Hoster v. City of Philadelphia

Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Hoster v. City of Philadelphia, 12 Pa. Super. 224 (1900)
1900 Pa. Super. LEXIS 224
Beaver, Beeber, Orlady, Porter, Rice, Smith

Hoster v. City of Philadelphia

Opinion of the Court

Opinion by

Rice, P. J.,

In changing the grade of Twentieth street and Clearfield street, pursuant to ordinance, the city filled up a creek or run, which is described in the case stated as flowing over said streets near their .intersection. The effect was to render useless a drain through which the surface water had been conducted from the plaintiff’s premises, in consequence of which the water backed up on his premises and injured them. It is not alleged in the case stated nor in the plaintiff’s statement of claim that the injury of which the plaintiff complains was caused by the negligence of the city or its employees. On the contrary, it is *227admitted that it was “ by reason of the change of grade ” that the run was filled up. A case stated like a special verdict must set forth facts distinctly and unequivocally, and nothing must be left to inference. Whatever is not expressly agreed upon and set forth must be taken not to exist: 2 P. & L. Dig. of Dec. & Ency. of Pa. Law, Col. 2494, etc.; Loux v. Fox, 171 Pa. 68; Morgan v. Mercer Co., 8 Pa. Superior Ct. 96. Therefore any argument ‘based on the supposed right to maintain a common-law action for negligence in the prosecution of municipal improvements of this kind is out of place. Upon the admitted facts, the injury of which the plaintiff complains was the direct and necessary consequence of the grading of the streets, which was duly authorized. The city was not a wrongdoer. Its act was not a tort. The act of 1891 provided an adequate remedy for the ascertainment of all the plaintiff’s damages, which, under the circumstance of the case, was exclusive: McKee v. Pittsburg, 7 Pa. Superior Ct. 397. It is no answer to say that the viewers did not award him all the damages he was entitled to. If he was not satisfied with their award his remedy was by exceptions or appeal. It is too plain for argument that he could not take the damages they awarded him and then bring an action for the residue of his claim.

The judgment is affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
Alexander M. Hoster v. City of Philadelphia
Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Actions — Trespass—Injury resulting from change of grade — Road law. Where the effect of a change of grade of city streets was to render useless a drain, through which the surface water had been conducted from the plaintiff’s premises, in consequence of which the water backed up and injured them, and where it appears that such injury is the direct and necessary consequence of the duly authorized change of grade, it follows that the city not being a wrongdoer there can be no recovery for the injury in an action of trespass. The plaintiff is confined to his remedy under the Act of May 16, 1891, P. L. 75. If plaintiff was not satisfied with the award of the viewers his remedy was by exceptions or appeal; he may not take damages awarded by them and then bring an action for the residue of his claim.