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68 Me. 521

Murphy v. Kelley

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided November 30, 1878

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1878-11-30

On report. Case for obstructing, on defendant’s premises, a drain or sewer leading from plaintiff’s cellar through and across a highway, through and over ground in possession of the defendant, and thence until it vented and discharged itself into a brook below.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently October 2012

2 state decisions

Relies on Bates v. Smith

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1878-11-30

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Appleton, O. J.

¶1This is an action on the case for obstructing a sewer or drain on the defendant’s premises.

¶2The drain has existed for thirteen years. The plaintiff has *522owned his house and lot for about five years. He shows no right to the use of the defendant’s drain, by deed or prescription.

¶3The defendant “ may prevent surface water from coming upon his land, whether flowing thereon from a highway or any adjoining land,” remarks Peters, J., in Morrison v. Bucksport & Bangor Railroad, 67 Maine, 353. So he may erect structures thereon regardless of its effect upon surface water or how much others may be affected by it. Bates v. Smith, 100 Mass. 181.

¶4The evidence entirely fails to show a watercourse where the drain is; and if there had been one there, this suit is not for its disturbance.

¶5Plaintiff nonsuit.

Walton, Barrows, Danforth, Peters and Libbev, JJ., con curred.
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