Hearn v. Hilliard Co. , 99 Conn. 666 ( 1923 )

The plaintiff's claim is that the defendant was negligent, in view of all the circumstances, in failing to protect the bank of the canal so that children of tender years would not fall into it; but the court in directing a verdict for the defendant charged the jury that there was no evidence from which the jury could reasonably determine where the child fell into the water, whether he fell in at or near the end of the path behind the plaintiff's tenement, and was carried down to the screen by the water, or whether he left the premises in the rear of the tenement and fell in at or near the screen. And further, that the only fair conclusion reasonably to be drawn from the evidence was, that the premises in the rear of the tenement, while not expressly included in the lease to the plaintiff, were intended to be used and were in fact used as part of the rented premises, and that the law put upon the tenant and not upon the landlord the responsibility for the continuance of the condition of the leased premises which existed, with the full knowledge of the tenant, when he took possession under the lease, and remained unchanged with his full knowledge.

Since the allegation of the complaint, and the claim of the plaintiff, is that the child came to his death by falling into the canal while on the premises in the rear of the tenement, it is apparent that the case turns on the question whether the jury could reasonably have found that the defendant retained such dominion and control over the canal bank in the rear of the premises that the law would impose on it the duty of doing what was necessary to make it safe.

The material facts bearing on that point and appearing on the record and in evidence are as follows: The complaint alleges that the "ground between the said dwelling and the raceway was, at all times herein mentioned, used as a rear yard, and was intended to be so used, by the plaintiff and his said family"; and that the "defendant at all times herein mentioned knew that the said rear yard between the said dwelling-house and the said raceway was regularly used by the said children of the plaintiff, including his intestate James Hearn, as a playground."

Plaintiff testified that he had no written lease; that he was familiar with the premises before he went there; that when he hired the place from Mr. Wood, superintendent of the defendant company, his understanding was that "of course" the back yard went with the house "always did you know," and as far as he knew that was Mr. Wood's understanding, and at that time the conditions of the back yard and the bank and canal were the same as on April 21st, 1921.

Mr. Hilliard, the president of the defendant company, in answer to questions by the court, testified that the house was not on any defined lot, and that there were no fences separating the houses. Then the following questions and answers: "By the court: Q. Is there any arrangement with the tenants as to how much or what land they use in connection with the houses? A. No, there has never been any definite line there. Q. So that at the front of the houses, on the side and back, it is used . . . by all the tenants in that vicinity? A. Well, we leave that for them to adjust more or less. Q. No attempt made by the company to define it? A. Well, we don't like to mix into those things unless we have to."

This testimony evidently refers to the partition of the whole tract among the several tenants, and does not afford any reasonable basis for concluding that the defendant reserved the dominion and control of any part of it. There was some evidence that the children of the tenants played where they pleased, but none that the defendant maintained a common playground for them.

After the trial court had announced its intention to direct a verdict for the defendant and given its reasons for doing so, plaintiff's counsel moved for leave to amend the complaint by alleging that the defendant rented the house only, and that it retained control over the tract as a whole, at the same time disclaiming any intention of going outside of the evidence. The court refused to allow the amendment on the ground that the evidence could not reasonably be construed by the jury so as to lead to the conclusion that the back yard was not a part of the tenement under the control of the plaintiff. In so deciding we think the court was right, and the plaintiff concedes that if that be so, the general rule of law is that the defendant is not liable for injury caused by an open and visible dangerous condition existing when the plaintiff took possession of the leased premises.

Plaintiff claims, however, that the special circumstances of this case afford a basis for an exception to the general rule. He points out that the danger of small children falling into the canal was or ought to have been known to the defendant; that testimony was offered to show that within nine years two other children had fallen into the canal, though by good fortune they escaped injury; and these instances were talked about in the mill. The proof as to a third instance failed for lack of personal knowledge by the witness. The canal was admittedly not a part of the leased premises, though it furnished the boundary of one side of the tract. But these considerations do not affect the reason of the rule, which is that as to obvious risks the tenant by accepting the premises as they appear, brings himself equitably within the rule volenti non fit injuria. Pollock on Torts (10th Ed.) pp. 531, 588.

The complaint also harks back to the attractive-nuisance doctrine which is discredited in this State.Wilmot v. McPadden, 79 Conn. 367, 65 A. 157; Mullen v. Mohican Co., 97 Conn. 97, 99, 115 A. 585. Without in the least meaning to reopen any discussion of that doctrine, it may be added that even in the jurisdictions where it is approved, it cannot logically be invoked by a tenant in respect of an attractive nuisance on premises under his own control.

For the same reason the other authorities cited on plaintiff's brief are irrelevant. If the tenant chooses to leave the premises as they are when he takes possession and control, he cannot charge the landlord with the consequences of his own inaction.

There is no error.

In this opinion the other judges concurred.