City of Detroit v. Chaffee

The facts in this case are well stated in the brief of the attorneys for the plaintiff, as follows:

“ Elizabeth C. Thomas, who was an alien, was injured by •a fall upon a defective sidewalk in front of the premises belonging to the defendant, on Woodward avenue, in the •city of Detroit, on April 1, 1886. She presented her claim to the common council of the city of Detroit, in writing, under the provisions of the city charter. Upon the rejection of the claim by the common council, she commenced suit, on June 29, 1886, in the circuit court of the United States for the Eastern district of…