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42 Conn. 234

Johnson v. Porter

Supreme Court of Connecticut

Decided April 15, 1875

Supreme Court of Connecticut · decided 1875-04-15

Trespass on the case, for an injury to the plaintiff in the occupation of his dwelling-house from offensive odors from a barn yard placed by the defendant near the plaintiff’s house ; brought to the City Court of the city of Waterbury, and tried to the jury, on the general issue, before Fields, J. The declaration contained two counts.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently January 1900

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1875-04-15

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Park, C. J.

¶1The plaintiff in his declaration sets forth a personal injury which he had sustained in the occupation of his dwelling house, and that only. But on the trial of the cause in the City Court he wras permitted to show the injury he had sustained in the diminished value of his real estate by reason of the acts of the defendant.

¶2Manifestly this was a departure from the cause of action set forth in the declaration. The noxious smells from the defendant’s barn yard were neither increased nor diminished by the value of the plaintiff’s premises, but they remained as great, and as grievous to be borne, and the plaintiff and his family were rendered as uncomfortable in the occupation of their dwelling house, and their health was as much affected, and consequently the plaintiff’s medical bills were as great, as they would have been if his premises were of the greatest value.

¶3We think therefore that the City Court erred in permitting the plaintiff under this declaration to enhance his damages by showing the injury he had sustained in the diminished value of his real estate; and consequently that the Superior Court committed no error in reversing the judgment of that court.

¶4In this opinion the other judges concurred.

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