Shannon v. City of Grand Coulee

Plaintiff, Ada Shannon, brought this action against defendant City of Grand Coulee for damages alleging failure to properly control a fire on her premises. From an adverse judgment, rendered after jury verdict, plaintiff appeals.

■The primary issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred in failing to direct a verdict against defendant on an issue of negligence. We hold the trial court erred.

In 1968, on a bitter cold and windy December 28, at approximately 7:30 a.m., a fire was reported to the Volunteer Fire Department of the City of Grand Coulee. Within minutes the first fire truck arrived…