Brendlinger v. New Hanover Township

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Brendlinger v. New Hanover Township, 148 Pa. 93 (Pa. 1892)
23 A. 1105; 1892 Pa. LEXIS 917
Green, Heydrick, McCollum, Mitchell, Paxson

Brendlinger v. New Hanover Township

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam,

We think the judgment of compulsory nonsuit was properly entered in this case. In addition to the reasons therefor given by the learned judge below, it is by no means clear that the township was guilty of negligence. Conceding that the road was *96bad, almost impassable, the fact must not be overlooked that it was a country road, and that its condition was tbe result of the weather. In this respect it was not unlike almost every other road in the rural districts after a frost and constant rains. It would be laying too heavy a burden upon townships to hold them responsible for the swampy and miry conditions of the roads at certain seasons. There is, of course, a difference in country roads at such times, owing principally to the character of the soil. If its condition is the result of the weather, and the nature of the soil, and not to the neglect of the township in keeping it in repair, we see no reason why the township should be held responsible for an accident, such as we have in this case.

Judgment affirmed.

Reference

Cited By
3 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Highways — Known danger — Contributory negligence. One who knows of the dangerous condition of a particular portion of a public highway, and could have avoided it by driving on the opposite side, is guilty of contributory negligence in driving over the defective portion. Duty of township to repair. It seems that although the condition of a country road is bad, or almost impassable, the township is not guilty of negligence, provided its condition be due to the weather and the nature of the soil, and not to the neglect of the township to keep it in repair.