Case Name: COLUMBUS v. NEAL and WATTS
Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1923-05-03
Citations: 1 Ohio Law Abs. 471
Docket Number: No. 1058
Parties: COLUMBUS v. NEAL and WATTS
Judges: 
Reporter: The Ohio Law Abstract
Volume: 1
Pages: 471–471

Head Matter:
No. 483
COLUMBUS v. NEAL and WATTS
Ohio Appeals, Second Dist., Franklin County
No. 1058.
Decided May 3, 1923
This opinion has not been published except in Abstract.
Sidewalks — (1) Liability of abutting property owner for defective sidewalk.
Attorneys — Charles A. Leach and L. F. Laylin, for Columbus; C. E. Bibbee, for Neal and Watts.

Opinion:
ALLREAD, J.
Epitomized Opinion
The city of Columbus brought an action to recover of the owner and occupier of abutting property the amount of a certain judgment. This judgment was secured by a pedestrian who was injured, due to a defect in the sidewalk. This defect consisted of a coal hole which was maintained by the owner and occupier of said property for their own benefit. A demurrer was filed by Watts, the tenant, and was sustained. Thereupon the plaintiff prosecuted error. In reversing the judgment of the lower court, the Court of Appeals held:
1.Where a pedestrian is injured through a defect in the covering of an opening through a sidepralk maintained by the owners of the abutting property for their special use and convenience, the abutting property owners are liable to the city for the amount of a judgment secured against it by such pedestrian.