Case Name: Cincinnati (City) v. Jennie M. Frazier
Court: Hamilton Circuit Court
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1899-10
Citations: 10 Ohio Cir. Dec. 524
Docket Number: 
Parties: Cincinnati (City) v. Jennie M. Frazier.
Judges: 
Reporter: Ohio Circuit Decisions
Volume: 10
Pages: 524–524

Head Matter:
NEGLIGENCE — MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
[Hamilton Circuit Court,
October Term, 1899.]
Smith, Swing and Giffin, JJ.
Cincinnati (City) v. Jennie M. Frazier.
Municipal Corporations not Excused from Care of Crossings.
In an action for personal injuries occasioned by a defective street crossing, it would be error to direct the jury, in considering the question whether the crossing, at the time and place of the accident, was reasonably safe, to bear in mind “the extent of the territory covered by the cit}', and the number of other crossings and streets demanding care, and the number and nature of other duties devolving upon the city and also claiming its care and attention.” Such a charge would be equivalent to stating that, owing to such facts, the corporation, not having funds to properly care for all, by attending to such repairs as were most urgent would not be deemed negligent; and a city, by the certainty and regularity of taxation, has less reason than a private corporation to so shield itself.
Error to the Court of Common Pleas of Hamilton county.
For previeras decision, as to proof and contributory negligence, reversing common pleas judgment, see 9 Circ. Dec. 487.

Opinion:
Giffen, J.
This was an action for damages for a personal injury occasioned by the negligence of the city in permitting a street crossing to remain out of repair and in a dangerous condition. The court below refused to charge the jury that, in considering whether the crossing in question, at the time and place of the accident, was a reasonably safe crossing, it was their duty to bear in mind "the extent of the territory covered by the city, and the number of other crossings and streets demanding care, and the number and nature of other duties devolving upon the city and also claiming its care and atention," to which refusal the ciry excepted and now claims it was error.
The inference which the jury would naturally dra-w from such a charge is that the territory covered by this city, the number of its street crossings and the number of its duties, are greater than those of other cities; that its means are insufficient to properly care for all, and that by attending to such repairs as are most urgent, and omitting those not so. necessary, it will not be deemed negligent.
The argument reduces itself to the proposition that the city, being without funds whereby to make all necessary repairs, and being limited in making contracts by the money already in the treasury, can not be charged with negligence in failing to keep up ordinary repairs. A city, like a prívate corporation, will have more or less money in its treasury in proportion as its business is managed with ability, care, economy and fidelity; and, aided by the certainty and regularity of taxation, it has less reason than a private corportion to so shield itself.
We have examined the other errors- alleged, although not urged at the hearing, but find none in the record.
Judgment affirmed.