Case Name: SHIETART v. CITY OF DETROIT
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1896-02-18
Citations: 108 Mich. 309
Docket Number: 
Parties: SHIETART v. CITY OF DETROIT.
Judges: Long, J., concurred with Grant, J. McGrath, C. J., took no part in the decision.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 108
Pages: 309–312

Head Matter:
SHIETART v. CITY OF DETROIT.
Municipal Corporations — Defective Sidewalks.
Pursuant to notice from the common council of a city, all of the lot owners but one in a given district constructed sidewalks in front of their lots. Plaintiff was injured after passing over the open space in front of this lot, by catching his foot in the walk on the other side. Held, by Grant and Lon», JJ., that there was no more danger in walking over the sidewalk than over those built with steps to cross-walks and streets; that plaintiff had no right to assume that no walk higher than the ground existed beyond the open space; that the case was not one where a sidewalk was out of repair, but where none had ever been built; and that a municipality is not liable for injuries resulting solely from a failure to construct a walk or a part thereof.
Hooker, J., concurred in reversing the judgment for plaintiff, and in refusing a hew trial, on the ground that, if the walk was unsafe, its condition was apparent to the most casual observer; that in such cases the circumstances must be exceptional to authorize a recovery; and that no such circumstances were shown to exist in the case at bar.
Montgomery, J., dissented, holding that while, as a general proposition, the statute does not make a city liable for failure to construct a sidewalk, the walk which caused the injury complained of was constructed and existing; that the city was responsible for its care; that its abrupt termination, which was the cause of the injury, was neither necessary nor contemplated as a part of the plan of construction; and that it was a question for the jury whether this constructed walk was in a condition reasonably safe and fit for public travel.
Error to Wayne; Hosmer, J.
Submitted December 6, 1895.
Decided February 18, 1896.
Case by August Shietart against the city of Detroit for personal injuries. From a judgment for plaintiff, defendant brings error.
Reversed.
John J. Speed, for appellant.
Fink & O'Connor, for appellee.

Opinion:
Grant, J.
The city gave notice to lot owners to construct this sidewalk. All but one complied with the order. The sole ground of negligence upon which it is sought to hold the city liable is the failure to construct this Walk in front of this lot. The walk was in a sparsely settled part of the city. The ends of the walk opposite the open space were a few inches above the ground. We do not think the statute covers this case. In most cities and villages sidewalks are constructed with steps to the cross-walks and streets. There was no more danger in walking over this sidewalk than over those constructed so that travelers are compelled to frequently step up and down. The plaintiff safely stepped off the walk. He had no right to as sume that there was no walk beyond higher than the ground. The sidewalk was not out of repair. It had not been built. We see no reason why a municipality should be held liable solely for a failure to construct a walk or a part thereof.
The judgment must be reversed, and no new trial ordered.
Long, J., concurred with Grant, J. McGrath, C. J., took no part in the decision.