Property Owner Liability for Retaining Wall Collapse Despite Act of God Defense

A property owner appealed a decision that held them liable for damages caused to a neighboring property by the collapse of a retaining wall, arguing that the wall was built on their land and the collapse occurred due to subterranean water infiltration, which they contended constituted an act of God. The court rejected the appeal, reasoning that the retaining wall, regardless of its precise location or the cause of its failure, was inherently flawed or insufficiently maintained, thereby establishing a causal link between the property owner's fault (negligence in maintenance or construction) and the resulting damage to the neighbor's property, which superseded any argument based solely on natural events.