Gilchrist v. City of Charleston
Gilchrist v. City of Charleston
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was'delivered by
Plaintiff sued the city to recover damages for a personal injury sustained on December 25, 1917. While he was walking along one of the principal streets of the city, he was *369 struck by a skyrocket, set off by some unknown person, and his left leg was broken.
He alleges that the city council adopted an ordinance, which was of force at the time, prohibiting the setting off of fireworks within the city, except at such times and places as the mayor might permit, that the mayor had not, by. proclamation, or otherwise, permitted the setting off of fireworks at or near the place where he was injured, but that the chief of police and the policeman of the city had suspended the ordinance and allowed the setting off of fireworks at that time and place.
The city demurred to the complaint for insufficiency.
Judgment reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gilchrist v. City of Charleston.
- Cited By
- 9 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Municipal Corporations — City Not Liable to Pedestrian for Injuries from Skyrocket Exploded in Violation of Ordinance. — A city was not liable for injuries to pedestrian struck by skyrocket as result of the failure of the city police to enforce ordinance prohibiting the setting off of fireworks, since the police had no authority to suspend the ordinance, and their unwarranted assumption of authority in so doing did not render city liable. 2. Municipal Corporations — Not Liable for Torts in Absence of Statute. — A municipal corporation, being an agency of the State for governmental purposes, cannot be sued in tort except where such an action is given by statute. 3. Municipal Corporations — Statute Making City Liable for Defects Applicable Only in Case of Negligence in the Repair of Streets. —Civ. Code 1912, sec. 3053, making city liable for defect in street, causeway, bridge, or public way, is applicable only in ease of city’s negligence in the repair of its streets. Note: On municipal liability for failure to prevent use of explosives in street, see notes in 23 L. R. A. (N. S.) 643; 42 L. R. A. (N. S.) 863.