Court Opinion

ID: 9719386
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:50:23.901664+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:06.739526
License: Public Domain

O’Sullivan, J.
(dissenting). The law recognizes a difference between nuisances that are permanent in character and those that are temporary. The measure of damages for the former, so far as injury solely to realty is concerned, is the depreciation in the value of the property. Southern New England Ice Co. v. West Hartford, 114 Conn. 496, 507, 159 A. 470. For the latter, the measure of damages is the reduction in rental value plus the reasonable cost of repairs to the realty, but in no event may the award be greater in amount than the depreciation which the nuisance has caused. See Nailor v. C. W. Blakeslee & Sons, Inc., 117 Conn. 241, 246, 167 A. 548; Restatement, 4 Torts § 929.
The case at bar involves a temporary nuisance. Since there was no evidence before the trier from which to evaluate the elements of damages applicable for such a nuisance, there was no other course for the court to pursue than to award nominal damages. For the foregoing reasons, I dissent.