Latham v. Des Moines Electric Light Co.

In April 1939, plaintiff purchased a lot at the southeast corner of the intersection of West Fourth Street and Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa, upon which was a three-story brick store and apartment building, erected in 1901. The north front of this building extends east along the south side of Grand Avenue from West Fourth Street to the alley which intersects the' block.

On August 10, 1939, a large part of the foundation of this north front was torn out, apparently by storm water which escaped from Bird’s Run Sewer. The collapse of about sixty feet of the north wall of the building, with…