the jury, among other things, in effect, that “ if the opening or stairway was within the north line of Broadway street, then the city was bound to keep it in a safe condition; and if it was not so kept, and the accident happened without the fault of the plaintiff,” .then the defendant was liable. And, again, “if you find from the evidence that a portion only of this entrance was within the line of the street, it was equally the duty of the city to keep such portion in a safe condition and in good repair.”

Under these instructions and the questions submitted, the jury were at liberty to find the defendant liable if the stairway, or some portion of it, was within the north line of the street as originally surveyed, even though no portion of it “ was within the limits of the sidewalk ordinarily used and traveled by the public.” This was in direct conflict with the ruling of this court on the former appeal. 51 Wis. 84. In that case Mr. Justice LyoN, after stating that the city was guilty of no neglect of duty in the case supposed, said that “ the jury should have been so instructed.” He further said: “We think the instruction proposed on behalf of the city, quoted in the foregoing statement of the case, is substantially correct, and should have been given.” The same error was repeated by rejecting substantially the same instruction upon the last trial. The reason given is, in effect, that the last trial was on the theory of the defendant’s liability if the stairway, or any portion of it, was within the line of the street as originally surveyed,— a feature said not to have been present on the first trial. But we are not prepared to hold that a city is responsible for the existence of a private structure made by a lot-owner on Ms own land entirely outside of the traveled portion of the sidewalk, and not connected therewith, in such a way as to endanger the safety of those traveling thereon, even though such structure happens to be within the line of the street as originally surveyed. To so hold would subject cities, villages, and towns to liability for defects in private walks leading from the public sidewalk to private buildings in every case where such defect happened to be within the line of the original survey. It frequently happens that streets and highways are not laid out upon nor opened up to the exact lines of the original survey. It is only such portions of the street or highway as have been used by the public for travel thereon which are required to be kept free from defects. Matthews v. Baraboo, 39 Wis. 677. Where the defect complained of is wholly outside of the traveled track or sidewalk used by the public for travel, and not connected therewith so as to endanger the safety of such public travel thereon, there can be no recovery, notwithstanding the same was within the lines of the original survey of the street or highway, and in a private walls leading from such traveled track or sidewalk to a private building or private place of business. Cartright v. Belmont, 58 Wis. 373.

By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial.