Majestic Amusement Co. v. Standard Cigar Co.

Opinion by Trexler, J., The only question raised by the assignment is the sufficiency of the testimony submitted by the plaintiff to sustain the verdict. The facts can be briefly stated. The defendant leased certain premises from the plaintiff and had complete and exclusive possession of them. During the term of the lease, the entire water system froze and the steam boiler by reason of the expansion of the water in freezing burst, and the damage for which the plaintiff, the landlord sues was occasioned. There was no question that the water system froze and that the freezing caused the damage. The learned trial judge submitted the question to the jury whether the defend [311] ant exercised ordinary prudence and care. It is an obvious fact that water left in tbe beating system of a bouse, will when tbe fires are out in cold weather, freeze and cause damage. Tbe defendant, being in possession of tbe premises and having exclusive control of them was charged with bis neglect in not putting tbe system in such a condition as to prevent tbe damage. In Silver Costume Co. v. Passant, 71 Pa. Superior Ct. 252, when water escaped from an upper floor by reason of a spigot being left open and damaged tbe goods of an occupant of a lower floor it was held that as tbe tenant was in exclusive possession and control, a fair presumption or inference of negligence arose from tbe circumstances, Levinson v. Myers, 24 Pa. Superior Ct. 481, was a case like this in which damage was caused by tbe freezing of a boiler and tbe same conclusion was reached. These cases followed Shafer v. Lacock, Hawthorn & Co., 168 Pa. 497, where tbe principle is clearly stated. “Where tbe thing which causes tbe injury is shown to be under tbe management of tbe defendants and tbe accident is such as, in tbe ordinary course of things does not happen when those who have tbe management used proper care, it affords reasonable evidence, in absence of explanation by tbe defendants, that tbe accident arose from a want of care and tbe burden is upon tbe defendants of establishing their freedom from fault.” Judgment is affirmed.