Opinion ID: 2138322
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Schmidts' Negligence.

Text: The plaintiffs owed a duty to take such means as were available to them to protect their own land and buildings against a collapse caused by the excavating being done on the adjoining property. The jury found that the plaintiffs had failed to meet this obligation but that their failure was not a substantial factor in causing the collapse of the wall. The Schmidts' duty to protect the building was not reduced by the fact that the excavation was done by a trespasser on the adjoining property. The record shows that Schmidt received notice from the Chapmans that the excavation would go to the Schmidt property line and that the Schmidt foundation would be exposed. Mr. Schmidt inquired of Mr. Perssion about the extent of the excavation and Perssion told Schmidt that the excavation was being performed on his property (parcel C) without his permission and that he had warned the Chapmans about it. Neither Schmidt made any direct inquiry of either the Chapmans or Hersh concerning what had been done or what was planned to be done at a later time. The failure of the Schmidts to inquire of the Chapmans and Hersh regarding the excavation that was in the process of being made to the Schmidt line and then to take such means as were available to them to protect the building, was, as a matter of law, a substantial factor in causing the collapse of the wall.