Venue: |
Court of the Exchequer Chamber
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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. |
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Posture: |
Judgment for the defendants in the Court of the Exchequer Pleas. |
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Issue: |
Should the plaintiff be allowed to recover, even though the
defendant wasn't doing anything negligent? |
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Holding: |
Yes. Reversed. |
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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. |
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Reasoning: |
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Dicta: |
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