Dawson v. Laufersweiler

The question for decision is whether construction of a funeral home across the street from plaintiffs’ residence should be enjoined as a threatened nuisance.

In September 1948, defendant, an undertaker, purchased for $20,000 lots 1, 2 and 3 in a certain block 16 in the city of Fort Dodge (1940 population 22,904). He then moved from the ground the old house there situated and excavated for a funeral home. The ground is the northwest corner of block 16 with a west frontage of one hundred fifty-two feet on 12th Street and a north frontage of one hundred thirty-nine feet on 3d Avenue South. Since…