R. C. Vincent and Another v. Lake Erie Transportation Company

Should defendants be privileged in protecting their own property at the expense of another’s property? If so, does the court "demand" anything from the plaintiff in exchange for the privilege?

Defendant’s vessel was trapped in a harbor due to a violent storm. Rather than risk his boat being destroyed, defendant repeatedly tied and retied his boat to the plaintiff’s dock, despite an awareness that his boat was smashing into and damaging the dock.