Chidsey v. City of Pascagoula

Mississippi Supreme Court
Chidsey v. City of Pascagoula, 102 Miss. 709 (Miss. 1912)
59 So. 879
Cook

Chidsey v. City of Pascagoula

Opinion of the Court

Cook, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The cause of action in the present case is not predicated upon section 17 of the Constitution; it being charged by the declaration that the injury to plaintiff’s property was caused by the negligent construction of the sidewalk and street grade. The only issue presented to the trial court was whether or not .the city was negligent. In fact, the pleadings charged, and all the evidence was an attempt to show, a negligent and careless change in the plans of the street grade. This being the issue made by the pleadings, the question of negligence *711Was submitted to the jury with proper instructions from the court.

It is complained that the trial court peremptorily instructed the jury that no damages should he considered by reason of the obstruction of the flow of the rainwater falling upon the lot. We think the evidence clearly shows that there was no negligent or careless construction, so far as the same may have affected the drainage of the surface water. This damage, if any, resulted from a perfectly proper exercise of the city’s power to alter its street grade. The city had the undeniable right to change its street grade, and to alter the original plans and specifications, and in so doing there was no negligence per se, and no negligence in fact is shown by the evidence.

It is unnecessary to say what would be the rule under a different state of the pleadings, as we deal with each case as made by the pleader.

We see no reason for changing our former action, and the suggestion or error is therefore overruled..

Suggestion of error overruled.

Reference

Full Case Name
Charles E. Chidsey v. City of Pascagoula
Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Munioipai, Corporation. Change of grade. Surface •waters. Damages. Where a suit against a city for damages for obstructing the natural drainage oí surface water was not brought under section 17, Constitution 1890, providing for compensation to the owners of property taken or damaged for public use, but plaintiff’s declaration only charges that the injury to his property was caused by the negligent change and construction of a sidewalk and street grade by the city, the only issue presented to the trial court was whether or not the city was negligent and where the evidence did not show that the city was negligent in changing and constructing such grade, the plaintiff was not entitled to recover, as the changing of a street grade is not per se negligence. 2. Same. A municipality has the undeniable right to change its street grade and to alter the original plans and specifications, and in so doing it is not negligent per se.