Case ID: ohio-law-abs_4/html/0270-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "HAMILTON, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

No. 348
    
    CINCINNATI (City) v. KIRK
    Ohio Appeals, 1st Dist., Hamilton Co.
    No. 2727.
    Decided Dec. 28, 1925
    Note — The Cincinnati Superior Court opinion will be found in 3 Abs. 450.
    1049. RIPARIAN RIGHTS — 1. Riparian owners entitled to damages for pollution to stream.
    2. Such damages only for the time owners are seized of abbutting property.
    Attorneys — P. K. Bowman & H. M. Bruestle for City; Peck, Shaffer & Williams, and M. Sayler for Kirks; all of Cincinnati.
   HAMILTON, J.

Theo, Kirk and Margaret Kirk brought this action to recover damages caused by the City of Cincinnati in permitting the discharge of sewage into a creek running through the lands of the Kirks. The cause was tried to a jury in the Hamilton Common Pleas and the jury found for the Kirks in the amount of $5000.

The City prosecuted error in that the evidence showed that the land through which the creek ran was not owned by the Kirks during the entire period for which damages were asked and recovered. The Court of Appeals held:

1. Recovery of damages to lower riparian owners may be recovered only for such period of time as such owners have the property in their possession.
2. In view of the evidence showing that the Kirks did not have this land in their possession for the entire period fo.r which damages were assessed, a remititur of $312.50 is ordered and judgment affirmed.

Judgment as modified affirmed.