Opinion ID: 2081545
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Order of February 17, 1958.

Text: It is well established that the right of a plaintiff to maintain an action against a municipality for injuries caused by a defect in a city street or sidewalk is purely statutory; the conditions imposed by the legislature are precedent to a right of action and failure to comply with them in the complaint is fatal on demurrer. Hogan v. Beloit (1921), 175 Wis. 199, 184 N. W. 687. Sec. 81.15, Stats., provides, in part: If damages happen to any person or his property by reason of the insufficiency or want of repairs of any highway which any town, city, or village is bound to keep in repair, the person sustaining such damages shall have a right to recover the same from such town, city, or village, ... No such action shall be maintained unless within thirty days after the happening of the event causing such damages, notice in writing signed by the party, his agent, or attorney shall be given to the county clerk of the county, a supervisor of the  town, one of the trustees of the village, or mayor or city clerk of the city against which damages are claimed, stating the place where such damages occurred, and describing generally the insufficiency or want of repair which occasioned it and that satisfaction therefor is claimed of such county, town, city, or village. The complaint fails to allege that notice in writing was served on the proper city officers within thirty days after the accident. Plaintiff admits that no such notice was given to the city, but argues that it was unnecessary because the city had actual notice of the accident through its policemen who arrived at the scene shortly after the plaintiff fell and took her to a hospital in an ambulance. The statute requires written notice, within thirty days of the accident, given to the mayor or city clerk, and stating (1) the place of accident, (2) the insufficiency or want of repair, and (3) that satisfaction is claimed of the city. Even if notice to the policemen constituted substantial compliance with the statutory requirement of notice to the city, which it did not, it would be notice only of the place of accident and the conditions existing there. It certainly would not be notice that the plaintiff claimed satisfaction of the city for her damages. In a case somewhat similar to this, Skiris v. Port Washington (1936), 223 Wis. 51, 269 N. W. 556, action was commenced by a minor injured while lawfully coasting on a city street blocked off for that purpose when he collided with a sleigh parked on the street by one William Last. Both Last and the city were joined as defendants. The accident happened February 1, 1935, but the plaintiff served no notice of injury on the city until August 8, 1935. This court held the complaint demurrable for failure to allege compliance with the requirements of sec. 81.15, Stats. Plaintiff takes out of context language from Mueller v. Milwaukee (1957), 1 Wis. (2d) 221, 228, 83 N. W. (2d) 735, as support for her argument that written notice is not  required. In that case the court was discussing notice to the city of the defect which existed for a long time prior to the accident. A reading of the case will show that no reference was made or intended to be made to the notice of injury and claim required by sec. 81.15, Stats. Plaintiff also argues that the notice required by sec. 81.15, Stats., is not necessary because in this case the city was joined as a defendant pursuant to the provisions of sec. 81.17, relative to its secondary liability, the defendant Currer and her insurer being primarily liable. Her counsel contends that since sec. 81.17 does not require notice to the city, stating only that the city may be sued with the person primarily liable, the service of the complaint within two years after the accident is sufficient notice under the provisions of sec. 330.19 (5). As held by the trial court, sec. 81.17, Stats., is intended to establish the order of responsibility where both an abutting property owner and the city are at fault for the condition of a defective sidewalk. It is not intended to eliminate, in such circumstances, compliance with sec. 81.15. If a plaintiff could circumvent the provisions of sec. 81.15 simply by joining an abutting property owner and the city as parties defendant, sec. 81.15 would be rendered meaningless. The order of February 17, 1958, is affirmed. By the Court. Orders affirmed.