City of Dothan v. Horseman
City of Dothan v. Horseman
Opinion of the Court
The action is by an abutting owner to recover damages for injury to his property, consequent upon the improvement of the public street in front of the property. The improvement consisted in both widening and grading the street. The evidence tended to show that a portion of the plaintiff’s land was taken and another portion damaged in consequence of the taking. If the pleading had been sufficient to present the issues, the record would present fewer difficulties. The pleadings, however, were anomalous, and really presented no issues to support either the proof or the verdict.
It is difficult to imagine or conjecture how it is possible for a municipal corporation, acting wholly and solely in its corporate capacity, to commit a trespass quare clasum fregit. We do not hold that it is impossible, but do not now see how there could be such a trespass by a municipal corporation. Such a corporation, of course, can act only by or through its officers, agents, servants, or other representatives, and in proper cases may be liable for the wrongful acts of such persons as its representatives; but no such facts are here alleged, or attempted to be alleged, as would make this corporation liable either in trespass or in case for the wrongful acts of any person. No facts are alleged, or attempted to be alleged, to show that the defendant, the city or town of Dothan, ever became liable by ratifying the wrongful act of its officers, agents, or servants, or that of other persons. In fact, the whole of the allegation, in this respect, is that a trespass was committed by the defendant - upon the property of the plaintiff. Of what the trespass consisted, what the acts were which constituted it, who committed the acts, or what relation they had to the defendant, is not alleged or attempted to be alleged.
We do not hold that a municipal corporation cannot be liable in trespass quare clausum fregit, because not now necessary to be decided; but it is certain that no facts are alleged in this complaint which, if conceded to be true, would show any trespass by any one for whose acts the defendant is shown to be liable in actual and special damages, such as were recovered in this action.
Reversed and remanded.
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