Morrill v. Town of Deering

3 N.H. 53 | Superior Court of New Hampshire | 1824

Richardson, C. J.

The question to be decided in this case is whether an action can be maintained against a town, to recover damages for an injury sustained by reason of a hidden defect in a highway, which the town is bound to keep in repair'? ■■■■■■■•■

At common law, no action could be maintained for an injury happening through the defect of a highway. 9 Mass. Rep. 247, Mower vs. Leicester—17 John. 439, Bartlett vs. Crosier.—15 ditto 250.—6 ditto 90.

Our statute of February 27, 1786, sec. 4, enacts, “that “ in c ase any special damage shall happen to any person or “ persons, or to his or their teams or carriages, by means of “ the insufficiency, or want of repairs of any highways or !c bridges in any town or parish w ithin this state, the party “ aggrieved shall recover his or their damage, in an action “ ngrinst such town or parish. And the said town or parish “ shall have a remedy over against any surveyor or survey- “ ors, through whose fault or neglect the same happened.” 1 N. H. Laws 389.

We are of opinion, that under this statute, towns are liable for injuries happening through defects of highways, whether the defects be previously known to exist or not. Such is the plain letter of the statute, from which there seems to be no reason why we should depart. It is true, that the surveyors of highways are made answerable to the town, only in case of their fault or neglect. But however reasonable it may seem to coniine the remedy against the surveyors to cases of their neglect, or fault, sound policy may have required, that the towns should be liable without notice.

In Massachusetts, towns are made liable in a case of this kind to pay double damages ; but they must have reasonable notice of the defect. Statute of 1786, cap. 81, sec. 7.—1 Mass. Rep. 153, Lobdell vs. New-Bedford. All this is, however, by statute.

In an action upon the case, for not repairing a fence between the lands of the plaintiff and defendant, whereby the plaintiffs cattle escaped, it seems not to be necessary to allege, that the defendant had notice of the defect in the fence. See the form of the declaration, 2 Chilly's Pl. 348.

So, in case against one for not repairing a water-course, which he was bound to repair, it seems not to be necessary to allege, that the defendant had notice that the water-course wanted repairs. 2 Chitty’s Pl. 340.

In the case of Lord vs. The Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike Corporation, (16 Mass. Rep. 106,) the plaintiff brought case against the defendants for damages arising from the loss of a horse, by means of a defect in the turnpike road. The liability of the corporation seems, from the report of the case, to have been the same as that of a town here. The defence was, that the road was in the same state when the accident, happened, as when it was originally made and approved by the committee appointed in pursuance of the act of incorporation to examine it. But this was held to be no defence.

We are, therefore, of opinion, that there must be judgment on the verdict.

Judgment for the plaintiff.