Prah v. Maretti: Difference between revisions

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* Prah lost in the Wisconsin trial court when the court ruled that the law of nuisance didn't apply to his claim
* Prah lost in the Wisconsin trial court when the court ruled that the law of nuisance didn't apply to his claim
|issues=Can a party bring a nuisance claim against another party for interfering with the passage of sunlight across property?
|issues=Can a party bring a nuisance claim against another party for interfering with the passage of sunlight across property?
|holding=A party can bring a nuisance claim for blockage of sunlight across property if the blockage unreasonably interferes with a party's use & enjoyment of the property.
|judgment=Reversed
|rule=Public nuisance
|rule=Public nuisance
|case_text_links={{Infobox Case Brief/Case Text Link
|case_text_links={{Infobox Case Brief/Case Text Link

Latest revision as of 15:55, April 25, 2024

Prah v. Maretti
Court Wisconsin Supreme Court
Citation 108 Wis. 2d 223
Date decided July 2, 1982

Facts

  • Prah = a homeowner had solar collectors; he wanted to heat his home with solar electricity
  • Maretti = the neighbor of Prah who wanted to build a slightly tall house with a lakeview
  • Maretti's house over-shadowed Prah's solar panels
  • Prior to construction, Prah asked Maretti to build his house farther back to allow sunlight to reach Prah's solar panels
  • Maretti agreed to move his house location away from Prah by 10 feet--but no more

Procedural History

  • Prah sued Maretti for nuisance
  • Prah lost in the Wisconsin trial court when the court ruled that the law of nuisance didn't apply to his claim

Issues

Can a party bring a nuisance claim against another party for interfering with the passage of sunlight across property?

Holding

A party can bring a nuisance claim for blockage of sunlight across property if the blockage unreasonably interferes with a party's use & enjoyment of the property.

Judgment

Reversed

Rule

Public nuisance

Resources