Vesta Accumulator Co. v. Douglas
Vesta Accumulator Co. v. Douglas
Opinion of the Court
This was a suit by the owner of a building against the lessee for damage to the realty, occasioned by sulphuric acid coming in contact with the flooring, thereby disintegrating the same. The property was leased by the owner for a term of seven years to the defendant as tenant, who conducted an electric-batteiy service. The lease provided that “the said lessee will, at the expiration of the term hereby created, yield up possession of said premises and all keys thereto belonging unto the said lessor, in as good order and repair as when first received, natural wear and tear excepted. The lessee agrees to keep the premises herein leased in repair during the existence and continuance of this lease, at his own expense, the outside walls and roof excepted.” It appears without dispute that the floor was injured and more or less destroyed in the manner indicated, the contention of the defendant being that from the nature of the
Under the charge of the court and the evidence submitted, it was a question of fact for the jury to determine whether the damage incurred arose from the ordinary and reasonable use of the rented premises'. The jury having necessarily found that a portion of the damage was occasioned by what amounted to an unreasonable use of the premises, and the evidence not demanding, as a matter of law, a finding to the contrary, their verdict can not be disturbed.
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.