Inhabitants of Stoughton v. Porter
Inhabitants of Stoughton v. Porter
Opinion of the Court
There can be no doubt that a person may be held liable for maintaining an obstruction, which constitutes a defect in a highway whereby a traveller receives injury, although he did not himself place it in the street. If he make any use of an erection, placed by others on his premises, such use is certainly evidence tending to show that he adopts and maintains it. Whether such use is sufficient to show that he did adopt and maintain it is for the jury to determine upon all the circumstances of the case. It certainly is not necessary that the injury should result from the particular use which the defendant
All the rulings and instructions of the judge who tried the cause, as we understand them, were in accordance with these principles.
It is not a case of injury occasioned by the combined effect of two concurrent causes. There was but one cause, the obstruction of the highway by the sticks. Whoever is responsible for their maintenance there is liable for the injury.
Exceptions overruled.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Inhabitants of Stoughton v. Robert Porter
- Status
- Published