Case Name: Peter Gilligan vs. The Board of Aldermen of Providence
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1875-12-27
Citations: 11 R.I. 258
Docket Number: 
Parties: Peter Gilligan vs. The Board of Aldermen of Providence.
Judges: 
Reporter: Rhode Island Reports
Volume: 11
Pages: 258–258

Head Matter:
Peter Gilligan vs. The Board of Aldermen of Providence.
A tenant for life or years, or from year to year, is an “ owner” within the provisions of Gen. Stat. R. 1. cap. 60, § 38, which give compensation to abutting owners for damages caused by a change of grade in highways.
Petition for a writ of mandamus.
The board of aldermen of the city of Providence refused the prayer of the petitioner for the appointment of “ three suitable and indifferent men,” as required by Gen. Stat. R. I. cap. 60, § 38, alleging that the petitioner, being a tenant by parol from year to year, was not entitled to compensation as an “ abutting owner,” for damages arising from a change of grade, made on Wickenden Street. On this refusal the petitioner, claiming damages for injury received by him as tenant, prayed that a writ of mandamus might issue to the board of aldermen compelling them to appoint “ three suitable and indifferent men,” &c., as provided by Gen. Stat. R. I. cap. 60.
Charles II. ParJchurst, for petitioner.
Nicholas Van SlycJe, City Solicitor, for board of aldermen.
December 27, 1875.

Opinion:
Dureee, C. J.
We think the words " any.abutting owner," as used in Gen. Stat. R. I. cap. 60, § 38, are comprehensive enough to include a tenant for life or years, or from year to year, of the abutting estate, as well as the owner of the fee. A lessee is an owner pro tanto of the estate which is leased to him. This construction, moreover, is in keeping with the meaning which obviously belongs to the word " owner," in Gen. Stat. R. I. cap. 59, § 4 (as see cap. 59, § 6), and with the rule of construction given in cap. 22, § 9. We grant the writ of mandamus. Petition granted.