Case ID: minn_26/html/0267-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Gilfillan, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Michael O’Gorman vs. Village of Morris.
    November 25, 1879.
    Village — Neglect to cover Calvert. — Recovery against a village corporation, for damages occurring in consequence of neglect to properly cover a culvert across a street, approved.
    Appeal by defendant from an order of the district court for Stevens, Big Stone and Traverse counties, Brown, J., presiding, refusing a new trial after verdict of $175 for plaintiff.
    
      C. L. Broicn, for appellant.
    
      Wm. I-I. Harris, for respondent.
   Gilfillan, C. J.

The common council of the village corporation has, by the charter, authority to raise money for “opening, building, grading, paving or repairing streets and cross-walks.” Sp. Laws 1878, c. 5, § 16, subd.-25.

It appears that the injury to the plaintiff occurred in consequence, not of the omission of the corporation to assume control of a street, but of its failure to properly cover- a culvert laid across a street by authority of the corporation. If there was negligence in this, and the jury has found there was, of course the corporation is liable unless there was contributory negligence on the part of plaintiff. The verdict negatives the proposition that there was negligence on the part of plaintiff, and the evidence justifies the finding. There is nothing in the proposition that the damages are excessive. The plaintiff being entitled to recover, they are verv moderate.

Order affirmed.