Brearley v. Delaware & Raritan Canal Co.
Brearley v. Delaware & Raritan Canal Co.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Upon the principles declared by this court in Ten Eyck v. The Delaware and Raritan Canal Co. 3 Har. 200, and afterwards affirmed by the court of Errors, the demurrer to the second and third pleas must be sustained as not containing a legal defence to the plaintiff’s claim for damages. As there are no formal objections to any of these pleas, I presume the real question between the parties arises on the fourth plea. Do the matters set forth in this plea constitute a valid defence to the plaintiff’s claim for damages under the third and fourth counts in his declaration ? By the demurrer, the plaintiff admits the facts set forth in this plea. They are briefly these: The plaintiff for the consideration of throe hundred and eighty-six dollars granted and conveyed to the defendant, a piece of land on the route of their canal, for the purpose of constructing their canal thereon, and it was constructed with his consent.
It would seem by the plaintiff’s declaration, that he supposes the defendants hold the land subject to the duties imposed upon them by the sixteenth section of the act referred to. By that section it is enacted, that it shall be the duty of the company, when the canal intersects the farm or lands of any individual, “ to provide and keep in repair, a suitable bridge or bridges, so that the owner or owners and others may pass the same.” In this I think he is mistaken. The liability of the defendants in this
In my opinion the facts set forth in this plea, constitute a legal defence to any claim for damages under the third and fourth counts in the declaration.
Cited in Del. & Rar. Can. Co. v. Lee, 2 Zab. 250; Green v. M. & E. R. R. Co., 4 Zab. 489; Mor. & Es. R. R. Co. v. Green, 2 McCar. 475.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BREARLEY v. THE DELAWARE AND RARITAN CANAL CO.
- Status
- Published