Southwell v. City of Detroit

42 N.W. 118, 74 Mich. 438, 1889 Mich. LEXIS 670
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedApril 19, 1889
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 42 N.W. 118 (Southwell v. City of Detroit) 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
Southwell v. City of Detroit, 42 N.W. 118, 74 Mich. 438, 1889 Mich. LEXIS 670 (Mich. 1889).

Opinions

Champlin, J.

In the summer of 1886 the city of Detroit, by its board of public works, entered into a contract with the Talbot Paving Company to grade and pave Fourth street, from the north curb-line of Fulton street to the south curb of Forrest avenue. The paving company were to furnish, at their own cost and expense, all of the materials and labor, and do and complete the job according to certain specifications particularly set forth in the contract, for which they were to receive $1.17 for each square yard contained in the work, and all work and materials necessary to complete the same. They were to commence the job on or before August 2, 1886, and complete the same on or before October 11, following. The contractors agreed—

To erect and maintain a good and sufficient fence, railing, or barrier around* any and all excavations necessary for such work, in such a manner as to prevent accidents; to place upon such railing, fence, or barrier, at [440]*440twilight on each day, suitable and sufficient colored lights, and' keep them burning during the night; and, further, to pay to, indemnify, and save the city harmless against all loss and damage which may be occasioned or arise by reason of any negligence or carelessness on their part in doing such work."

By another clause of this contract they agreed—

“To carry on the work at such points as the board of public works shall from time to time direct."
Also,—
“That they will not employ unfaithful or incompetent workmen or overseers, or disorderly persons, and that they will immediately discharge any person in their employ who is declared to be so, and whenever directed by said board; and, further, that they will personally perforin the several stipulations of this contract, or by workmen under their immediate superintendence, and not by a subcontractor."

The board had the right under the contract to reject material which it considered not in accordance with the contract, and also to diminish the quantity of work at street crossings without vitiating the contract. It was mutually agreed that the common council should cause a S2iecial assessment to be levied upon the .abutting lots to pay the contractor for all the work done and materials furnished, and the party of the first part agreed to pay over to the contractors the avails of the special assessment, and it was expressly agreed that the city of Detroit - should .not be liable for any part or portion of said special assessment until the same should be actually paid into the treasury of the city.

The charter of the city of Detroit empowers the common council to grade and pave the streets and avenues in the city. Local Acts of 1883, Act No. 326, chap. 7, § 33. It also provides that not contract for the grading and paving of a street at a cost exceeding $200 shall be entered into, except to and with the lowest responsible [441]*441bidder. Act No. 326, chap. 11, § 9. And section 8 of tbe same chapter provides that—

“No such work, supplies, and materials shall be paid for, or contracted to be paid for, except out of the proceeds of the tax or the assessment ” levied to defray the expenses thereof.

The Talbot Paving Company entered upon the prosecution of the work under their contract, and in carrying it forward removed the earth to prepare the foundation for the paving. The excavation extended entirely across the street, and was about two feet deep. On the night of August 27 it was left without any barriers to prevent persons traveling along Fourth street from driving into the excavation, or lights to warn them of danger. About 9 o’clock in the evening of that day plaintiff was riding with her husband in a buggy, drawn by a horse, along Fourth street. It was dark, and as he was driving with due care they were precipitated into the excavation, the horse was thrown down, the buggy overturned, and plaintiff was thrown upon the ground, and severely injured. She brought this action against the city of Detroit to recover her damages.

The plaintiff bases her right of action upon the following proposition, namely:

“ The city, being by statute required to keep the streets in repair, and being liable in damages_ to any one injured, is thereby charged with the duty of repairing the streets. It cannot tear up the streets through its agent or contractor without taking precautions to save the public from injury which would naturally follow from so tearing up the streets.”

It was held in Detroit v. Blackeby, 21 Mich. 84, that the city of Detroit was not liable in its corporate capacity for the negligent acts of its officers which constituted non-feasance only. Since the decision in that case the Legislature has passed an act laying a duty upon muni[442]*442cipalities to keep the streets under their control in repair. Section 4 of this act reads as follows:

“It is hereby made the duty of townships, villages, cities, or corporations to keep in good repair, so that they shall be safe and convenient for public travel at all times, all public highways, streets, bridges, cross-walks, and culverts that are within their jurisdiction, and under their care and control, and which are open to public travel.” How. Stat. § 1445.

Another section provides—

“That any person or persons sustaining bodily injury upon any of the public highways or streets in this State, by reason of neglect to keep such public highways or streets * * * in good repair, and in a condition reasonably safe and fit for travel, by the township, village, city, or corporation whose corporate authority extends over such public highway, street, * * * and whoso duty it is to keep the same in good repair, such township, village, city, or corporation shall be liable to, and shall pay to, the person or persons so injured or disabled just damages, to be recovered in an action of trespass on the case before any court of competent jurisdiction.” Id. § 1442.

The statute creating the duty to keep streets in good repair, and fit for public travel, must be construed with reference to the authority conferred upon the city of Detroit to grade and pave its streets. It must not be so construed as to nullify the power given by the charter. The duty to- keep the streets in repair, and the exercise of the power to dig up the streets and grade, or to put in sewers or water-mains, cannot both exist at the same time with respect to streéts so torn up. How can a street be kept in repair and fit for public travel while it is being graded and paved its full width? It cannot be. It is absurd to say that the statute, while giving the city full authority to grade and pave the streets, at the same time imposed a liability upon it for the street being out of repair while the power was being lawfully exercised.

[443]*443When the street is thus rendered unfit for public travel, by the exercise of the power conferred by statute, is the duty to keep the street fit for travel suspended for the time being? Williams v. Tripp, 11 R. I. 447.

. “The city has both the duty to perform and the power to exercise, and if it exercises the power it is bound to exercise it so as not unnecessarily to circumscribe or suspend the duty,-” — ■

Says Mr. Chief Justice Durfee in the case above cited.

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Bluebook (online)
42 N.W. 118, 74 Mich. 438, 1889 Mich. LEXIS 670, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/southwell-v-city-of-detroit-mich-1889.