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50 Ill. App. 371

Martin v. Dufalla

Appellate Court of Illinois

Decided May 11, 1893

Appellate Court of Illinois · decided 1893-05-11

Memorandum.—Action of negligence in the Superior Court of Cook County; the Hon. George H. Kettelle, Judge, presiding. Declaration in case; plea of not guilty; trial and judgment for plaintiff; defendant appeals. Heard in this court at the March term, 1893, and affirmed.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently January 1907

1 state decisions

Relies on Mullen v. . St. John · Shipley v. Fifty Associates · Gorham v. Gross

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1893-05-11

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¶1Opinion of the Court,

Waterman, J.

¶2- This is an appeal from a judgment rendered for damage done by the falling of appellant’s building, while in course of construction, whereby appellee’s cottage was demolished.

¶3It is conceded that appellant was constructing a large, five-story brick building, and that upon a fair day, no tempest blowing, it fell upon and destroyed the dwelling of appellee; this having been proven, we think it devolved upon appellant to show that the fall was without his fault.

¶4Buildings properly constructed do not fall without adequate cause.

¶5But for the act of appellant in building his large structure, the premises of appellee would not have been harmed; destroyed as they were by the falling of appellant’s manufactory thereon, it is for him to show that he was not at fault. Mullen v. St. John, 57 N. Y. 567; Chantler v. Robinson, 4 Exch. 163, 170; Gorham v. Gross, 125 Mass. 232, 237; Shipley v. Fifth Associates, 106 Mass. 194, 198; Kappes et al. v. Appel, 14 Brad. 170.

¶6. The case is one in which the principle res ipsa loqxdtur is applicable. 2 Thompson on Negligence, 1220.

¶7It is urged, for the first time in this court, that the action should have been brought in the name of a conservator said to have been appointed for Dufalla, who is an insane person. Such objection can not be here urged for the first time.

¶8Until a conservator of a lunatic is appointed, suits are properly brought in the name of the lunatic. Chicago & Pacific Ry. Co. v. Munger, 78 Ill. 300.

¶9There was no competent evidence that a conservator for the plaintiff had been appointed; such appointment is a judicial act, and should be proven by a copy of the record; in the present case, a witness merely incidentally testified that he had been appointed conservator of appellee.

¶10We find no error in this record warranting a reversal of the judgment, and it is affirmed.

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