Phalen v. City of Detroit
Phalen v. City of Detroit
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff recovered a verdict and judgment for injuries resulting from a fall upon a defective sidewalk. The declaration did not allege the notice served upon the law department of the city, as the charter requires. When proof of the service of notice was tendered, counsel for defendant objected because it was not alleged in the declaration. Careful pleading would require the allegation in the declaration that the notice required by the charter, and the failure to give which is made a complete defense to the suit, was given. Whether it is absolutely essential we need not determine. The court ordered an amendment to the declaration, and the trial evidently proceeded upon the theory that the amendment was made. This was within the power of the court, and did not introduce a new cause of action.
The court instructed the jury:
“ The plaintiff claims to have been injured while walking on a sidewalk in the city of Detroit. Under the law of this State, it is necessary that the defendant (that is, the city) should keep its sidewalks in good repair, so that they shall be safe' and convenient for public travel at all times; and if the defendant fails to keep its sidewalks in good repair, and on account of that negligence an injury happened, then the city would be liable to the person so injured, provided the city had notice of the defective condition.”
This instruction was taken substantially from the law as it existed under Act No. 244, Pub. Acts 1879, § 4. The law was subsequently amended, and now requires that townships, etc., shall keep their sidewalks, etc., in reason
Reversed, and new trial ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PHALEN v. CITY OF DETROIT
- Status
- Published