Morlan v. Village of Marcellus

114 N.W. 236, 150 Mich. 400, 1907 Mich. LEXIS 816
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 10, 1907
DocketDocket No. 139
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 114 N.W. 236 (Morlan v. Village of Marcellus) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Morlan v. Village of Marcellus, 114 N.W. 236, 150 Mich. 400, 1907 Mich. LEXIS 816 (Mich. 1907).

Opinion

Blair, J.

This action was brought to recover damages for injuries received on the night of July 21, 1906, alleged to have occurred through the negligence of defendant in leaving certain obstructions in one of the public streets of defendant village. The principal question in the case arises upon the ruling of the court that there was no evidence tending to show a waiver of the provisions of section 2754, 1 Comp. Laws, requiring a verification of plaintiff’s claim. In consequence of this ruling, the court directed a verdict for defendant and plaintiff brings the record to this court for review. Plaintiff filed with the common council three several notices or claims, at the dates therein indicated, as follows:

[401]*401“To the President and Common Council of the Tillage of Marcellus, Michigan.
Gentlemen: You will please take notice that I intend to hold the said village of Marcellus liable for personal injuries, and for damage and loss of property, sustained Saturday evening, July 21st, 1906, in one of the public streets in said village, to wit: in Main street near the New Baptist Church building. Said injuries and damage being sustained on the account of a large amount of timber, rubbish, boards, brick and other obstructions being placed and left in the said street by the said village, or left there through their knowledge, and with their consent, making the said street unsafe for travel and dangerous, all of which the said village had knowledge of, and there being no lights or danger signals at the said place, contrary to the village ordinance.
“Dated, Marcellus, Mich., July 24th, 1906.
“Jay Morlan,
“By Otis Huff, his Attorney.”
“ State of Michigan, County of Cass,
“Tillage of Marcellus.
“ To the President and Common Council of the said Tillage of Marcellus, Michigan.
Gentlemen: You will please take notice that on Saturday evening, July 21st, 1906, while driving in, on and over one of the public streets in the said village of Marcellus, to wit: on Main street near the new Baptist Church building, without any fault or negligence on my part, but through the negligence and fault of the said village, I sustained injury, loss of property and damage to personal property belonging to me.
“At this time I cannot exactly estimate and itémize said loss, but in a general way the said damage and loss consist of serious damage to my driving team. Said team consisted of two valuable driving horses, one of said horses being seriously injured and may die as a result of said injury. Said loss and damage also consisted of destruction to the harnesses on said horses, loss and damage to my buggy, injury to myself and loss and damage of other personal property than herein enumerated.
“You will please take notice that said injury received and said damage and destruction to my property was sustained by my team and buggy coming in contact, without any fault on my part, with certain encroachments and obstructions in the traveled portion of said Main [402]*402street, to wit: a large amount of timber, boards, plank, rubbish, stone, bricks, logs, poles and other obstructions and encroachments in the said street, placed there by and with the consent of said village, and through the knowledge and. with the consent of the president and common council and street commissioner and other officers of the said village, making the said street unsafe and dangerous to the public, all of which the said village had knowledge of.
“Said street was particularly dangerous on the night in question due to the fact, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that there were no danger signals or lights guarding the said dangerous place in the said street.
“For the said injury, loss and destruction of property sustained by me through the fault and negligence of the said village, you will please take notice that in accordance with my notice of July 24th, 1906, I claim damage against the said village, to wit: to the sum of one thous- and dollars.
“ If the said claim is not settled on or before August 18th, 1906, I shall bring suit in the circuit court for the county of Cass to recover the said amount.
“Dated, August 14th, 1906.
“ M. J. Morlan,
“ Otis Huff, Attorney for Plaintiff.”
“ State of Michigan, County of Cass,
Village of Marcellus.
“Village of Marcellus
To M. J. Morlan Dr.
To injury and damage to horse_________________ $100 00
To injury and damage to other horse........... 25 00
To destruction of harnesses................ 35 00
To livery expense to catch team, chasing team, expense of staying in town, etc............... 10 00
To destruction of whip...................... 1 00
To loss of time and loss of use of team......... 25 00
To damage to buggy.....-.................... 15 00
To veterinary expense, treating horse, etc...... 10 00
To other damage not specifically stated........ 10 00
To personal injury and other damages ......— 769 00
To R. D. Bailey taking views of 'obstructions in street which caused said damage and injury, no charges..........-.......................
“Total...............................$1,000 00
[403]*403‘ You will please take notice that I claim said damage in conformity with my notice which I served August 14th, 1906, in which I then claimed as I do now that said damage and loss of property resulted through the negligence of the said village. You will please take further notice that I reserve the right to add to said amount, if the damage to the said team should prove greater than herein claimed.
“Dated, August 28, 1906.
“M. J. Morlan,
“ By Otis Huff, his Attorney.”

The record of the meeting of the common council held on the 24th of July, 1906, showed the following:

“Jay Morlan, through his attorney, Otis Huff, served notice upon the village council for injuries, damage and loss of property sustained by him in the village Saturday evening, July 21st, 1906, on Main street near the new Baptist Church. The president appointed trustees Long and Bailey as a committee to meet Mr. Morlan and confer with him in regard to the matter.
“C. E. Davis, President.
“Will M. Beadle, Clerk.”

At a meeting of the common council held September 4th, 1906, its records show that the following took place:

“Meeting, Sept. 4th, 1906.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
114 N.W. 236, 150 Mich. 400, 1907 Mich. LEXIS 816, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/morlan-v-village-of-marcellus-mich-1907.