Court Opinion

ID: 7183857
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:50:43.000913+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:16:00.443551
License: Public Domain

Slidell, C. J.
The plaintiff sues the defendants as joint proprietors of an adjoining lot for one-half of the cost of a party wall. It appears the original party wall was so damaged by fire in the spring of 1851, that it was necessary to demolish and rebuild it. There was judgment against the defendants in solido, for the amount claimed, and they have appealed.
*481The defendants purchased the lot from Montgomery on the 10th July, 1851, after the reconstruction of the wall was finished and paid for by plaintiff, Oorvrey, who sold the property to Montgomery, on the 8th July, 1851, testifies that he made no arrangement with Montgomery or with defendants about the payment of the party wall, and a hill of plaintiff for one-half the cost was made out against Gonrey, under date of July 2, 1851. The only evidence of a personal undertaking to pay this amount is the testimony of the plaintiff’s agent respecting a conversation with James. The District Judge considered this testimony as showing a promise by James to pay.
We are unable to concur in this conclusion, and think there should be judgment as in case of nonsuit.
It is proper to observe that we have not distinct evidence before us that James and Marshall subsequently used the party wall thus reconstructed; and that it is unnecessary now to decide whether a pi ivilege would arise upon the adjoining proprietors using a party wall reconstructed before he acquired the adjoining estate, or whether if his vendor had used the reconstructed wall before selling, there would be a privilege following the property sold into the hands of such vendee.
Judgment reversed and judgment as in case of nonsuit; plaintiff to pay costs in both courts.