Rahn v. Beurskens

Raymond Rahn, a 15-month-old toddler, by his guardian, sued the landlord of his father for personal injuries sustained when he grasped a defective outside electrical wire on the premises with one hand and a water faucet with the other. At the close of plaintiff’s evidence, the trial court directed a verdict, denied a post-trial motion and entered the judgment in bar which we now review.

Defendant successfully contended in the trial court, as he asserts here, that he cannot be liable for defects on the leased premises unless plaintiff establishes (1) that defendant retained possession of that…