Frary v. Township of Allen
Frary v. Township of Allen
Opinion of the Court
This action is brought to recover for damages occasioned by reason of a defective cross-walk.
Within the limits of the defendant township is the-unincorporated village of Allen. The principal street in the village runs in an easterly and westerly direction through the village and township, and is known as “Chicago Street" or “Chicago Turnpike." In the eastern part of the village there is a street running from Chicago street north, known as “ Prentiss street." At the head of Prentiss street, on the south side of Chicago street, is a large brick school-house, in which were-employed 3 teachers most of the time, with from 120 down to 70 pupils in attendance. Opposite the schoolhouse, and on the north-east corner of Prentiss and Chicago streets, is the Baptist Church, largely attended by the people in that village and vicinity. There is across-walk extending across Chicago street from the south side of Chicago street, in front of the school-house, to. the corner of the church lot, and from that corner there-is a sidewalk running east on the north side of Chicago street in front of the church, also a sidewalk running-north on the east side of Prentiss street; and from the-end of the cross-walk in front of the school-house there-is a sidewalk running west on the south side of Chicago street, extending up into the business part of said village. Five or six families reside on Chicago street east of this cross-walk, and ten or twelve families north of these cor
Highway commissioners, and all other officials having special charge of cross-walks, are by the act declared to-be officers of, and subject to the general direction of,, the municipality in the discharge of their several duties. Highways are by other statutory provisions placed under the care and supervision of township officers, and, while there is no other provision for the care or construction of cross-walks in townships by townships, yet, if constructed, and thereby the public are induced to use them, they become, for such use, parts of the traveled way, and the township must be held liable in case they are-suffered to become unsafe and dangerous.
In the present case, however, the cross-walk existed in an unincorporated village, and by Act No. 176, Laws of 1881, passed after the law of 1879, in all unincorporated villages overseers of highways are authorized to lay out-such portion of the highway funds as they shall deem reasonable for the construction, care, and maintenance of cross-walks in such villages.
Highways or bridges within the limits of an incorporated village are not always under the care and control of the village authorities. Quinlan v. Manistique, 85 Mich. 22. The words “under their care and control”' must be held to have been intended to exempt municipalities so situated from liability.
The judgment must be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Hulda G. Frary v. The Township of Allen
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published