Rutkauskas v. Hodgins

The principal issue in this case is whether the owner of a building which redirects precipitation, thereby causing an accumulation of snow and ice on a public sidewalk immediately adjacent to the building, is strictly liable to a tenant who is injured by falling on the snow-covered sidewalk. We hold that there is no such liability.

The defendant is the owner of an apartment building located at the corner of Temple and Commercial Streets in Nashua. The plaintiff was a tenant in said building. On February 11, 1976, the plaintiff left the building through a common doorway which led directly onto…