Phelps v. New Haven & Northampton Co.

43 Conn. 453

• Court: Supreme Court of Connecticut
• Decided: February 15, 1876
• Status: Published

Opinion

Park, C. J.

This action is based upon the following clause in the deed from the plaintiff to the defendants of a right of way for the defendants’ railroad oyer the plaintiff’s land:— “ Said company, their successors, and assigns, are to build, and forever keep in repair, all necessary crossings, sluices, culverts, side-drains and other drains, and also the cattle-passes already built.”

The controversy is in regard to the cattle-passes, which the defendants have neglected to keep in repair, and the question is, whether the plaintiff is entitled to recover damages both past and prospective, or is confined to the damages he had sustained at the time the case was tried. The court assessed the damages up to the time of trial, but no prospective damages ; and we think there is no error in this ruling.

In Kingdom v. Nottle, 1 Maule & Selw., 365, Lord Ellen-borough, in commenting upon the covenant in that case, said, “.It is not like a covenant to repair, for the breach of which damages may be recovered now, and again hereafter, and so toties quoties.” In Shaffer v. Lee, 8 Barb., 420, the court say, “ Damages on a covenant to repair may be recovered now and again.” In Beach v. Crain, 2 Comst., 86, the same claim was made as in this case, but the court held, after reviewing the authorities, that repeated actions for continuing neglect to fulfill the obligation to repair could be maintained. Warner v. Bacon, 8 Gray, 397, is another case bearing upon this subject.

The non-fulfillment by the defendants of their continuing obligation to keep the cattle-passes in repair, manifestly occasions continuing injury as time progresses. The obligation is continually broken, and hence the injury is continually occurring. Where this is the case, new actions for new injuries may constantly be brought.

We do not advise a new trial.

In this opinion the other judges concurred.