Muller v. Stone
Muller v. Stone
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff alleges that he is the owner of certain lots of ground and the buildings thereon situated at the corner of Gravier, Front and Fulton streets, in New Orleans; tiiat the house he occupies at that locality is used both for thepurposes of his business and as his family residence; the upper story of the building being appropriated for the use of the family, the lower story being used for a refreshment saloon. He complains that the adjoining building owned by the defendant Stone, and leased by him to Willoz & Rostand, is used by the lessees for the purpose of carrying on a sugar refinery, in the opperating of which a steam engine of great power is used on the basement story of the building; that the working of this engine, which is in operation night and day, causes himself and family an annoyance
The defendants put in a general denial — aver that they have paid the city of New Orleans two hundred and four dollars as a license for carrying on their sugar refinery in the building referred to by the plaintiff; that the payment of this license and the granting of the permit by the city to them was preceded by an examination of the building by the city surveyor who reported the same to be of sufficient strength to prevent motion or vibration from the action of the steam engine used by the defendants. They aver also the payment of a State license for the same privilege. They pray that the plaintiff’s demand be rejected, and that the city of New Orleans as their warrantor, be called in to defend them against the action. The city excepted that the defendants have no cause of action ; that the permission granted to them by no means binds the city to maintain them in the use of the premises permitted to be used.
The case was tried before a jury, who awarded damages in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of fifteen hundred dollars. The defendant, Stone,ha= appealed. Two bills of exceptions were taken by defendants. Both refer to the charge of the judge to the jury. We do not find error in the charge given to the jury and think the exceptions were not well taken.
We think the plaintiff has fully made out a case which entitles him to relief. The important inquiry is whether Stone, the proprietor of the building leased to Willoz & Rostaud, is liable in damages. We have seen that the judgment of the lower court condemned the proprietor and the lessees in solido, and that Stone, the owner of the leased prem
We think that Stone can not be held responsible for the manner in which the sugar refinery may have injured the business of the plaintiff.
It is therefore ordered that the judgment of the lower court) so far as it condemns the defendant, Stone, to pay damages to the plaintiff, be annulled, avoided and reversed; it is further ordered that the plaintiff and appellee pay costs of this appeal.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Michael Muller v. H. L. Stone and Willoz & Rostand—Mary Catherine and William Muller, Intervenors
- Status
- Published