Ritter v. Mayor of Baltimore

Supreme Court of Maryland
Ritter v. Mayor of Baltimore, 150 A.2d 260 (Md. 1959)
219 Md. 477; 1959 Md. LEXIS 375
Bruñe, Henderson, Hammond, Prescott, Horney

Ritter v. Mayor of Baltimore

Opinion

Per Curiam.

A child’s clothing caught fire from a flare pot put out by the defendant city as a warning of danger on account of construction work in one street near its intersection with another in a populous residential area. The child and her parents sued the city for alleged negligence, the city’s demurrer was sustained and the plaintiffs appeal.

We think that this case is governed by Conrad v. City of Takoma Park, 208 Md. 363, 118 A. 2d 497, which is very similar on its facts. The plaintiffs’ allegations in the instant case are more specific than those in the Conrad case, but we do not think that they differ materially from what was stated to be the substance of the allegations in that case. The more detailed allegations in the instant case smack strongly of the doctrine of attractive nuisance. Though the appellants disclaim reliance on that doctrine, their principal authorities appear to be founded upon it. That doctrine is not accepted in this State (Conrad v. City of Takoma Park, supra; State v. Baltimore Fidelity Warehouse Co., 176 Md. 341, 4 A. 2d 739). We think that here, as in the Conrad case, the allegations are insufficient to show the use of flare pots was of itself negligent.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.

Reference

Full Case Name
RITTER Et Al. v. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE
Cited By
2 cases
Status
Published