Union Township v. Anthony
Union Township v. Anthony
Opinion of the Court
Suit by the appellant against Anthony. The complaint is in two paragraphs. The first alleges that
The second paragraph avers substantially the same facts, with the additional allegations that the defendant suffered the bridge to remain out of repair and impassable for six months; that the trustee of the township sued him before a j ustice to recover $200, the penalty, at $5 per day, for obstructing the highway; that to compromise and settle that suit, he entered into a written contract with the plaintiff’s trustee to put in, and keejo in repair, a bridge on the road, across the mill-race, within a reasonable time; that he was after-wards requested by the plaintiff to put up the bridge, but for six months failed to do so, and the plaintiff had to and did build the bridge, at a cost of $400, all of which is due and unpaid. A copy of the written contract declared on is made a part of the complaint. Demurrer to the complaint, and to each paragraph thereof. Demurrers sustained and judgment. The action of the court below in sustaining the demurrers is the error assigned.
There is no misjoinder of causes of action; each paragraph. is for a “ money demand on contract.” Each civil township in this State is a body politic and corporate, with power to contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, in any court having competent jurisdiction. 1 G. & H., § 4 p. 63. Road districts are but a sub-division of a civil township. Id. § 6. It is the duty of the.township trustee “to
It was the duty of the appellee to build the bridge and keep it in repair; in consideration thereof, and for the further consideration of the compromise of pending litigatioñ, he promised to do so, but failed; the township, within its power, built the bridge and now sues for the money expended. "We think the appellant can recover. The court errred in sustaining the demurrer to the complaint.
The judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause remanded to said court, with directions to overrule the demurrer to the complaint, and for further proceedings.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.