Case ID: misc_51/html/0653-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Thomas Watson, Appellant, v. The City of New York and German Grob & Son, Respondents.
    Municipal corporations — Liability with respect to sewers.
    Negligence—Acts or omissions constituting negligence — Personal conduct in general — Violation of statutes or ordinances.
    Appeal from a judgment dismissing plaintiff’s complaint in an action to recover damages for injuries caused by an alleged defective condition of a sewer, rendered in the Municipal Court of the city of New York, eighth district, borough of Manhattan.
    J. C. McEachen,- for appellant.
    William E. Hill, for respondent Grob.
    John J. Delany (Theodore Connoly and Thomas F. Noonan, of counsel), for respondent City of New York.
   Per Curiam.

On March 23, 1905, a sewer broke and water came into the cellar of plaintiff doing considerable damage. Plaintiff sued German Grob & Son and the City of. New York. The complaint was dismissed at the end of plaintiff’s case. Plaintiff appeals. The dismissal as against the city was proper. The plaintiff claims that the mere fact of the overflow makes the city liable. The city, however, on the cross-examination of plaintiff’s witnesses, showed that the sewer was properly constructed and that the overflow was due to the wrongful act of the other defendant in allowing marble dust to run into the sewer in violation of a city ordinance. Promptly upon notice, the city took steps to remedy the evil. The plaintiff made out a prima facie case against the other defendant.

The judgment is reversed as to the defendant German Grob & Son, and a new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide the event, and it is affirmed as to the defendant City of New York, with costs.

Present: Gtldebsleeve, Leveetbitt and McCall, JJ.

Judgment reversed as to defendant Grob & Son and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event, and affirmed as to defendant City of New York, with costs.