Fletcher v. Rylands

1866

Venue: Court of the Exchequer Chamber

Facts: Fletched mines coal. Rylands runs a cotton mill next door. The Rylands property has been mined in the past, and has shafts. Rylands has a reservoir. It bursts, the water runs down the dirted-in shafts in the lands, and Fletcher's mine is spoiled. Mischief is done.

Posture: Judgment for the defendants in the Court of the Exchequer Pleas.

Issue: Should the plaintiff be allowed to recover, even though the defendant wasn't doing anything negligent?

Holding: Yes. Reversed.

Rule: If you have something dangerous on your property, you keep it at your peril, and you're liable for the consequences if it escapes.

Reasoning:

Dicta: