McMinn v. Pittsb. R.
McMinn v. Pittsb. R.
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff’s predecessor in title had released the right of way to the defendant company by a deed which contained the following clause:
“ And the said parties of the first part, for the consideration aforesaid, do for themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, hereby release and forever quit-claim and discharge the said second party, and its successors and assigns, from all damages or injuries of any kind, now incurred or hereafter to accrue, for or by reason of the location, construction, maintenance, and operation of the said railroad of two or more tracks, with its appurtenances, through, upon, and over and under said described land.”
If the injury of which the plaintiff complains was the necessary result of the construction and maintenance of the road, it would be covered by the release and she could not recover. But the action was brought to recover damages for the negligence of the company in the construction of its road; the allegation being that the drain was insufficient to carry off the
Such is not the case here. If the culvert had been properly constructed and kept open, the injury of which the plaintiff complains would not have occurred. The property owner who releases the right of way does not subject himself,to any peril caused by the negligence of the company.
Judgment affirmed. C.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- McMinn v. Pittsb. etc. R. Co.
- Cited By
- 3 cases
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- Published
- Syllabus
- Railroads — Release of rigid of way — Subsequent negligence. A release of the right of way to a railroad company, together with all damages “now incurred, or hereafter to accrue, for or by reason of the location, construction, maintenance and operation ” of the railroad, does not cover injuries resulting from subsequent negligence of the company in failing to make or maintain proper and sufficient drains or culverts: Hoffeditz v. Railway Co., 129 Pa. 264; Updegrove v. Railroad Co., 182 Pa. 540, distinguished.