Plescia v. Le Roy
Plescia v. Le Roy
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff is the wife of defendant’s tenant and was injured by plaster falling from the ceiling of the premises so occupied. She claimed the sum of $2,560 as compensation for her injuries and drug and doctor’s bills. The lower court allowed her $350. Defendant appealed, and plaintiff has answered, praying that the award be increased to the amount originally claimed.
Opinion.
The relation of landlord and tenant is admitted, but defendant contends that the repairs to the ceiling should have been made by plaintiff’s husband and deducted from the rent. It is conclusively shown that defendant’s attention was on several occasions called to the defective condition of the plastering, but that he declined to have it repaired and assured plaintiff it was “good for at least two years.”
Plaintiff was down on her knees scrubbing the floor, and a large section of the plastering fell and struck her on the middle and lower portion of her back, bruising and lacerating the flesh to the extent that she had to be carried to her bed, where she remained about three weeks. Her back had to be strapped with adhesive plaster, and she was under the care of a physician for some two months. She paid $10.55 for drugs and $50 doctor’s bill on account of her injuries.
In the present case the plaintiff could not continue to occupy the house wdthout being constantly subjected to the possibility of the plaster falling. But she was assured by the lessor that it was good for at least two years and carried no immediate danger. In such circumstances, we do not think that any fault can be attributed to plaintiff, and that the defendant is liable.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PLESCIA v. LE ROY
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- Syllabus
- (Syllabus by Editorial Staff.) 1. Landlord and tenant Under Civ. Code, §§ 2693, 2695, 2715-2717, 2322, prescribing a landlord’s duty to repair, the owner of a building is liable for injuries caused to his tenant by his failure to make the necessary repairs due to the decay of his building and of which he has knowledge. 2. Landlord and tenant &wkey;>l64(2) — Assurance by landlord plaster was safe justifies tenant’s remaining. Where a landlord had assured his tenant, when notified the plastering was defective, that it was good for at least two years, the tenant was not bound to make the repairs and deduct the cost from the rent, but could continue to occupy the premises and can recover damages for injuries caused, by the fall of the plaster. 3. Damages A judgment for $350 for temporary injuries to a woman caused by plaster falling on her back, which required her to remain in bed three weeks with her back strapped with adhesive' plaster, and to remain under the care of a physician for two months at an expense of $60, held proper as against objection by both plaintiff and defendant.