Blackman v. Iowa Union Electric Co.

Mulroney, J.—

The plaintiff sued the defendant electric and gas company for personal injuries and property damages caused by the escape of gas that flooded plaintiff’s home in Keokuk, Iowa. In his petition he alleged the defendant “negligently and carelessly allowed gas to escape from its mains and become a nuisance in plaintiff’s property and to flood into and through plaintiff’s * * * property * * * occupied as his home.” Plaintiff pleaded general negligence and relied upon the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, and he also pleaded freedom from contributory negligence. Defendant pleaded a…