Opinion ID: 2609851
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Rylands v. Fletcher Doctrine.

Text: Schutt next contends that strict liability should be imposed because electricity is an abnormally dangerous activity as contemplated by RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF TORTS § 519 (1977). The abnormally dangerous activity theory for imposing strict liability evolves from the doctrine in Rylands v. Fletcher, L.R. 1-Ex. 265 (1866). In Jacoby v. City of Gillette, 174 P.2d 505 (1946), this court considered whether to adopt the Rylands doctrine. The rule of Rylands was: The person who for his own purposes brings on his lands and collects and keeps there anything likely to do mischief if it escapes, must keep it in at his peril, and, if he does not do so, is prima facie answerable for all the damage which is the natural consequence of its escape. Jacoby, 174 P.2d at 509. Wyoming, as had most states, rejected the notion that absolute liability should be imposed for anything brought onto the land which was not naturally there, escaped and caused damage. This court required that negligence must be shown. Jacoby, 174 P.2d at 512. We have since consistently imposed the standard of ordinary care under all of the circumstances rather than absolute liability. Although the rule of Rylands has evolved as defined by RESTATEMENT ONE and RESTATEMENT SECOND, the facts of this case do not require that we adopt strict liability rather than require a showing of negligence. [1]