Rasmussen v. Meilinger

<p>Abstract of the Decision.</p> <p>1. Negligence, § 129* — when plea in action for personal injuries due to excavating too near public sidewalk is sufficient. Where, in an action for personal injuries, the declaration alleges that the injury was caused by the act of defendants, while constructing a building, in digging an excavation near a public sidewalk and in negligently failing to safeguard it and that defendants were partners, and defendants interposed a special plea that they were not engaged in erecting the building, did not dig the excavation and did not maintain it and were not guilty of the negligence charged, such plea is sufficient to put plaintiff on proof of her averment that they dug the excavation, even though the plea does not deny the partnership averred in the declaration.</p> <p>2. Negligence, § 187* — when evidence sufficient to show that excavation was not made by defendants. In action for personal injuries alleged to have been caused by defendants’ acts in creating and negligently maintaining an excavation, evidence held sufficient to show that the excavation was not dug by defendants.</p> <p>3. Negligence, § 131* — when no recovery for failure to prove connection with ownership or operation of agencies causing accident. In an action for personal injuries, there can be no recovery where there is a total failure to prove that defendants were connected with the ownership or operation of the agencies which caused the accident for injuries from which recovery is sought.</p>