Fletcher v. Rylands

Fletcher (plaintiff) operated underground coal mines on land next to a reservoir Rylands (defendant) built to supply water to his mill. During construction, Rylands's own engineers and contractors discovered the reservoir was being built over abandoned mine workings, though Rylands himself did not know this. After completion, the reservoir broke and flooded Fletcher's mines, causing damage; the Court of Exchequer had ruled for Rylands, and Fletcher appealed to the Exchequer Chamber.