Harris v. Board of Water and Sewer Com'rs of City of Mobile

How later courts described this case

• finding that facts "fall squarely within" third-party beneficiary rule where Water Board was contractually obligated to municipality to maintain adequate water supply for proper functioning of fire hydrants
• recognizing that, in order to establish a negligent-maintenance claim in Alabama, the plaintiff must prove the existence of a duty owed by the defendant
• though promisee enjoys some degree of direct benefit from the contract, most direct benefit inures to third-party beneficiaries
• "[Wjhere one party to a contract assumes a duty to another party tp that contract, and it is foreseeable that injury to a third party — not a party to the contract — may occur upon a breach of that duty, the promissor owes that duly to all those within the- foreseeable area of risk.”

Written by the judges who cited it.