Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

48 App. D.C. 42

Gish v. Walker

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Decided May 6, 1918

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · decided 1918-05-06

' Hearing on an appeal by the plaintiff from a judgment of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia,' on directed verdict, in an action to recover compensation for nse of a party wall. . The Court in the opinion stated the facts as follows: Appellant, Genevieve K. Gish, brought suit in the municipal court of the District of Columbia to recover reasonable compensation for use of a party wall.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently February 1933

1 federal appellate · 1 district ·

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Reversed · Decided 1918-05-06

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Mr. Justice Van Orsdel

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court:

¶2It is conceded that plaintiff’s wall was constructed in all respects as required for a party wall of a two-story dwelling. It is also conceded that defendant, under the building regulations, but for plaintiff’s wall, would have been required to-construct a 13-inch wall for his three-story dwelling. It therefore appears that, by the presence of plaintiff’s wall, defendant was only required to construct a 9-inch wall to the height of plaintiff’s wall.

¶3Undoubtedly, defendant could construct a wall independent *44of the party wall, and be relieved from liability to plaintiff. But is that what defendant did? There is testimony that he attached to the party wall in front; that he used the chimney in the party wall, extending it to sufficient height to accommodate his building, and that he rested 4 inches of the 13-inch portion of his wall on top of the party wall. If these facts be true, we think he so used the party wall as to entitle plaintiff to recover. On -these points there is some conflict in the evidence, but this was for the jury to reconcile. It therefore was error to direct a verdict.

¶4The judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause is remanded for a new trial. Reversed and remanded.

¶5A motion for rehearing was denied May 25, 1918.

¶6A motion for a writ of error to the Supreme Court of the United States was denied May 25, 1918.

/48/appdc/42 · .json · Public domain