Watson v. Harrigan
Watson v. Harrigan
Opinion of the Court
The complaint alleges two causes of action. The first is that in March, 1898, the defendant unlawfully, wantonly, maliciously, and with intent to injure the plaintiff and her property drove a team of horses and a large dray wagon heavily loaded with coal hitched thereto over and across the premises therein described, then and ever since owned by the plaintiff, thereby permanently breaking down and destroying the plaintiff’s curbing along the boulevard in front thereof, and cutting deep and permanent furrows, in and across the boulevard and premises with the wheels of his wagon, and destroying the sod and greensward on the premises, and permanently destroying and mutilating the grade and surface of the premises. The second cause of action alleged is for doing substantially the same things to the same premises October 27, 1898.
At the close of the testimony on the part of the plaintiff the court granted a nonsuit, and from the judgment entered thereon the plaintiff brings this appeal.
It appears from the plaintiff’s testimony that she had title to the premises long prior to the acts complained of; that the premises were rented to Louis Levy August 17, 1893; that his lease was to run for five years from that date, with the privilege of five years more; that the rent was $300 a year, payable in monthly instalments of $25 each; that the lease contains a provision to the effect that at the end of the period of five years, or at the end of the additional term of 'five years, he would deliver up the possession of the premises to the plaintiff peaceably, and would properly use the premises and keep the same in proper repair and condition, except damage by fire or the elements; that Levy was still occupying the premises under the lease, and that the same
Counsel for the plaintiff is undoubtedly correct in contending that a landlord may maintain an action for damages for permanent injury to the inheritance, even where the premises are in the possession of his tenant. This is conceded in a case said to have been followed by the trial court. Stoltz v. Kretschmar, 24 Wis. 283, 285. See, also, Schiffer v. Eau Claire, 51 Wis. 385, 389; Gunsolus v. Lormer, 54 Wis. 630, 633; Brock v. Dole, 66 Wis. 142; Melms v. Pabst B. Co. 104 Wis. 10-13. The statute expressly declares that “ a person seized of real estate in remainder or reversion may maintain an action for an injury done to the inheritance .notwithstanding any intervening estate for life or years.” Sec. 2198, Stats. 1898.
The important question presented is whether the evidence is sufficient to authorize a recovery in this action. The plaintiff’s tenant, Levy, was undoubtedly authorized to supply the premises with coal. The place provided for the deposit of coal was in the cellar or basement. Levy purchased his coal from Harrigan Bros., who were to deliver the same in the basement of the house occupied by him and rented from the plaintiff. The defendant was in the employ of Harrigan Bros., and delivered the coal to Levy for them, as
By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
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