Best v. City of Chehalis
Best v. City of Chehalis
Opinion of the Court
This is an action for damages for the removal of lateral support flowing from an original grade of a street. There was a verdict and judgment for the plaintiffs. The defendant has appealed.
■ Counsel for the respondents state their case in their brief as follows:
“This is an action for damages occasioned respondents by appellant in removing the lateral support of respondents’ property in Chehalis, Washington. It was charged in the complaint, admitted in the answer, and proved by witnesses that the earth was entirely removed to respondents’ property line. As a result of this, such embankments caved off and slipped into the street. The soil was of a slippery, soap-stone variety. City officials, testifying for appellants, admitted that they knew the embankments would fall but made no effort to prevent same.”
The motion should have been granted. Schuss v. Chehalis, ante p. 595, 144 Pac. 916.
Reversed.
Crow, C. J., Morris, Parker, and Chadwick, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- S. Best v. The City of Chehalis
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Municipal Corporations — Streets — Improvement — Original Grade — Bights oe Abutters. In tbe absence of negligence, tbe city is not liable to abutting owners for tbe removal of lateral support in making tbe original grade of a dedicated street wholly witbin tbe limits of tbe street; and since tbe dedication implies tbe right to make an original grade, Const., art. 1, § 16, prohibiting tbe taking or damaging of property for public use without just compensation has no application.